I don't get it...Exile on main Street-Blue


I love to listen to great podcast/interviews with great musicians. Last night i listened to Rick Beato interview Maynard from the great band Tool. Besides being a fantastic conversation, Maynard told Rick the two most influential albums for his music inspiration are Joni Mitchell Blue, and Black Sabbath's first self titled record.

I understand and love Black Sabbaths first record, but I have listened to JM Blue countless times and just don't understand what the hype is. Full disclosure I love female vocalists, and I also love Joni's  Court and a Spark. With that said I have heard many musicians rave about Blue. Please enlighten me-what am I missing ?

The other head scratcher for me is Exile on Main Street by the Stones. Again I have heard many musicians rave about this double album. I don't get it... Beggars Banquet-Let it Bleed-Sticky Fingers are so much better in my opinion, but just like Blue, It seems like musicians much prefer Exile on Main Street.

I know its all subjective...but these are two records I have never learned to appreciate. Thoughts ?

krelldog

The reasons why so many musicians mention these albums? Firstly, that Joni Mitchell’s Blue used many unique guitar tunings and sounds while also being such a highly emotional and autobiographical album. It communicated in a highly sophisticated, musical and lyrical way her breakup from Graham Nash (Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash) with both the music and lyrics working as one to create a very personal yet relatable album that is a complete musical work of art.

With The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street is seen by musicians as covering so many genres of music and incorporating their free spirit approach to making music while acting as the pinnacle of all their earlier albums. Basically it’s now regarded by many musicians as their most musically important hard rock album.

Does this mean that Blue and Exile on Main Street are their best albums? From some aspects yes, but from the general public’s perspective not necessarily so.

Music is an art form. We all like different things which can change over time as well.. As most understand here as well, this also can apply to the sound systems that reproduce the music.