One Review for The Faces
This one, Nod, and Ooh La la. I own three faces albums/CDs. I like them all about the same so I can only see reviewing them one time. There is something that I like about Ron Wood and the basic straight-on style of his guitar work and I guess that is the only reason I own three of their CDs. I think Rod is OK, but I have never been overwhelmed by him nor have I really understood his massive appeal. I first heard these guys when they were with Jeff Beck and I still think that was the best work that any of them have ever done. I think Long Player seems to be the most consistant of their stuff and I prefer listening to it over the other two. I just don't really appreciate the constant drunken bar band mentality of a lot of what they seem to generate and I am not a keyboard fan. There are very few highs and lows, just the same sound, same mentality. They really could have used a song writer who could generate a lot of material(Lane just wasn't enough). I guess that explains the difference between this level of success and the Stones. The Stones (Jagger/Richard) are tuff to touch, and The Faces really don't come close. .
All Music Guide is Wrong About This One
I like "A Nod is Better Than a Wink. . " immensely, as should anyone who has a pulse and an appreciation for rock n' roll, but this album falls far short. I have tried again and again to acquire a taste for this one, but it is just too bland. There are, however, a couple of rockers that are major highlights. Those are "Bad 'n' Ruin" and "Had Me a Real Good Time," but as I've said before, the slow songs, which comprise a huge chunk of the record, are real sleepers. For completists only.
Incredible!
When I played "Bad N Ruin," I was blown away. I remember seeing this album in the bargain bin in the early 1990's and seeing Ron Wood, I thought it might be good, but was perplexed as to what the hell Rod Stewart was doing there. It is easily one of the greatest hard rock/rock n roll songs of all time. I then ventured into more Rod Stewart and Faces albums from 1969-1972. Yes, he was that good. Yes, he sucks now. But, to his credit, he did leave a lot of great music in those brief four years (four Faces albums and four solo albums). I recommend getting all eight (and Jeff Beck's truth). Had they continued in this style, I am fully confident they would have eclipsed the mighty Stones.
Greatest Bar Band Ever?
The party obviously followed them off stage and into the recording studio. The Faces were sloppy. Thank God.
"Long Player" may not be their best album, but who cares. Bluesy licks? Got it. Hammond organ? Got it? Rod Stewart back when he was ROD F'N STEWART? Got it. Ronnie Wood before he was a marginalized sidekick? Got it.
Buy. Listen. Enjoy. .
A bit flawed but enjoyable cd
This is when they went into the studio to record their second album, Long Player. After their first album went mostly unnoticed by critics and public alike, Faces began to tour heavily and their popularity soared. An uneven affair but it's got its charm.
The first track, Bad'n'Ruin, is a midtempo rocker, not as loud as the ones that open their next (and last) two albums. It's a good song with some room for Kenny Jones, Ian McLagan and Ronnie Wood to show off.
Tell Everyone is one of the best ballads ever, written by Lane though it's Rod Stewart who sings it. Over a simple drum beat and piano and soft guitar Rod sings a lyric about love and waking up with your loved one beside you. . While not a very original lyric, the musical landscape actually makes it a gorgeous song.
Sweet Lady Mary is a country/folk song, similar to some stuff to be found in Stewart's discography back then. Kenny Jones doesn't play on this one. The music here is Hammond organ, acoustic guitar and pedal steel guitar. Rod sings it one more time.
Richmond is an acoustic blues song, only feauting its writer - Ronnie Lane. Another gorgeous song. One wonders where all these people would have been were it not for the great bluesmen.
Maybe I'm Amazed is a Paul McCartney song, recorded live in New York, that puts the original to shame. Here Lane and Stewart share lead vocals.
Had Me A Real Good Time is another of the few rockers to grace this album. I dig it but feels uncomplete despite its almost 6 minutes running time. A guitar solo would sure have helped. Instead we have the only appearance of a horn section in a Faces album, something we can all be grateful for.
On The Beach is the only turkey on the cd. The vocals are barely audible and if this made the album it shows the band were not on top of their creativity. I guess nobody would miss this song if it wasn't included.
The other live cut is a rousing cover of Big Bill Broonzy's I Feel So Good. Good version, with plenty of room for McLagan and Wood's solos. I enjoy the audience participation, directed by Rod Stewart.
The closing track, an instrumental version of Jerusalem, is another solo effort, this time by Ronnie Wood. A nice performance.
In a nutshell: a somewhat uneven album but enjoyable, as usual with Faces.
You can see a complete list of all Faces discography, or go back to the Faces tabs
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