Customer Reviews

Saint Dominic's Preview

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's impossible for me to be objective about Van Morrison and I'm not even gonna try. His music has meant more to me over the years than any other. This isn't my favorite Van Morrison album, Astral Weeks is, but I've chosen to review this one because I think it best represents the many facets of seventies era Van.The lesser tracks here are all pleasant Tupelo Honey style soft rock, and that ain't a bad thing, but the five star rating is based on four cuts that stand out even in the exceedingly high standard that Van has set in his thirty-plus year career. The first of these is the wonderful "Jackie Wilson Said" that finds an upbeat and jubilant Van scatting over cartwheeling horns, it should have been a massive hit. The title cut is a moving account of Van's life in the New World with the gospel overtones he uses like no other singer. This is a guy who could sing the Belfast phone book (and to the uninitiated it may sound like he is) and make it soulful and deep. Almost Independence Day returns Van to the long introspective tone poems of Astral Weeks and would be the standout cut on a great album were it not for the magnificent "Listen To The Lion". Uplifting, and heartbreaking at the same time, it lasts nearly ten minutes, and when it's over you'll want to hear it again. And then once more. It's simply the finest single song in this giant's considerable repetoire. Van confronts all his dreams, all his doubts and all of the tangled web of the celtic diaspora and emerges triumphant. Sound a little too heavy? No way. He has the gift of the true soul singer in his ability to make his soul searching his listener's as well. It's a gift, and Van Morrison gives it to anyone who wants it. And yes, that is heavy metal hero Ronnie Montrose strumming acoustic guitar behind the Man. He knows.

This album is classic Van Morrison. Van had an incredibly good run in the 60s and 70s, releasing his best five albums. These albums in chronilogical order are Astral Weeks, Moondance, His Band, Tupelo Honey and this album. All five of these albums are five star albums. This album ends that incredibly good run that few artists had. Buy all five of the mentioned albums.

Is there a more perfect album than this from the rock era? I can't think of one. This album takes you on a journey. It is the most well-rounded LP of Van Morrison's career. Whereas most of his albums choose a specific genre to mine, this is one of the few that gives you a taste of his different favorite styles: Punchy AM-radio pop-soul (Jackie Wilson Said), a fabulous, no holds barred soul-blues number (I Will Be There), a gorgeous, sentimental hippie anthem (Redwood Tree), two rewarding and never boring stretch-out/space out explorations (Listen to the Lion, Independence Day), and to top it all off, one of his most affecting major compositions, in the title track. The remastering is terrific, putting Van's still-youthful, roaring voice up front. This album has the same air of mystery as Astral Weeks, but with a more solid grounding in classic musical forms, its a mystery you can hum and tap your toes to. This was Van's artistic peak, and it's a joy.

After the astonishing first solo album "Astral Weeeks", Van Morrison's writing went through a very variable patch, where albums presented included traditional songs (Brown Eyed Girl) with more varied offerings (various tracks on Moondance and Tupelo Honey). St Dominic's Preview presents an assured hand at the end of this period, where the influence of the record industry has waned, and he has become his own man. Some small jazz influences (Jackie Wilson said) but the three sublime tracks on this LP are St Dominic's Preview, Listen to the Lion, and Independence Day. This is the peak of a journey started with "Madam George" on Astral Weeks. More assured, smoother, more approachable, voice somewhere near the widest range, great musicianship all combine into a small kind of perfection. After 25 years, in "St Dominic's Preview", the sound of the Irish immigrants approaching Ellis Island, and life in the New World is as powerful as ever.

There are three truly great songs on this album, "Listen to the Lion," "Almost Independence Day," and the title track, but what songs they are! The first two clock in at over ten minutes of some of the best music Morrison's ever recorded. Another song, "Jackie Wilson Said" would not be out of place on the soulful Morrison classic album "Moondance." Overall, this overlooked album is one of the best by an unbelivably underappreciated artist.

For some reason, this is one of his lesser known works. However, it is comfortably one of the best - alongside Moondance and Astral Weeks. However, the cd remaster is pox. There is no bass. Zip,Zero. Nada. To qualify that comment, I am a bit of an audiophile, use great sounding components - Arcam, Plinius, Magneplanar - and have the album on vinyl. The vinyl sounds great - rich and warm. Why are there no decent remasters of such an important, revered and basically great artist?!?

Once again a brilliant record from one of the greatest recording artists on earth. The range shown in these songs is stunning -- from romping ("Jackie Wilson Said") to short and very sweet ("Redwood Tree") -- to alluring ("Gypsy") -- to the show-stopper blues of "I Will Be There" -- to the three magnificent longer tracks, each tours-de-force that in many ways defy description. At least it can be said that these three works are the grand ruminations of an exile, or at least an expatriate, each with a character all its own. My personal favorite is "Listen to the Lion," one of my favorite tracks of all time on any record and an absolute glory--a completely captivating and transporting piece of work that has brought tears to my eyes on many occasions over the years. Then, though, the high standard of art set by "Lion" is actually met by the steadily burning fire in the heart of the operatic "Almost Independence Day" and by the sheer mastery, both musical and lyrical, of the title track. Folks, this album is without question the document of a genius.

'St Dominics Preview' is a wonderful collection of seven diverse songs. Within that framework though, Van Morrison creates some of the most majestic, moving and astonishing pop music I have ever heard. The twin masterpieces of "Listen to the Lion" and "Almost Independence Day" are so daring in length and fully realised in their musical execution that listening to them simply transports you to another place and another time. The reason I love Van Morrison's music is the rewards you receive every time you listen to his amazing and diverse music and this cd is no exception. Give it time to grow on you and you will be richly rewarded.

This is by far one of my favorite albums by Van, and in my opinion, one of the most underrated. A distinct combination of the lyrical stream-of-consciousness of "Astral Weeks" and the jazz/soul/pop of "Moondance" and "His Band and Street Choir", this album offers a combination of the best of these earlier offerings. Tracks like "Listen to the Lion", "Almost Independence Day" and the title track invoke that same introspective spirit as "Astral Weeks", while "Redwood Tree" and "Jackie Wilson Said" are more fun and body-moving. This is a masterpiece of these varying styles and one of the best albums of Van's, as well as the early '70s. Worth the price and then some.

Here Van Morrison has found the perfect balance between catchy, immediately accessible pop songs and the longer, atmospheric explorations that characterize his most serious work. The familiar Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile), a joyful celebration of life and music, opens this album of consistent quality and legendary songs. Gypsy is a tuneful rollicking number with a singalong chorus, whilst I Will Be There with its great keyboards and sax reverts to Morrison's familiar R&B territory. The mystical excursion Listen To The Lion is a masterpiece of spiritual yearning where Van uses his voice as an instrument at times, moaning and growling along with the music. The title track is another gem, this time with a west coast country rock sound. The melodic Redwood Tree is followed by another of his classic pieces, the sprawling Almost Independence Day with its profound lyrics and soulful feel. St Dominic's Preview is a brilliant album packed with great songs in a variety of styles that Morrison had mastered and made his own at this stage in his career.