There are days when I think this album is better than both MOONDANCE and ASTRAL WEEKS. But it's nowhere near as wildly known as the other two, and doesn't seem as criticial acclaimed either. Why? Maybe it's because it was released only a month previous to the somewhat worshipped 'It's Too Late to Stop Now...' double album?

Here's a rather loving review from John Kennedy in PopMatters (on wiki)

Veedon Fleece is a poet's album, a jazz lover's album, a masterpiece of soul-singing, a blue and green journey into the places of the heart that were first opened up for dowsing with Astral Weeks. Baudelaire said, "we can call 'beautiful' only that which suggests the existence of an ideal order; supra-terrestrial, harmonious and logical that yet bears within itself, like the brand of an original sin, the drop of poison, the rogue element of incoherence, the grain of sand that will foul up the entire system." This album contains all of Baudelaire's definition of beauty.

Do you know, I've never really listened to 'Veedon Fleece', nor 'Too Late To Stop'?!

I shall rectify that sad omission pronto, if not sooner - I've already streamed 'Veedon ...' off s.p.o.t.i.f.y for later aural pleasure and must do ditto for 'Too Late...'. 'Hard Nose Teh Highway'? Nope, haven't really listened to that either. Recommended?

(That John Kennedy review is a bit OTT innit!?)

I like this:


Baudelaire said, "we can call 'beautiful' only that which suggests the existence of an ideal order; supra-terrestrial, harmonious and logical that yet bears within itself, like the brand of an original sin, the drop of poison, the rogue element of incoherence, the grain of sand that will foul up the entire system.

Trust Baudelaire to opt for the drop of poison....

LISTEN TO IT FELIX

FELIX, LISTEN TO IT.

HAVE YOU LISTENED TO IT FELIX?? EH?

FELIX, DON'T BOTHER. LISTEN TO CONTROVERSY BY PRINCE.