Nilesblog

#84

Harry Nilsson

Nilsson Schmilsson (1971)

Harry Nilsson got to party with the Beatles. John Lennon loved him. When asked which American songwriters they admired, John and Paul said Harry Nilsson. It is easy to see the connection on Nilsson Schmilsson. You cannot manufacture a finer pop machine than this album.

The only negative thing I can say about this album is it's lack of personality. "Without You" gives you a sense of Nilsson as an individual artist rather than just a man with a fine voice, but the rest feels like a sunny afternoon in 1971. Apart from "Without You", I do not get moved by the songs here. There are really catchy, really great songs on this album that may move others, but listening to this album is like eating your favorite candy bar. Delicious and emotionally reaffirming, but not substantially nourishing.

I love the album cover though. "What's up guys? Just smoking a pipe. Oh, who's that? That's motherfucking John Lennon asleep on my couch."

A treasure trove of situational songs on this album. This album does wonders for filling out the back end when you are out of ideas. Got like 10 minutes left at the end? "Jump Into The Fire". Goofy interlude between two somewhat heavy songs? "Coconut". Resonant emotional core of the entire mix? "Without You". Despite my lite critique about lack of personality above, there isn't a song I don't like on Nilsson Schmilsson. It is brilliant.

MIX

"Without You"

The suicide scene in Rules of Attraction has tainted this song a bit culturally, but the song still makes my heart hurt. Damn, Gina.

"Early In The Morning"

Bop along while you do your chores. This is inoffensive, perfect music. A glass of ice cold water, and it is sunny, and it is Sunday, and you just finished the only thing you had to do today.

"Coconut"

Welcome to your Mom's night out with her friends. Welcome to what your parents used to listen to at the bar before you were born. When was the last Pina Colada you had? Never?

Iggy and The Stooges

Raw Power (1973)