The Bottom Line: Featuring artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, and Deep Purple, this album is a fun retrospective of the 1970's rock scene.
lambchops's Full Review: Dazed and Confused by Original Soundtrack
The year was 1993. Scratch that. Make that 1976.
Anyway, Dazed and Confused was yet another movie aimed at teenage slackers. Released in 1993, the film told the story of a slew of junior high and high school students on their last day of school before summer break. The characters and cliques are typical. There are jocks and stoners and nerds mixed with preps and even an old guy still trying to be young. Some recognizable names even made appearances in the film like Matthew McConaughy, Milla Jovovich, Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason London.
Even if the movie didn’t leave a lasting impression, the music did. In fact, the fourteen songs on the CD were all classics well before they were placed together in this soundtrack collection. There were two albums released as accompaniments to Dazed and Confused. The first featured some of the more recognizable tracks while the second (Even More Dazed and Confused) showcased a few lesser-known gems along with monster rock hits.
The overall impression that I get from listening to the first of these two compilations is that this disc is meant to entertain. There’s nothing particularly remarkable about the big picture or intended message. Rather, Dazed and Confused is simply a loud, fun and classic rock assembly of tracks. Some songs aren’t quite as impressive while others will continue to be heard on rock radio for decades to come.
Artists on Dazed and Confused range from Black Sabbath to Lynyrd Skynyrd and from Ted Nugent to Nazareth and everything in between. So, without further ado, let us get on with the music!
1. Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo Rick Derringer
Exciting, frenetic and loud, Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo has little redeeming quality aside from Derringer’s excited delivery. Many people know this track, but have no idea whatsoever who performed it. For those who can hear the chorus in your head as I speak about this track…think Rick Derringer. Besides that, I don’t have any particular interest in the lyrics. The music is upbeat rock and roll, a sound made classic in the 1970’s.
2. Slow Ride Foghat
As one of the most recognizable tracks on this album, Slow Ride gives listeners a different perspective on music. It’s got relatively heavy guitars and a different rhythm than the great majority of the rest of the disposable rock of the 1970’s. This Foghat track never gets old as a direct result of the song’s energy. Once again, the track isn’t lyrically remarkable or musically innovative. But, then again, there’s nothing ever wrong with a song that knows its place is to provide a fun release to listeners.
3. School’s Out Alice Cooper Alice Cooper will go down in history as at least in part an inspiration to Marilyn Manson. School’s Out is one of his most famous tracks. It’s the perfect musical reward to a year hard spent in school. The track was a great compliment to the feeling of Dazed and Confused. Although, listening to the entire track is a bit difficult when the part that’s the most viable really is the grinding chorus. Not the best song here, but it works well in the context of the film.
4. Jim Dandy Black Oak Arkansas
There are so many songs out there that aren’t in the least bit interesting aside from their novelty. Jim Dandy is just one of those tracks. In fact, I would gander a guess that I wouldn’t have ever heard the track had it not been for this film and this soundtrack. The melody is very repetitive, the drums are boring, and the electric guitar is noisily annoying. Besides that, there may just be some redeeming quality in its entertainment value. Maybe.
5. Tush ZZ Top
I’ve always had a soft spot in my hardened heart for ZZ Top. Tush is, of course, one of the band’s most notable hits. As with this track, the band rocked pretty hard in the 1970’s…in fact, I enjoy this song much more than the lighter rock presented on tracks like Legs and Sharp Dressed Man from the 1980’s. The guitars have a blues touch while the bass guitar is a great base to the purely amusing track.
6. Love Hurts Nazareth
Maybe I’m partial to this Nazareth track because I feel some kinship with the Scottish band. Or maybe it’s because this song is a direct precursor to an abundance of hairy power ballads of the late 1980’s. Whatever it is, I enjoy it. Although, it’s important to note that some people are likely unable to stomach lead singer Dan McCafferty’s screeching vocal styling.
7. Stranglehold Ted Nugent
Michigan born and raised hunting guru and NRA supporter Ted Nugent was actually a guitar god before he was an outspoken political crusader. Stranglehold is the perfect example of the innate talent Nugent possesses. The loud, rhythmically played guitars backed by minimal percussion and fronted by impressive vocals make this a classic track. Maybe I’m so acquainted with it because I’m from Michigan. If you don’t recall the track from the 1970’s, it might be worth your while to check it out.
8. Cherry Bomb The Runaways
These chicks rock. No, seriously The Runaways put together one of the hardest rocking tracks on this album. Cherry Bomb features loud guitars and heavy percussion mixed with sex appeal. The talent of these young women was apparent. Add in the rebellious rock attitude, and the band would go down in history. For reference, the band featured the talent of later solo success stories Joan Jett and Lita Ford.
9. Fox on the Run Sweet
The annoying chirping of some strange synth machines makes this song difficult to listen to in the beginning. If you can block that bit out, this track is great (although disposable) rock and roll. Sweet may be better known for Ballroom Blitz, but Fox on the Run remains one of the band’s biggest hits. For good reason? Maybe yes, maybe no. The track certainly fit nicely on the top 40 charts with the easy vocals and unobtrusive guitars. Eh. Nothing special.
10. Low Rider War
I can’t imagine that there could possibly be a music fan out there who has yet to experience Low Rider from War. Combining elements of various genres like soul, rock, and straight-ahead funk, the track is one of the few musical classics on this album. The sound of this song (and apparently much of War’s catalog) is loose and jamming. Low Rider is easy on the ears, heart, and mind. Who need to think about a song anyway?+
11. Tuesday’s Gone Lynyrd Skynyrd
If I had to choose a favorite out of these fourteen songs, I would definitely choose this Southern Rock classic. In fact, it in some ways seems oddly placed among this compilation of usually disposable rock tracks. The melody is classically beautiful, blending the aesthetics of guitar rock and ballads. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s masterpiece is longingly gorgeous.
12. Highway Star Deep Purple Deep Purple is a classic rock track, and Highway Star is one of the British band’s most memorable tracks. The tempo is very fast and very intense. The guitars are repetitive and the melody is predictable. I personally get more out of some of their other releases (notably Hush), but this song is appropriate in the context of this film.
13. Rock And Roll All Night KISS
Costume rockers, KISS put together a rock and roll classic with the purely entertaining Rock And Roll All Night. The beginning percussion and guitar riffs are classic. There really isn’t much I need to say about this track aside from the fact that I’m not sure there is any real musical content here. What KISS did was put their up yours attitude along side a catchy melody. Voila. Rock royalty.
14. Paranoid Black Sabbath
Ozzy Osborne may be the star of his own MTV sitcom these days, but over three decades ago he was the lead singer in Black Sabbath. His piercing voice paired with grinding guitars helped to make this track one of the most notable of the British band’s career. In fact, this is the song that best represents Black Sabbath in my mind.
As you can see, this album runs the gamut of rock and roll. There are some truly classic tracks while others are nothing more than simple novelty. This album is a great primer to young people possibly new to 1970’s rock. It could easily open the decade of music up to an entirely new generation of listeners. I do enjoy this album, although there are a few problems (as I noted above). For those reasons I will give Dazed and Confused 4/5 stars.
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