CULLEN'S REVIEW
Frank Sinatra's "In the Wee Small Hours" is just as beautiful as it is significant. It arguably perfected the idea of the 'concept album' (up to the point, a 20 year old notion that had never been done so well). It heralded the triumphant return of Sinatra to the top of the charts, as his career had begun losing steam since the late 40s. It achingly expressed Sinatra's separation from Ava Gardner. And it showcased an expressive melancholy not usually associated with the 1950s (I mean, look at the cover art. It's as if that picture alone inspired Tom Waits' entire career).
Frank Sinatra's "In the Wee Small Hours" is just as beautiful as it is significant. It arguably perfected the idea of the 'concept album' (up to the point, a 20 year old notion that had never been done so well). It heralded the triumphant return of Sinatra to the top of the charts, as his career had begun losing steam since the late 40s. It achingly expressed Sinatra's separation from Ava Gardner. And it showcased an expressive melancholy not usually associated with the 1950s (I mean, look at the cover art. It's as if that picture alone inspired Tom Waits' entire career).
But what most effected me about this album was how open it was; how honest. Every generation believes they invented heartbreak. And of course, every generation is wrong (it was the generation before, duh). And here we have Frank Sinatra, one of history's men talking about how shattered he is over his ex. The album is vulnerable and heartsick and bittersweet and gorgeous. And it's a perfect start to this project.
Best song on the album: "In the Wee Small Hours". Track 1, side 1, and the title track of the whole album. It's also the only original song on the album. All the other tracks are toned down, greyscale covers of old standards. But this is the song that set the entire tone. Frank leads off with a tall scotch, neat, in a dark bar. And he doesn't leave his stool for the next 15 tracks. It's a perfect beginning.
Dark Horse track on the album: "Deep in a Dream". The song tells a perfect start-to-finish story of a heartbroken fella dozing off and dreaming of his old flame. While sleeping, he's reunited with his old love. And for a time, he's with her again, and everything is as it was. And he's happy. Of course the dream ends (with a perfectly timed orchestra hit at "I awake with a start"), and he's left realizing that everything was all in his sleepy head. It ends on a melancholy note, as he promises that "every memory [he'll] keep / awake or asleep / deep in a dream of you". Man alive. Heartbreaking.
The Perfect Album For: Rainy days, late nights with brown liquors, cloudy, snowy mornings, and general heartbreaks. (Don't overdo that last one, though)
Will I add it to my normal rotation?: Absolutely. I had a lot of fun listening to this album. This one is definitely getting put into the rotation.
DOLAN'S RESPONSE
My initial reaction to "In the Wee Small Hours" was that this was a great album to do other things to. It seemed to be natural background music for doing things like folding laundry, reading books, or writing second-rate music reviews of influential albums.
It is possible to take my observation as an insult, to interpret it as saying that the music is too boring to enjoy on its own merits, but I prefer to think of it as a compliment, that the music so competently evokes mood that it is more relatable on a subconscious level than a conscious one. All in all, this is an enjoyable record, even if no particular track other than the title track stands out to me.
Will I add it to my normal rotation?: Absolutely. I had a lot of fun listening to this album. This one is definitely getting put into the rotation.
DOLAN'S RESPONSE
My initial reaction to "In the Wee Small Hours" was that this was a great album to do other things to. It seemed to be natural background music for doing things like folding laundry, reading books, or writing second-rate music reviews of influential albums.
It is possible to take my observation as an insult, to interpret it as saying that the music is too boring to enjoy on its own merits, but I prefer to think of it as a compliment, that the music so competently evokes mood that it is more relatable on a subconscious level than a conscious one. All in all, this is an enjoyable record, even if no particular track other than the title track stands out to me.
