John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
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Category: Music CD
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CD Details
Artist: John ColtraneEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2003-08-19
Music Label: Impulse/Verve
Soundtracks:
- Acknowledgement
- Resolution
- Pursuance
- Psalm
Music reviews of A Love Supreme
Music Review: Do you like jazz? You need this album. Do you hate jazz? You still need this album. Do you like music? You NEED this album.
Rating: 5 Stars
My opinions on this record are going to be nothing new than what's already been said. In case you are wondering, it IS everything that people have said it is and more. I would venture to call it the greatest jazz album of all-time (yeah, I like it better than 'Kind of Blue,' although both are great albums that you absolutely must own). I don't care what kind of music you like, whether it be punk, rap, electronica, '50s rock, I really don't care. If you don't own 'A Love Supreme,' buy it now. No matter how tight your budget is, buy it now. There are few albums that are truly life-changing experiences. This is one of them.
However, I will say this: DO NOT listen to this album in stages. Some albums (like 'Pet Sounds' by The Beach Boys) are great, but the songs can be listened to individually. Not so here. To fully appreciate the album, you have to actually *listen* to the album start to finish each time. Personally, I think any song (namely 'Acknowledgement') should stop appearing on compilations, because it just doesn't blend there. 'A Love Supreme' is more than just an album; it is a statement. It is the musical equivalent of what 'The Great Gatsby' is to American literature: it paints a picture in your mind. Almost like a landscape. That is the effect of this album. So, no, you can't just listen to one individual song here without hearing the others. It just doesn't work that way.
The music, on the other hand, is what the review on hand here is for. Well, what more is there to be said? It is so otherworldly that I don't think words can describe it. I truly don't. With Jimmy Garrison on bass, McCoy Tyner (he's still alive and tours frequently -- go see him if you get the chance, but that's a different review altogether) on piano, and the great Elvin Jones on drums, Coltrane has a rock solid backing section that compliments him perfectly. The quartet plays their absolute hearts out, and why Coltrane gets individual billing here is a mystery. The other three helped make this album what it is; this isn't a John Coltrane album, rather it is a John Coltrane Quartet album.
The chanting, the haunting musicianship, the staggering time changes, and the sheer complexity of the music on hand simply cannot help but immerse you in it. It's like a vacuum; it sucks you in. Regardless of whether or not you like jazz, you don't have a record collection (or a CD or MP3 collection, rather), if 'A Love Supreme' is not in it. It is just that simple. Coltrane was going places that nobody had never seen nor dreamt of by this point. The man is as brilliant as Albert Einstein, and I have proof to back up that statement: right here.
So, as you can see, I cannot get enough of 'A Love Supreme.' It's more than just an album. It is a statement. It is the musical equivalent of a painting. It sounds good regardless of what mood you are in. It's aggressive, but at the same time, it's soft, quiet, and almost healing. I can't help but listen to this album frequently. It's just too great of an album to not own. I know I'm repeating myself, but it is the absolute truth.
Is this my favorite Coltrane album? No. 'Interstellar Space,' the 1974 album that was released posthumously containing his free form February 1967 recordings, holds that honor. But that album is most definitely not for everybody. It is improvisational, and if you are a casual listener, it is nearly impossible to listen to and dig almost immediately (I did, but I'm willing to bet that the average person would not). The post-1965 stuff is definitely an acquired taste for many. 'A Love Supreme,' however, can be and should be appreciated by everyone. It is approachable, diverse, and ever so easy to appreciate. If you aren't in awe of Coltrane and his Quartet's playing by the end of the record, there is seriously something wrong with you.
Overall, this is perhaps the greatest jazz album of all-time. Is it my favorite jazz album of all-time? No, it isn't. But it's close. Very, VERY close. I can honestly say my life wouldn't be complete without this album, let alone my CD collection. Very few albums are deserving of five stars in my opinion, but on a scale of 1 to 5, 'A Love Supreme' ranks at 100,000. Yes, it is THAT great. But even saying that is an understatement.
Stop reading my review right now. Go buy it. It's that simple. If you don't have it, you need it. No human being should live their life without hearing 'A Love Supreme' at least once. I don't rank a lot of things 5 stars, but this album is more than deserving of it.
Highly, highly, highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend. Go buy it now. Don't waste another minute. Buy it and listen to the musical tapestry that is woven by the John Coltrane Quartet.
An ***ESSENTIAL*** album to have.
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