The songs don't exactly have the stripped-down demo feel Harrison intended--but mercifully aren't as over-glossed as those on his last solo album, 1987's Cloud Nine.
Harrison never seemed to recognize the difference between philosophical profundities and the sound of a catchy song, and that may have been his greatest gift to the world. Brainwashed offers a fine, final reminder of that gift.
Brainwashed is rich in warm Harrison vocals, couple with his distinctive slide guitar style. Unfortunately, it's also rife with often too-glossy production.
The album certainly holds enough strong melodies and well-written songs to elevate it above the majority of Harrison’s uneven solo career, but is somewhat brought down by Lynne’s posthumous production.
I have no doubt that this is George's best album since "All Things Must Pass" and it's even better than that album in its I have no doubt that this is George's best album since "All Things Must Pass" and it's even better than that album in its production. There's no Wall of Sound standing in George's way, and despite what some people think, there's very little, if any at all, of Jeff Lynne's "ELO Treatment" that he usually stamps all over everything he produces. Lyrically, it's right up there with "All Things Must Pass", too. For anybody familiar with recent work by the ex-Fabs, I can tell you one thing -- "One, two, three, four, five, let's go for a drive" this is NOT!…Expand
It's an spiritual journey, since "Don't Bother me" to "Horse to the Water", Brainwashed has every side of the great George Harrison, it hasIt's an spiritual journey, since "Don't Bother me" to "Horse to the Water", Brainwashed has every side of the great George Harrison, it has social critics, spiritual messages, exquisite slide guitars, deep lyrics, great rock songs, Indian sounds, a lot of fun, serenity and sadness, after all this is the last one, but through this album what we get is a ride with an old friend who has not changed in all these years. As George said to John, "Through the good and the bad, I always look up to you"! Yes, we have, thanks for everything.…Expand
Maravillosas canciones de un genial músico que supo conjuntar melodía con sensibilidad, belleza con meditación, Maravillosas canciones de un genial músico que supo conjuntar melodía con sensibilidad, belleza con meditación, sinceridad con profundidad espiritual. Otra de sus obras maestras.…Expand
This is an absolutely beautiful set of songs. It brings tears of joy (at the gift of hearing them) and sadness (over the fact that we This is an absolutely beautiful set of songs. It brings tears of joy (at the gift of hearing them) and sadness (over the fact that we didn't get more work like this from George over the last two decades of his life, and that no more will be forthcoming). It is certainly among the best solo albums release by any of the former Beatles. A classic by a towering talent.…Expand
insane and vintage Harrison slide guitar work. great vocals. hard to believe that Harrison was actually dying while recording this album. theinsane and vintage Harrison slide guitar work. great vocals. hard to believe that Harrison was actually dying while recording this album. the vocals are so strong and they make you believe what they project. Lyrics like on a typical Harrison album are philosophical and great. but the highlight is the guitar work. it contains some of his best twang in years. and that slide guitar, not blues-cliched but so lyrical. very beautiful. also one of Harrison's favorite instruments, the ukulele makes quite a few appearances. Needless to say, it adds to the beauty of the record.
George couldn't have asked for a better farewell. but it also makes you sad, wondering what George could have produced after this, if he had continued. Sublime melody, certainly.…Expand
This album rates a 9.5-9.7. What strikes the listener here concerns Harrison's lyrics; he delivers his strongest, wittiest, and even at This album rates a 9.5-9.7. What strikes the listener here concerns Harrison's lyrics; he delivers his strongest, wittiest, and even at times poetic lyric since perhaps his days in that fabulous art-soul band from Liverpool. Still, a few missteps keep this part of the album from attaining an outright "10"; sometimes Harrison loses the fine balance between pop whimsy and earnest profundity to become merely didactic. Happily, this occurs only rarely. Otherwise, Harrison's guitar leads and slide work provide an outstanding argument as to his importance as a rock guitarist. Many have underrated Harrison as merely a "fine" guitarist in contrast to brilliant peers, such as Jeff Beck. But Harrison worked with a subtle palette that underplayed the wide vocabulary of styles of which he was familiar; for a rock guitarist, he incorporated elements of jazz (listen to his use of diminished and augmented ninth chording and key changes in his solos) as well as the fluidity of indian sitar music. Rockablility, folk, and blues coloured his guitar work as well, and on Brainwashed Harrison's ecclecticism not only provides for the lovliest of shadings, but reminds any listener---and guitarist---just how FINE a musician he really was. "Brainwashed" leaves us Harrison's enduring and haunting farewell. A lovely and poignant work, revealing brilliance and flaws altogether. All things may pass, indeed, but never George Harrison's legacy, as this album confirms. …Expand
