John Lennon
Plastic Ono Band
60s 70s John Lennon's 1970 official solo debut is as remarkable for its startling contrast to the Beatles as it is for the passion and force of its songwriting Strippeddown gripping and emotionally resonant 'Plastic Ono Band' has little to do with the hookheavy pop of his early Beatles work or the psychedelic wordsalad approach of his songs on 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band' and 'Abbey Road' Instead this is an album of intensely confessional songs that lay bare the personal demons Lennon was trying to exorcise at the time the ghosts of fame family faith and individual identity among them The sound of the album is straightforward and hardhitting Spare lean rock arrangements with piano drums bass and guitar frame the songs effectively letting Lennon's narratives carry the weight The songs are shot through with bitterness 'I Found Out' disillusionment 'God' and regret 'Mother' but there are also moments of hope in 'Hold On' and the achingly beautiful 'Love' which ranks alongside the very best of Lennon's ballads Lennon was undergoing primal scream therapy during these sessions and the results can be heard overtly the strained vocals of 'Well Well Well' and in the rage and anguish of his harrowingly honest songwriting This is one of the finest singer songwriter albums of this or any eraLP Heavyweight 180 Gram vinyl
Tracklist
1. Mother
2. Hold On
3. I Found Out
4. Working Class Hero
5. Isolation
6. Remember
7. Love
8. Well Well Well
9. Look At Me
10. God
11. My Mummy's Dead