review by daniel

Forget about “Sgt. Pepper” and “Pet Sounds”; this is the definitive masterpiece of the 60s. No wonder it took Arthur Lee 35 years to recover from the labour pains. Like with most masterpieces it is hard to categorise the music on “Forever Changes”. I would say that it is slightly psychedelic and highly intelligent pop music with a dark and fascinating undertone underneath a thin layer of prettiness. You can find small fragments of other contemporary bands (such as The Doors, The Byrds and The Beatles) in Love’s sound but as a whole it is rather unique. The music is mainly driven by acoustic guitars, but electric guitar, brass and strings turn up in just the right places. Both Bryan MacLean’s and Arthur Lee’s singing are characterised by as much sadness as fragile beauty, which add to the pessimistic, almost resigned, mood of the record. Love is often labelled psychedelic, but the hazy and optimistic romanticism of the psychedelic era seem to have little in common with Love’s pessimistic, almost cynical, view of the world. “The Red Telephone” contains a part that effectively sums up Love’s bleak view: The backing vocalists go “sha-la-la-la”, but instead of the enthusiastic backing choirs so typical of the 60s they sound completely indifferent. And then the main vocalist goes; “I don’t know if I am living or if I am supposed to be”. Very typical of this strange and fascinating album. “Live and Let Live” contains another lyrical highlight; “There’s a bluebird sitting on a branch / I guess I’ll take my pistol / I’ve got it in my hand / because he’s on my land”. How is that for a comment on the soul of America? This is one of the greatest albums ever made and a triumphant evidence that it is possible to make fantastic music within the bounds of pop music. They just don’t make them like this anymore.