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Precious Pearls of Orange
When I listen to Orange I feel an incredible unity exists there, like all the songs belong with each other. I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but perhaps when Mona, Lisa, and Papa Rudi wrote the songs over the span of time, they were on the same emotional and spiritual wavelength, sharing similar experiences around that time, that translated into the unity of the album. I remember listening to Orange on a trip a few years ago in the car, and I could really feel a smooth flow from Close To You, In It For Love, Count On Me, and Sweet Lorraine like they belonged together.
I feel a thematic arc exists across the whole album, perhaps it is that “organism, lovely with color and juice” expressing humanity in these songs like in No More Worries Company, It’s Alright, Waiting For The Waiter, That’s Life, and Still A Friend of Mine. It’s not that the songs sound similar or share a similar structure, but they evoke a unity on an intangible level. I can feel that past and future aspect Mona and Lisa talked about on The Future track that arcs across Once Upon A Time, to Club 27 and throughout the album.
Love the ramp off from a hard a fast Club 27 to the soft heart string pulling ballad of Still A Friend of Mine. Across all 12 tracks, there is so much rich diversity in the album.
The Beatles Rubber Soul is one of Brian Wilson’s favourite albums of all time. It is the album that “blew my mind” as quoted by Brian. In a 2014 tweet, Brian said of Rubber Soul:
” I listened to Rubber Soul, and I said how could they possibly make an album where the songs all sound like they come from the same place?”
I think Orange has that same magic Brian Wilson talks about in Rubber Soul, and the subsequent albums Pet Sounds and Sargent Peppers that resulted.
Orange is a remarkable and amazing album that I never tire of, that I always come away with something fresh, new, and intriguing whenever I hear it. It’s a work of art.
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10 Replies
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The Orange Pearls starting with:
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I can’t wait for the new album and then a long car trip.
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Hi Tom, I think that is a brilliant idea. ???????? When MLTs new album comes out, I think a long road trip with nothing but the car, a long winding highway, and the MLT album sounds like perfection.
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I agree. Orange flows very well from beginning to end. It’s definitely one of those albums that begs to be listened to from beginning to end.
I like to compare “Club 27” to Pink Floyd’s “Great Gig In The Sky” Both albums cover life experiences and the human condition in their own way with a song about death placed near the end. The segue from “The Future “ to “No More Worries Company “ begins the journey. Just a couple thoughts.
New album, long car ride, and plenty of java sounds perfect.
JP
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Hi JP, I like your comparison of Club 27 to Great Gig In The Sky. Thanks for your input! Just like with Pink Floyd albums, for me “Wish You Were Here” is the album I know well, MLT Orange album gives a meaningful experience when you listen to it in it’s entirety. I remember the first time I heard Orange, and “The Future” track came on, it immediately felt like there is something special going on with this album, and Sargent Peppers came top of mind. And I would add a nice cuppa Java to the car ride to make it even more perfect!
With the nicer weather starting to happen, and the snow melting in the mountain passes, I feel a road trip coming on soon for me.
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I love the way the album ends going from the wildest to the most tender moments in the album: Club 27 to Still A Friend of Mine. It illustrates the breadth of emotions the album takes you through, as well as the diversity in MLT music.
I think Hendricks and the Clapper would be very satisfied with the guitar work in Club 27, and I am sure would love to give it a go themselves.
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From the wildest Club 27 to the tenderest moment of Still A Friend of Mine, the album ends on a wonderful emotional roller coaster ride. You can’t help but feel alive by the end of the album.
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