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I had a very different, wordier review, but circumstances demanded that it be rewritten and here we are
I'll speed through what was my original and slightly trolly introduction: I haven't listened to much by John Cale, i do like (but not love) VU&N, but the one piece of work of his that i adore is his playing on, and other additions to, the track Northern Sky by Nick Drake. That song is an absolute breath of fresh air and Cale's contributions to the song lend the track an air of mystery ... read more
It sounds like the cover, as if John is a European noble performing his trade in front of high society to provide distraction from the fear brought upon by WWI. The title track is simply gorgeous and majestic and would be one of my highest recommendations for a song you have to hear before you die.
Before 'Paris 1919' Cale's solo work had been intriguing but you could be forgiven for scratching your head at the lack of any sort of touch of genius you might have expected to find from a key song writer from The Velvet Underground - with this 1973 release he finally delivered on that potential.
The first four tracks make up a near perfect suite of gentle orchestral songs with by turns heartfelt and witty lyrics that betray the huge nostalgia Cale clearly felt for his childhood and the ... read more
John Cale's Paris 1919 stands out from other 1970s rock music with its artistic direction, beautiful instrumentals, interesting stylistic choices, and aesthetic. This feels like an album from a gentle, creative mind, and while it isn't perfect, Paris 1919's efforts shouldn't go unrewarded.
I'm not sure if the album's somewhat lo-fi sound is intentional or simply a limitation of Cale's resources at the time, but either way, it works perfectly. Other albums using his technique in regards to his ... read more
Enchanting
Fav track: the endless pain of fortune
Least fav track: Childs Christmas in wales
This is my favorite post velvet underground project by any member of the group. I also happen to think it’s just one of the best records ever made and it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. John Cales arranging styles and writing make this a baroque pop masterpiece.
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Track List
| 1 | Child's Christmas in Wales 3:20 | 89 |
| 2 | Hanky Panky Nohow 2:45 | 83 |
| 3 | The Endless Plain of Fortune 4:12 | 89 |
| 4 | Andalucia 3:54 | 87 |
| 5 | Macbeth 3:08 | 90 |
| 6 | Paris 1919 4:06 | 93 |
| 7 | Graham Greene 3:00 | 85 |
| 8 | Half Past France 4:19 | 89 |
| 9 | Antarctica Starts Here 2:46 | 86 |
Total Length: 31 minutes
Year End Lists
| #20 | / | Paste |
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Added on: March 29, 2013