Tag: psychedelic

147. The Zombies

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(November 2017) I have completed episode 147 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE ZOMBIES. The flame burned briefly for this groovy mid-60s British outfit, but it shone like a supernova with Odessey and Oracle, the definite baroque pop album, a gem of psychedelic pop, and one of my favorite albums of all time. They reunited for some unremarkable albums in later decades.

Favorite album: Odessey and Oracle

Favorite song: Care of Cell 44

Compared to expectations: same

Odessey_and_Oracle.jpg

136. The Grateful Dead

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(August 2017) I have completed episode 136 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE GRATEFUL DEAD. I attended five Dead shows in the mid-1980s. As for the recordings, I prefer the studio work, especially the early psychedelic and folky material; I’m not a jam band guy. This effort included the 22 contemporary studio and live albums, and a dozen retrospective live, bootleg, box and Dick’s Picks recordings. Yes, there is plenty more, but I got what I needed. Once you’ve heard ‘Playing in the Band’ for the 8th time, you know it’s time to move on.

Favorite album: American Beauty

Favorite song: China Cat Sunflower

Favorite period: 1969-71

Worst studio album: Go to Heaven

Worst live album: Dylan and the Dead (saw them together; it was bad)

Special sauce: Robert Hunter

Compared to expectations: same

Grateful_Dead_-_American_Beauty.jpg

110. The Move / The Idle Race

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(February 2017) I have completed episode 110 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: THE MOVE and THE IDLE RACE. I put these two together as they both involved Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, who went on to found Electric Light Orchestra. Each helped define the sound of late ’60s psychedelic pop, of the whimsical British kind. “The Move” might be the quintessential album of this sub-genre.

Favorite album: The Move

Favorite The Move song: Fire Brigade

Favorite The Idle Race song: Impostors of Life’s Magazine

Compared to expectations: ↑

The_Move_(The_Move_album_-_cover_art).jpg

109. Small Faces / Faces

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(February 2017) I have completed episode 109 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: the SMALL FACES and FACES. Part of the mid-60s British R&B explosion, the mod-styled Small Faces, led by the soulful voice of Steve Marriott, soon followed contemporaries into the psychedelic age, recording one of its masterpieces (Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake). They disbanded and re-emerged as Faces, a blues/boogie band fronted by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. In the late 1970s SF reformed for two forgettable albums.

Favorite album: Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake

Favorite Small Faces song: Afterglow

Favorite Faces song: Stay With Me

Favourite character: Happiness Stan

Compared to expectations: ↓

 

Small_Faces_-_Ogdens'_Nut_Gone_Flake.png

104. The Pretty Things

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(January 2017) I have completed episode 104 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: THE PRETTY THINGS. An underrated British Invasion-era band, they started out an R&B outfit a la the Yardbirds and Rolling Stones. Like those, they transitioned into psychedelic; S.F. Sorrow is one of the finest of that genre (and Parachute’s very good too). Much after that is rather pedestrian.

Favorite album: S.F. Sorrow

Favorite song: Walking Through My Dreams

Compared to expectations: same

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100. Traffic

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(October 2016) I have completed episode 100 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an band’s full discography. This edition: TRAFFIC. I prefer the psychedelic first version of Traffic, but the second jazzier version has some good moments too.

Favorite album: Mr. Fantasy

Favorite song: Dear Mr. Fantasy

Best chord to end a song ever: Whatever Stevie Winwood lays down at the end of Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

It’s good for you: That good ole fashion medicated goo

Special sauce: Jim Capaldi

Compared to expectations:  ↑

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70. The Moody Blues

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(December 2015) I have completed episode 70 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography from start to finish. This episode: THE MOODY BLUES. I still hold some fondness for the early psychadelic-ish albums. They crafted good melodies, but the lack of edge (except the drummer, get it?) in the music does not help it endure over the decades. While some of the 1980s songs were radio hits, I found little of worth after 1972 (although I hold a nostalgic place for 1981’s Long Distance Voyager).

Favourite album: In Search of the Lost Chord

Favourite song: The Best Way to Travel

Best Song: The Voice

Worst Album: Strange Times

Compared to expectations: same

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69. Iron Butterfly

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(December 2015) I have completed episode 69 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s compelte discography. This episode: IRON BUTTERFLY. Don’t laugh; I’m a sucker for acid rock. Heavy guitars, psychedelic organ — guys, you had me at “iron.”

Favorite album: Heavy

Favorite song: The Iron Butterfly Theme (what, you thought I was going to mention something else? OK, here goes…)

Favorite album side: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, side 2

Compared to expectations: same

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39. Jefferson Airplane

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(September 2014) I have completed phase 39 of my “opus project,’ in which I listen to a band’s discography from beginning to end. This episode: JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (but not Jefferson Starship or Starship).

 

I love the 1960s, San Francisco, and psychedelic music. But despite trying, I have not been able to love 1960s San Francisco psychedelic music. I prefer the British variety. But JA still offers some good stuff.

Favorite album: Surrealistic Pillow

Favorite song: Third Week in the Chelsea

Favorite member: Jorma Kaukonen

Hidden gem: the eclectic mix on side two of “Bark” — including “Third Week in the Chelsea,” “Never Argue With a German If You’re Tired or European Song,” and “Thunk”

Special sauce: Jorma Kaukonen

Compared to expectations: same

jeffair