Foreigner - Foreigner
Track List:
Feels like the First Time
Cold as Ice
Starrider
Headknocker
The Damage is Done
Long, Long way from Home
Woman Oh Woman
At War with the World
Fool for You Anyway
I Need You
A note before I start my listen
This one is the first album that I’ve listened to in this venture that I think I’ve heard every song on the album at some point. I do not know every song on the album however I believe there will be no completely new material for me here. I enjoy the songs I do recognize their names so I anticipate a pleasant experience. Now to don my cans for auditory amusement.
Feels like the First Time
I remember this song from my youth, when it played on classic rock radio then. It’s a love song. I’ve never done a critical listen to this before and there are some percussive elements I’ve not noticed before. I am not sure if they are from the guitar or the drummer or if they have a dedicated percussionist. The song is like something that is verging upon being proggy but then decides to be a pop song. The song is about being in love with someone.
Cold as Ice
Another song that played on the classic rock station when I was a child. I didn’t realize these songs were on the same album until today and I wonder if these are about the same person as Feels Like the First Time or if they are unrelated. If related I hope that this is the realization that the narrator should end a relationship and Feels like the First Time, finding a new love. I don’t think this is a concept album. The song is enjoyable. I like the composition.
Starrider
Now this one is different, start with a flute and key duet. Spacy! A song about space travel. I enjoy the chorus, the layer and climbing the chord with vocals. That was different. I would be interested in hearing it live because I think the instrumental section could be greatly expanded upon.
Headknocker
A rock song. The legend of Headknocker, the jealous ruffian who is also a great musician. It’s a fun song, not something that makes you think too much about it.
The Damage is Done
A slower song? This song builds and builds. When the style grows from just a build more, the lyrics are scathing. A breakup song. And the release OMG! I hate that I typed that but I can’t think of another expression that comes close to properly describe the burst into that solo. And then slamming the door on any chance of reconciliation to end the song.
Long, Long way from Home
I think out of the songs I knew prior to this listen this was my favorite. I like the stage that is set with the synth and guitar. The song is a guy promising his spouse that he is going to support them both which is why he is heading to NYC from the small town they are from. He arrives and misses her.
Woman Oh Woman
I like the worming intro. And this sounds British. The narrator feels overwhelmed by his spouse. I like the melody played with the keys. I don’t think this is a concept album but I feel like it could be arranged in such a way to describe a relationship from meeting to a breakup. Or at least selections of the album could
At War with the World
Metal. The song is a description of independence in an anarchistic viewpoint. Just trying to get by and however everything seems to conflict with the narrator’s beliefs, they are determined to live the way they want regardless of what others think. I feel that there are parallels with the attitudes presented in this song and some modern political movements. The thought of that is worrisome.
Fool for You Anyway
Okay an acoustic, lighter sound. A pop song about missing a lover. Shares a theme with Woman oh Woman, describing a massive amount of crying. That last thought isn’t important to anything, just a note I thought was interesting.
I Need You
Another spacy sounding one. This is an experimental one I believe. Much more like Zappa than the rest of the album. This sounds like a song that you would hear towards the end of a concert, a deeper cut that you can jam to and do interesting solos. Which they do.
Thoughts after a listen
This is an interesting album. The whole thing seems a bit experimental. There were a lot of different types of music made for this single album. The writing was inconsistent I felt. Quite a few songs ended with a single line sung over and over for half the length of the song. Overall, I think that there were some strong points, but the music doesn't sound very complex, and the lyrics are often repetitive. (See what I did there)?
