Yoko Ono's "Plastic Ono Band" was released to coincide with her husband, John Lennon's, album of the same name. The cover art is almost identical (with a few subtle differences), and, believe it or not, so is the musical content.
The trick to listening to any Yoko album is not to approach it expecting pop music. Approach it with an open mind, open ears, and open heart. That said, certainly, John's "P.O.B." is much more accessible than Yoko's, but equally as harrowing. Both are powerful, direct, counterphobic assaults on pain and outrage. Key difference here: Yoko's "P.O.B." contains no actual words. She expresses herself here through wordless howls and largely improvised musical arrangements. Musically, she anticipates punk by almost five years (don't believe me? Check out "Why" and then try to argue your point with me!), and completely burns the barriers of what's allowed and what's not in music.
If you like the typical song structure (verse-chorus-verse-verse-chorus-break-middle-eight-chorus-out) and nothing else, "Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band" is not for you, stay far away from this album. But, if you're looking to give your eardrums a break from the formulaic schlock on the radio these days and listen to something truly innovative, get this one. Follow the booklet's advice: play it in the dark.
