The Rewind Button: What’s Going On

Posted on by Jason Hensel

The Rewind Button is a group blogging project that I’m participating in. We’re taking on Rolling Stone‘s Top 40 albums of all time and writing our own reviews of them. There will be a new album and review each Thursday.

Marvin Gaye "What's Going On"I’ve put off writing this review for a while, because this is the first album in the blogging project that I’m unable to get excited or angry about. It has pretty much left me in an emotional purgatory. Repeated listens still have yet to move me either way.

Whenever I find myself unemotionally attached to an album, I start to question why. And through self-examination, I eventually get pushed pro or con. That’s yet to happen with What’s Going On. I’m still sitting in my best Rodin pose, fist under chin, eyes closed, listening to the music, the lyrics, mulling it all over in my head.

Perhaps the best route is to list a few things I like best about the album: most of the songs running together without pause, the variety of instruments used, Gaye’s voice. The two songs that stand out (perhaps because I’ve heard them hundreds of times) are “What’s Going On” and “Mercy Mercy Me.”

Outside of those elements, I’m having trouble connecting with this album. I listen to it and keep waiting for it to end, much like my younger self did in church attending a sermon. And just like then, nothing is sticking.

Please visit these other blogs participating in The Rewind Button project:

Send to Kindle

4 thoughts on “The Rewind Button: What’s Going On”

  1. Pingback: Rewind Button- Marvin Gaye, What’s Goin On « Betty LIVIN

  2. I love Marvin Gaye, grew up with his music and feel like in the context of the time this album was made, it’s excellent and timeless. I listened to “Mercy Mercy Me” the other day and almost cried at the beauty and desperation of his words, the pleas against the direction of country. And it still resounds today. I dunno, not with on this one. Great project though, what’s your next album review?

  3. “Mercy Mercy Me” and the title track are ear worms. They keep popping up in my mind throughout the day. However, I couldn’t name or hum any of the other tracks.

    Our next album is “Exile on Main Street” by The Rolling Stones, an album I’m sure I’ll love.

  4. Pingback: Rewind Button- Exile on Main Street, Rolling Stones « Betty LIVIN

Comments are closed.