The Pretty Things' 'S.F. Sorrow': An Excursion Into Storytelling
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The Pretty Things' 'S.F. Sorrow': An Excursion Into Storytelling

The wonders of tales are found in the British band's 1968 classic.

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The Pretty Things' 'S.F. Sorrow': An Excursion Into Storytelling
http://www.emusic.com/album/the-pretty-things/s-f-sorrow/12711941/

Telling a story can be an immensely pleasing part of life. Involving characters and environments that create amazing worlds for us to witness, stories can be be molded into an array of situations. Whether it is a tale of great pain or a recounting of an awkward moment, stories be a way to preserve our observations of the world. We can also tell a convincing narrative through a plethora of approaches, as well. From the visuals of cinema to having a simple conversation, there can be immense flexibility in telling a story. Stories are an amazing part of our imaginations, and one album that truly summarizes the power of tales is The Pretty Things' 1968 album 'S.F. Sorrow'.

The lyrics do a wonderful job of spinning a story. 'S.F. Sorrow' has drawn fame for being one of the first ever rock operas in music, and it explicitly tries to track the adventures of the titular protagonist. 'S.F. Sorrow' uses simple, but effective lyrics that tie together to create a world that has heartbreak and joy. The way that the lyrics are sung feels noteworthy, and The Pretty Things draw their audiences into a legend that leaps with excitement. 'S.F. Sorrow' progresses sensibly, and its engaging lyrics create an admirable world for listeners to get lost in.

The instrumentation expresses the story magnificently, as well. 'S.F. Sorrow' becomes an excellent example of how music can tell a story, as it imbues emotion into its style. From the pulsating excitement of 'S.F. Sorrow Is Born' to the elegant despair of 'Trust', The Pretty Things display the various moods that can be found in a story. Dissonant, heavily distorted riffs accurately display the frustration and fear that the protagonist feels, and acoustic guitars are juxtaposed with luxuriant orchestration to express hope and occasional confusion. The numerous mood changes that 'S.F. Sorrow' goes through illustrate the ups and downs that a story can have, and The Pretty Things' efforts lead to potent visualizations.

Most importantly, 'S.F. Sorrow' is an example of how complex a story can be. Tales can involve an array of tangled motives and complex characters, and the situations that are encountered aren't always easy to get through. 'S.F. Sorrow' demonstrates this quite well, as its intricate musicianship results in surprising experimentation. Psychedelic effects mess with what the listener's perception of the music, and sitars and trumpets find their way into the album's tricky world. 'S.F. Sorrow' is full of sophisticated sections that play with notions of conventional songwriting, and the challenging sound expresses the difficulties in telling a story. The Pretty Things have created a complicated piece that varies constantly, and the innate troubles of storytelling are shown perfectly.

Overall, 'S.F. Sorrow' is a fantastic example of what stories can do for us. Its lyrics tell thoughtful tales that detail the growth of its protagonist, and the words let us peek into the world that has been created for us. Inventive arrangements display the medium of narratives very well, as its unpredictable sound leads to numerous feelings to absorb. 'S.F. Sorrow' is a convoluted effort as well, as the obstacles that come with stories are found in the album's elaborate sound. 'S.F. Sorrow' is an excellent album, and it shows the wonders of telling a story.


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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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