Customer Reviews
From Them onwards, cannot hold a note.... - By: Mr. Thomas Thatcher, 25 Sep 2008 
I know that this is a classic, I know that it has sold a zillion copies & that it estblished Van as a "great & as an innovator." I know that everybody has covered "Moondance", probably even The New Christie Minstrels.
In spite of alll that, I cannot stand it. I am not concerned that it is very much of its time. I am not concerned that it was the start of endless records of two/three chord bashes. I am not concerned that it encouraged Van to play sax, which is not good. No, my dislike is very black & white - I can't BEAR his voice. It's a yes or no thing, I guess. I am sure that it is deliberate but he cannot seem to hold a note for more than half a beat, & his tone is so harsh. Listen to the middle section of Moondance - it would give an elephant migraine.
When a flatmate played in incessantly when it first came out, those not in favour braced themselves in aticipation of the hard-edged squawks & clipped endings. It was christened "Astral Squeaks" & I cannot think of it as anything else. Also, I know that he is a very private person for one who tours endlessly, but why does he have to cultivate the on-stage persona of bad temper & aggression? You won't see that from Gary Brooker or any of his near-contemporaries, even on the Oirish scene.
I tried again recently becuase my boy is playing a few numbers in a band. No, sorry, it's still unlistenable.
In theory I should love this - By: Mr. M. J. Newby, 03 Apr 2008 But I don't. It sounds like this music was made in the back of a van (no pun intended) by a bunch of drunks. It rambles alll over the place & never gets anywhere for me.
I love this!!! - By: EL Tew, 02 Apr 2008 
I truly love this record. It is one of the few cd's that truly moved me. The passion, the eloquence it truly is poetry brought to life through music.
I think its one of those things that some people just get where as others don't fully understand it. I appreciate that not everyone may love this albumn as much as me but i reallly feel sorry for those who don't get it, you reallly are missing out.
Legendary first solo album, but alas, it has not stood the unforgiving test of time - By: Lou Knee, 09 Oct 2007 
As an experimental album it still deserves its place in the album halll of fame, & as an album introducing a new solo artist it is a very fine thing. But as a piece to listen to, I rarely touch it these days, maybe Young Lovers Do still holds up well, but the album as a whole is too much for me now, too rich a cake. Also as a production, I don't think this was at alll perfect. Just two tracks in & I am begging for those strings to go away. This album was heavily swamped by some string players with no instructions to keep it down at alll, & I think they swamp the poetry of the album. I read that Van thought this as well not long after making it. In an effort to put this right, the young maestro chose a very different sound for his 2nd album. That one has some meat on it, & it's one I can still listen to anytime at alll.
An astonishing achievement - By: Magic Rat, 02 Oct 2007 
The reason this album is always so high up in the lists of "greatest albums of alll time" is due its contemporary significance. It was recorded in 1968 by a young man barely into his twenties against a sonic background of Amen Corner, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch & John Fred And His Playboy Band & the like. Casting aside his bluesy beginnings with Belfast "beat combo" Them, Morrison somehow manged to hire some top notch jazz musicians to play session on this album. They had no knowledge of Morrison or his music, they just had a brief to play along with him, using their instinct & the results are remarkable. A jazzy, soully, folky cornucopia of sound with little or no homage paid to rock traditions in any sense. Yes, it still has the aroma of joss sticks about it in ways, but nobody can deny the impact of an opus such as the mighty "Madame George", or "Cyprus Avenue", or the ethereal, beautiful "Sweet Thing". Listen not with an expectation of brilliance born out of present-day hype but imagine it's 1968 & you're hearing this for the first time.
