1967 was a very key year in music history. The Beatles released what many say is their finest work, as well as the pinnacle album of psychedelia, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band”. Frank Zappa released his album “Absolutely Free”, which was dubbed the first rock opera. Pink Floyd released their first album, “The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn”. And one of the most important rock bands in American music up to this day, The Doors, released their first two albums; the first being the self titled “The Doors”, and the second “Strange Days”. When The Doors released their first album, they gave the unsuspecting music world a powerful punch to the face. The album contained powerful vocals by one of the most famous frontmen of all time, Jim Morrison, as well as dark but very flowing instrumental parts that capture the mood of the album as being mysterious and spooky. The album immediately hit success with tracks such as the pure and simple Break On Through (To The Other Side), Light My Fire, the song that brought the band money, fame and success, and the Doors magnum opus, The End. With a debut album that contains so many classics, as well as many other songs that are aggressive as hell, making a follow up to the kick ass debut would be one hell of a task right? Not for the Doors. Ten months after releasing their debut, The Doors released “Strange Days”. While it didn’t completely live up to the expectations people had hoped for, “Strange Days” still flew of the shelves. The album holds an even darker feel than the first album, while it has more mature and sophisticated instrumentation parts. “Strange Days” does omit some aspects, but it represents the Doors to the fullest.
The Doors are-
Jim Morrison- Vocals
Robby Krieger-Guitar
Ray Manzarek-Keyboard/Piano
John Densmore-Drums
Back in the day, I’m sure Doors fans first popped this album into there record player expecting to here upbeat songs and dreamy poetic lyrics, but they had no idea that they were in for a cosmic ride through the land of alienation, and darkness. The album throws you a curve with the first track, Strange Days. Strange Days is a very effect driven song. You can see that right from the first note of the song, with the dramatic and melodic keyboard part. Jim’s vocals run and play with the keyboard part the whole song. Both build up as the song progresses, giving the song and edgy and cunning feel. The bass line is the hook of the song, guiding and driving it all the while. Densmore sounds exceptional, improving on his rock style of drumming, and moving farther away from his jazz style of drumming. You’re Lost Little Girl is another one of the darker tunes off of “Strange Days”. The bass kicks the song off, setting the mood as being a haunting and sad melody. The keyboard adds to the darkness, mimicking that of an organ used at a funeral. The guitar also adds an almost Middle Eastern sound, truly making You’re Lost Little Girl one of the darkest songs on the album.
Next, enter the twisted and unruly world of Horse Latitudes. Would we even call this a song, or more of a demented poem with crazy effects that make Jim sound like he’s dying? “When the still sea conspires an armor and her sullen and aborted. Currents breed tiny monsters. True sailing is dead. Awkward instant, and the first animal is jettisoned. Legs furiously pumping. Their stiff green gallop. And heads bob up. Poise, Delicate, Pause, Consent. In mute nostril agony, carefully refined. And sealed over.” As the poem grows deeper, a menacing effect takes over that eventually swallows the song.
Up to this point, you may be thinking. “Oh great, a Doors album that is watered down with depression, just what I need! Who would want to waste their money on an album like this?” While some tracks are rather depressing, the album also has its upbeat tunes. Love Me Two Times is a perfect example of this. It’s got a classy and famous guitar part and a restless blues line all at the same time. Jim’s lyrics crescendo throughout the song. Everybody follows the lead of Jim. The keyboard part comes in and pulls out at the right spots. Manzarek also contributes with a complicated but exciting keyboard solo. The rest takes care of itself. Love Me Two Times is one of the dirtiest tracks off “Strange Days”, giving you that feeling that you want to get out of your chair and dance to it. Another upbeat happy song is Moonlight Drive. The keyboard part is abbreviated but sweet, and the guitar and bass mix perfectly together to fill in the gaps and flaws. The drum fills on this are laid back, but give you and in depth look at Densmore’s jazz style of drumming. Jim’s lyrics drone on a bit, but are still a key aspect of Moonlight Drive, really giving it a psychedelic and elegant feel.
While this album has a little bit of everything, the area that “Strange Days” is really strong is in the famous song department. While Strange Days and Love Me Two Times have their places in the minds of so many Doors fans, the two songs that stick out to me as classics off of “Strange Days” are People Are Strange, and When The Music’s Over. At the beginning of the song, People Are Strange sounds like a simple and wimpy song, but as the song progresses, the instrumentation continues to get more complicated and detailed. What can I say about Jim’s vocals on People Are Strange? They’re crisp, precise and go great with the stark sound of the song. People Are Strange is a definite hit, but the song that gives the album its momentum is When The Music’s Over. Many a time has it been compared to The End, the Doors epic song. It is almost as long as The End (When The Music’s over is 45 seconds shorter), but it has a way more upbeat tune. An almost funky keyboard part starts the song, as everybody soon joins. Robby Krieger has an absolute nasty guitar solo that totally shreds the song to pieces. Using effects is not something Krieger usually uses, but When The Music’s Over does not fall into that category, as the solo is effects galore. The bass part repeats over and over, but drives the song. Even though it sounds a bit eerie, the keyboard part is magnificent, though it does drag on in some parts. And of course, Jim. His vocals just capture the mood of the song, as well as transform the song in some specific parts. He adds a few of those legendary yells, really giving When The Music’s Over and almost chilling feel. The song abruptly ends, letting the goose bumps set in. Listening to this song the first time will leave you in awe at the end of the song.
While the songs on “Strange Days” are great, the instrumentation is a whole other aspect of “Strange Days”. The instrumentation on “Strange Days” is much improved from the instrumentation on “The Doors”, and is easy to tell with blistering solos, and sweet drum fills. People Are Strange is a perfect is example of this. The solos are less detailed than usual, but keep the balance of the song just perfectly. The drum fills are in all the right places. Another example of this on When The Music’s Over. The guitar solo is a lot more complicated than the one on People Are Strange, while the keyboard solo is flawless. It’s obvious that Densmore, Krieger and Manzarek had improved in the duration of time between “The Doors” and “Strange Days”.
“Strange Days” brings us the dark and evil sound that the Doors can posses, while at the same time, maintains the theme the Doors have throughout all of their albums. The album has its problems and flaws, whether its Jim’s lyrics droning on and on for way to long, or just a messy song. But it has its cons as well, like a wider range of genres played on the album, the instrumentation, and Jim’s vocals. “Strange Days” should be on most cd shelves, hence making it an accentual for any Doors fan to have.
4-5
Recommended Tracks
Strange Days
Love Me Two Times
Moonlight Drive
People Are Strange
When The Music’s Over
