The stunning debut from The Doors (The Doors - The Doors)

Member Name: DanielKemp

Product:	The Doors - The Doors
Date:	06/04/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant poetry, wonderful musicians, at least 3 classic songs

Disadvantages: Alabama Song still sucks

The Doors were formed in 1965 and had a relatively short recording career, primarily due to the death of front man and lyricist, Jim Morrison. That's what most of you probably know all ready, but how many of us have actually sat down and listened to their incredibly good back catalogue?

The first thing that strikes you about The Doors is that they had it all. Guitarist Robby Krieger was incredibly adept at writing memorable riffs and performing blues solos that can get your toe tapping and your head bopping in an instant. Yet, he isn't the most significant figure of the band. Maybe it was Keyboardist Ray Manzarek, who even manages to trump almost every Krieger riff by some incredibly intuitive keyboard line. See the solo in Light My Fire that lasts for a good few several minutes, it is entirely hypnotic.

Yet still, even he wasn't the greatest member of The Doors.

Ladies and Gentleman, I introduce to you... Drummer John Densmore... JUST KIDDING! While no slouch on the drums, you didn't think I was going to hand over the 'definite 1960's rock 'n' roll star' award to a drummer *giggles*!

I'm talking about none other than self-destructive icon for the 20th century, Jim Morrison. And this is why the band disbanded after his death. He is what made The Doors and what carried them. His cryptic lyrics, his unpredictable on stage performances and his bar room baritone.

It's very rarely that you find a band with 100% suited members. I can think of about 5 bands, and even then it's a struggle. Which brings me nicely to my next point - Whichever song you are listening to with The Doors, whether it be the oh so very good opening number Break on Through (To the Other Side) or the aforementioned 7 minute strut of Light My Fire, you are left entirely convinced that these songs couldn't in any way, shape or form, be improved upon. This is how they were meant to be sung, this is how they were meant to be arranged and this is how they were meant to be performed.

Well, I'd like to nominate Soul Kitchen as the best song on the album. It just is the zenith of bluesy funk and the way Krieger's guitar mimics Manzarek's keyboard is a thing of beauty! The cherry on the icing though is the way Morrison delivers the lyric "Well, your fingers weave quick min-a-rets; speak in se-cret alpha-bets, I light another cig-a-rette". It is the epitome of cool, and you just know that Morrison wrote that lyric from memory.

Also memorable is Take It as It Comes which really encompasses what rock 'n' roll from The Doors is to me - energetic drumming, terrific keyboards, spiralling guitar and Morrison's largely nonsensical yet enchanting lyrics.

I'm not going to tell you much about the closing song The End, other than it is a masterpiece. It consists of some of Morrison's most darkly surreal lyrics/poetry married to some of the best music The Doors ever composed. It is a beautifully realised piece of music where everything comes together and in turn allows the listener to experience something extraordinary. I'm not saying it should last for over 11 minutes. But when it is good, it is flawless.

There is little else I can say about this album really. It's one of those solid gold classics that you really need to hear yourself to appreciate.

9/10

Daniel Kemp

Find me at www.danielkemp.webs.com

Summary: A must buy album for any music fan!