(8/69 contd.)
Grand Funk Railroad -- On Time: The grooviest rock instrumentals this side of the Atlantic, with bass playing that would make the masters of the day take ample notice and potentially shit their pants. B+
Santana -- Santana: Make no mistake, Carlos is a slick-ass guitar player; one of the best of the day, in fact. The Latin percussion feels occasionally tacky but only on that slightest of occasions. Mostly it lifts the groove of the track and propels it even further than Santana’s guitar-playing was carrying it. A-
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Thursday, May 3, 2018
May 3, 2018
(8/69 contd.)
Love -- Four Sail: Ah dear. We can all hope that this is a fluke, but if this is the best songwriting that Arthur Lee can produce post-Forever Changes, even considering the brand new backing band he's been supplied with, a one-hit wonder this contingent shall forever be. C+
Harry Nilsson -- Harry: Three albums in and we still haven't upgraded past the "cheesy kitsch" stage of this dude's artistic evolution. One hopes he'll be able to move past that soon, because his career won't be lasting much longer if he doesn't. C+
CAN -- Monster Movie: One of the most intoxicating atmospheres of any rock record released this year, indebted to blues to some extent but also advancing this harder-edged sound into a more modern-sounding area. Negative brownie points for some terrible vocals, though. B
Love -- Four Sail: Ah dear. We can all hope that this is a fluke, but if this is the best songwriting that Arthur Lee can produce post-Forever Changes, even considering the brand new backing band he's been supplied with, a one-hit wonder this contingent shall forever be. C+
Harry Nilsson -- Harry: Three albums in and we still haven't upgraded past the "cheesy kitsch" stage of this dude's artistic evolution. One hopes he'll be able to move past that soon, because his career won't be lasting much longer if he doesn't. C+
CAN -- Monster Movie: One of the most intoxicating atmospheres of any rock record released this year, indebted to blues to some extent but also advancing this harder-edged sound into a more modern-sounding area. Negative brownie points for some terrible vocals, though. B
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
May 1, 2018
(7/69 contd.)
Yes -- Yes: Songwriting chops require serious polishing, but instrumental ability shines on brightly, to borrow a phrase from a noticeably superior progressive rock contemporary. B-
(8/69)
Jethro Tull -- Stand Up: The blues-rock and folk influences meld in a way that is surprisingly enjoyable, though the flute sometimes feels a bit gimmicky and the tunes themselves have a ways to go. B
Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Green River: Lengthy jams were the weak points of this band's first two releases, and thankfully those have been curbed in favor of much breezier songs that roll on through the ears like a crocodile on the bayou. B+
The Stooges -- The Stooges: Impressive...one album in and these guys have already made the Rolling Stones' sound far more interesting than the Stones ever have. B+
Blind Faith -- Blind Faith: Winwood + Clapton < Bloomfield + Stills, as it turns out. The playing on this record works but having the two guitarists duel on each other's tracks was a slight mistake. Bloomfield and Stills did well by not doing that on [i]Super Session[/i]. Still about as good blues-rock as you'll find out there today. B
Yes -- Yes: Songwriting chops require serious polishing, but instrumental ability shines on brightly, to borrow a phrase from a noticeably superior progressive rock contemporary. B-
(8/69)
Jethro Tull -- Stand Up: The blues-rock and folk influences meld in a way that is surprisingly enjoyable, though the flute sometimes feels a bit gimmicky and the tunes themselves have a ways to go. B
Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Green River: Lengthy jams were the weak points of this band's first two releases, and thankfully those have been curbed in favor of much breezier songs that roll on through the ears like a crocodile on the bayou. B+
The Stooges -- The Stooges: Impressive...one album in and these guys have already made the Rolling Stones' sound far more interesting than the Stones ever have. B+
Blind Faith -- Blind Faith: Winwood + Clapton < Bloomfield + Stills, as it turns out. The playing on this record works but having the two guitarists duel on each other's tracks was a slight mistake. Bloomfield and Stills did well by not doing that on [i]Super Session[/i]. Still about as good blues-rock as you'll find out there today. B
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