Album of the day (#2316): Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis - Music

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Today's album of the day

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis (View album | Buy this album)

Year: 1959.
Country:

Overall rank: 37
Average rating: 89/100 (from 1411 votes).

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Tracks:
1. So What
2. Freddie Freeloader
3. Blue In Green
4. All Blues
5. Flamenco Sketches

About album of the day: The BestEverAlbums.com album of the day is the album appearing most prominently in member charts in the previous 24 hours. If an album, or artist, has previously been selected within a x day period, the next highest album is picked instead (and so on) to ensure a bit of variety. A full history of album of the day can be viewed here.

stangetzaway

Gender: Male

Age: 54

Location: Melbourne

Popular music could go on for thousands of years and I'm not sure there could be anything better than Kind of Blue. It's about the only perfect album I've heard. Imagine if It'd been played in the right key!

Fischman

RockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMaster

Gender: Male

Location: Land of Enchantment

Dissenting opinion here.
Great jazz album? Undoubtedly.
Best ever? Not even close.

I do love the contributions from Coltrane and Cannonball. Bringing both of them into this effort was brilliant. And Bill Evand too? Waht a critical mass of talent! The album is marvelous, unique, groundbreaking, seminal; all those things. But there are still many I rank above it, including some from Miles' own catalog.

Mercury

Turn your back on the pay-you-back last call

Gender: Male

Location: St. Louis

For my money the greatest album ever made. Definitely my favorite album of all time. On every level this thing is pure, crystalline beauty. I honestly am in awe of this band's playing every time I hear this. And there's no moment of this record I would imagine changing.

Also, yes, super influential, cool cover pic, every band member is a star in and of themselves, etc. Miles is just so brilliant.
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-Ryan

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Fischman

RockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMaster

Gender: Male

Location: Land of Enchantment

Mercury wrote:

Also, yes, super influential, cool cover pic, every band member is a star in and of themselves, etc. Miles is just so brilliant.

This album is brilliant on a number of levels, but Miles' actual playing is probably least among them. The composition is ground-breaking and the band formed is one for the ages. But when it comes to the actual playing, Evans and the sax cats outshine Miles somewhat, so for me thecover photo is a bit of a non-sequitur. Yeah, Miles is the leader and yes, he is a trumpet player, but a number of other cover concepts would have been more meaningful in my mind.

Mercury

Turn your back on the pay-you-back last call

Gender: Male

Location: St. Louis

Fischman wrote:

This album is brilliant on a number of levels, but Miles' actual playing is probably least among them. The composition is ground-breaking and the band formed is one for the ages. But when it comes to the actual playing, Evans and the sax cats outshine Miles somewhat, so for me thecover photo is a bit of a non-sequitur. Yeah, Miles is the leader and yes, he is a trumpet player, but a number of other cover concepts would have been more meaningful in my mind.

I disagree. Miles was not as technically proficient as the others in the band, I'll grant you that. But the soul of the sound the record comes from his distinct lonesome, understated Trumpet sound. Also as the mastermind who created the framework in which the other legends here could play, I think it makes sense with the cover and for him to be at the forefront.

Admittedly, after typing about how cool the cover was, i took another look at it and changed my mind. It's alright, I really like it, and i feel it captures the kind of blue mood of the record (most notably Blue In Green"), I don't think its truly an all-time brilliant album cover.
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ONLY 4% of people can understand this chart! Come try!

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Fischman

RockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMaster

Gender: Male

Location: Land of Enchantment

Mercury wrote:

Also as the mastermind who created the framework in which the other legends here could play, I think it makes sense with the cover and for him to be at the forefront.

To me, something depicting that would have been a better/more appropriate pic. Maybe Miles in front of the studio room with the others sitting with their instruments. I'm sure there were lots of pics taken during these sessions. If not, they could have been.

I liken this to some of Mingus' great albums. Mingus is much the same--an amazing composer and an assembler of fine ensembles; his actual bass playing, while excellent, is secondary to the other things he brings to the project. Mingus is not shown playing his bass on "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady."

Hayden

Location: Vietnam

Fischman wrote:

I liken this to some of Mingus' great albums. Mingus is much the same--an amazing composer and an assembler of fine ensembles; his actual bass playing, while excellent, is secondary to the other things he brings to the project. Mingus is not shown playing his bass on "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady."

Disagree with the first bit, and I don't understand the last bit.

And Kind of Blue is unquestionably a masterwork. I can't really add anything to it that hasn't already been said.

Fischman

RockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMaster

Gender: Male

Location: Land of Enchantment

Hayden wrote:

Fischman wrote:

I liken this to some of Mingus' great albums. Mingus is much the same--an amazing composer and an assembler of fine ensembles; his actual bass playing, while excellent, is secondary to the other things he brings to the project. Mingus is not shown playing his bass on "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady."

Disagree with the first bit, and I don't understand the last bit.

And Kind of Blue is unquestionably a masterwork. I can't really add anything to it that hasn't already been said.

Maybe you're not understanding the second part since you don't agree with the first part? If you accept the premise that Mingus' greatest contribution is other than his bass playing (I know from your post that you don't but just think if you did), than him actually playing bass on the album cover wouldn't be the most appropriate image.

Just for fun, here's some other opinions on Kind of Blue:

"A relaxing jazz album with plenty of expression and talented playing that lacks any real standout moments."
"To people who are educated in jazz music, Kind of Blue is often labeled as overrated. That’s somewhat true considering Davis didn’t do anything too unique or interesting and played fairly simple music that had been being played well before Kind of Blue came out in 1959. "
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/1187...d-of-Blue/

"Yet for some jazz lovers, the attention given to Kind of Bluecan rankle. Not that it does not deserve the accolades: accessible, innovative, atmospheric, the work has rare appeal across musical divides and a deep well of invention that continues to surprise after scores of listenings.
But there are many jazz recordings of equal power and influence – from Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Sevensto Duke Ellington’s Blanton- Webster-era masterpieces to Charlie Parker’s Savoy sessions – that rarely get a look-in from the general public."
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/prais...n-1.712758

And there are many, many more from various jazz fans.
"I'm really sick of this album. I've been listening to Milestones, which is basically the same band that plays on Blue, but it's so much more enjoyable, because the band is just whooping it up. On Kind of Blue, they sound like Miles' mom is sleeping next door to the studio and they're trying not to wake her up. It's a good album for a certain mood, but it's just really boring compared to a lot of other jazz albums. I know the "famous album is overrated""
"I just think it's boring. Like, if you looked in the dictionary for the word "Boring", Kind of Blue would be the primary definition. Seriously, does anyone feel me here?"
"I can understand it's influence and importance but it just doesn't speak to me at all. My opinion is of course biased but I personally don't get all the fuss over it. Upon first listen, In A Silent Way struck me as much more awe-inspiring than KOB."

Mercury

Turn your back on the pay-you-back last call

Gender: Male

Location: St. Louis

bah. I dislike that argument ever being used. "This is a fine album, but why is it getting more attention than my favorites?! I know lots and lots about jazz. I'm smart!". Especially as it relates to this album. Usually after a bit of talking about how influential and great the record is, they let loose a bunch of other albums that the writer assumes fans of Kind of Blue haven't heard. It annoys me.
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-Ryan

ONLY 4% of people can understand this chart! Come try!

My Fave Metal - you won't believe #5!!!