Somehow, it was reborn like a Phoenix to become considered one of the most important rock albums of all time. Panned by critics and listeners at the time, it was never promoted by his album company - probably for good reason.
It never cracked the Billboard 200 Albums for sales, which should tell you what you need to know about it. He decided to push the boundary of musical terrain, adding his unique style to a studio full of talented musicians. The output was Astral Weeks: an album that showcases multiple layers of instruments in lengthy improvisations buffering Van Morrison’s vocals and guitar. Between the smash hit of Brown Eyed Girl and the album Moondance (another top 100 album with several well known hits), Morrison goes in quite a different direction here. Astral Weeks, absolutely similar with undecipherable yelps and forgettable compositions, would be right at home on the same city side-block as her.Īlbum number two by Van Morrision, it is quite a departure from what came before and what came after.
To my knowledge, she’s never placed an album on a top 100 list which makes sense. As far as street performances go, it’s okay. Densely-populated with shops and restaurants, she sings inaudible oscillating pitches while improvising on foreign instruments as the shapeless crowd passes by. There is a lady who sings international music on the sidewalks of Carytown in Richmond, VA. Squalling and yelling on top of multiple layers of improvised classical, jazz, and folk.
