The Doors (1967)
Jim Morrison, a great artist? Well he certainly thought so. Look at the cover of this album and tell me someone doesn’t have delusions of grandeur or an overflow of pretentiousness. It’s as if the other members of the band are just secondary tools to be used for the Great One’s musical and lyrical visions. It just so happens, though, that Robbie Krieger is mostly responsible for the best song here, the epic “Light My Fire”. I’m not saying Morrison couldn’t write…I’m saying that the other members could too. That goes unnoticed when your lead singer inhabits the vocals the way Morrison can (that’s a compliment). Anyone who thinks this is a great, classic album has obviously not heard the entire thing; there are some truly boring moments, especially near “the end”.
(“Light My Fire”, “Break On Through”)
Grade: B
2010: Oops…I overlooked the songs they didn’t write.
Grade: B+
Waiting For The Sun (1968)
“Hello, I Love You” may be the most blatantly commercial song they’ve ever recorded. “Love Street” is a mildly tuneful exercise. Those are the first two songs. The rest is basically soft/love songs that are so sickeningly sweet they would be frown-producing if they weren’t so pitifully funny. This guy is a Rock God? I’ll take Robbie Krieger any day over the pretentious and overblown Morrison. I mean, if he wasn’t sexy I think they’d have quite a bit of difficulty pushing this horsesh1t on the poor poor pitiful public that is their fanbase.
Grade: D
2010: Not quite as nauseating as I had originally thought.
Grade: D+
Morrison Hotel (1970)
The first side is rock-solid and undeniable. The second side is forgettable and unnecessary. Morrison’s vocals throughout are right on the money. Soft, loud, louder…he’s got it all covered. This album actually rivals the quality of their debut.
(“Waiting For The Sun”, “Blue Monday”)
Grade: B
2010: The Lizard Elevating Moment.
Grade: B+
Greatest Hits (1996)
I’ve always liked The Doors, even though I’ve never really had much use for Jim Morrison the great poet. The Doors were not just Morrison, as a quick look at their songwriting credits will tell you (hello, Robbie Krieger). The Doors were good despite Morrison’s poetry, not because of. If there was one good thing Morrison was, it was a very good singer and (ok, two things) a confident, sexy, and commanding stage presence. Can’t argue much with these selections, although I do wish they could have squeezed “Waiting For The Sun” on the album. Nonetheless, a great album, well worth owning. And kudos for having the sense to rip ‘Hagakure’.
(“Break On Through”, “Light My Fire”, “Riders On The Storm”)
Grade: A