Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

I had to listen to this one twice because I couldn't figure out how I felt about it. On one hand, it feels a bit scattered. There's no real through-line to the album. But the songs aren't bad. Just... oddly constructed. On a second listen-through, I was able to focus a bit more on the fantastic production. The guitar tones are killer, the mix is super balanced while still being experimental, and the overall song construction is good if unconventional. I don't know, I went back and forth on this one but I ended up giving it a 4-star score mostly because it made me stop and think. There are a lot of albums on this list that can't manage to snag my attention for more than a song or two so that deserves an extra star.

The fact that I already had 12 songs from this album liked in Spotify (all the original songs minus Space Child, plus the bonus track Rougher Road) will tell you how I feel about this album. To me this is the quintessential psychedelic masterpiece. I've owned it on vinyl for many years and listened to it hundreds of times. It's probably in my all-time top 10 albums. Spirit was a little too out there for most people. They were a little bit rock, a little bit jazz, a bit psychedelic, and several doses of just plain weird. I get why they never caught on like some of their contemporaries but when they were good they were oh so good. This album is Spirit at their best, by far. The album is a masterpiece, start to finish. It's rare to hear an album that holds together so well and doesn't really have a single weak spot. 5 stars, of course. p.s. Most people know this already, but an interesting tidbit if you weren't already aware. Listen to Spirit's song Taurus (from their self-titled 1968 debut album) and then listen to the opening of Stairway to Heaven. Randy California never sued over this during his lifetime, but his estate later did after he died. They lost, but I think it's obvious that Jimmy Page "borrowed" the iconic opening from Spirit, especially considering that the two bands had toured together and Jimmy apparently paid close attention as Randy was playing this song. Ah well, that's rock 'n' roll.

I can see why zeppelin wanted to rip them off

What.The.Fuck. I mean, they certainly tried, didn’t they?

I think this is pretty great, its varied enough that it kept my interest the entire time, street worm is a certified banger and I've added to my general playlist. Few duff tracks but enjoyed more than I disliked

Never heard of these and did not sound like I expected it to, judging by the cover and name. The image reminds me of Star Trek for some reason Did sound very 70s though. I do tend to like this era of rock/psychedelic rock, whatever is is. Really enjoyed it, total surprise. Really quite eclectic. Kinda progressive psych rock in parts but then not so much in others. More classic The opening to life has just begun is like the opening to America by razorlight..... Highlights: Nature's way Animal zoo Mr skin Street worm Morning will come Soldier I'll definitely be back to this. Listened a second time and it's even better... Why haven't I heard of this!? I think this is a 5

Sadistic, sinister and sexy. Dr. Sardonicus slays with this swashbuckling serenade. A summer spent in satin suspenders, sipping expensive soups, singing songs from Starlight Express and sucking my sisters' sensual saucepan-shaped swastika tits.

Lmao…is this where that website got its name? (Mr. Skin) Sorry for the detour…I’ve been 12 years old for the last 31 years. What a strange, stilted, intricate and exceptionally well produced record this is. Assuming that the songs are the musical representations of the “Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus”(fuck that album title, btw. It’s awful), its stilted flow from track to track makes sense: Our dreams are rarely thematically linked and often shift to unexpected tangents without warning. In that regard, the concept works. In truth, the flow of this album reminds of a Guided by Voices record in a way, with sharp, sometimes jarring transitions that don’t necessarily make sense at first, but after repeated listens feel just right. I’m willing to bet Robert Pollard is probably a fan of this record. Not that you care. You, the listeners of this site, have made it abundantly clear, by way of your Alien Lanes reviews, how shit you think Guided By Voices are. You’re wrong and you probably think this record is shit, too. One day, you’ll see the error of your ways, hopefully. [Dude, you gotta stop insulting the users of the site. They’re entitled to their opinions. It’s why god made horse races, we all get to pick a winner.] So…how about that Randy California? What an awesome guitarist. Dude was 19 when they recorded this record. 19 years old and he is on fire on this record. Fucking amazing, but I guess that’s to be expected from a guy that played in Jimi Hendrix’s band at 15. What a legend.

Mad album. First three tracks are good, next four are less so, When I Touch You is a strong return to form and it runs quite well to the finish. Not what I was expecting but I enjoyed this muchly.

These guys are very obviously talented but they lack something a lot of their more raw psychedelic contemporaries have.

This album seemed to lack direction in some areas. Some tracks sound good, some are subpar, some feel misplaced, and some have an interesting sound instrumentally but are lacking lyrically. The lyrics on some of the tracks seem off and don't seem to have a good flow, which threw me off when listening. Overall nothing groundbreaking. Notable songs: Nothin' To Hide, Animal Zoo, Love Has Found A Way, Mr. Skin.

This is really bad. Hippie nonsense. They be getting $0.00000000000000002 royalties on Spotify this year

'Animal Zoo' lijkt een beetje op Butthole Surfers - Dracula From Houston. 'Space Child' klinkt alsof het het grondwerk legde voor Jamiroquai - Seven Days in Sunny June. Dat zorgt ervoor dat het toch al vrij gauw enigszins herkenbaar klinkt, ook al ken ik het niet. De zanger klinkt heel af en toe als Kurt Cobain en de band als Led Zeppelin. Heerlijk gitaargeluid, goed gelaagde productie, een verzameling van verschillende (soms verrassende) instrumenten op een manier waardoor het niet geforceerd klinkt. Zelfs de koperen blazers irriteren me niet. Experimenteel zonder te abstract te worden: Dat is voor mij de sweetspot. Zo'n nummer als 'Morning Will Come' is haast pop-achtig, wat er mede voor zorgt dat het behapbaar blijft. Tel alle bovenstaande punten bij elkaar op en je krijgt een album waar ik flink door verrast word. Lekker!

Spirit is severely underrated. You can usually find their records pretty cheap, even in bargain bins, and I'm honestly sort of baffled by this. I consider this album a lost gem, and am glad to see it on the list. Spirit have a very unique brand of psychedelia that brings many influences together. They definitely get a little weird from time to time, as is customary in psychedelia, but it's not overdone, and they keep it all grounded with tasty hooks underlying everything. One thing I'm absolutely loving while listening to this album on headphones is that muted bass tone! So deep and rich. Definitely a P Bass. My platonic ideal. Brings so much power to the songs. This is their last great album before they fell apart. Absolutely top tier psychedelia. If you like this, definitely check out their first three records.

Ended up really liking this album!

As a rule, if there's a late 60s/early 70s classic/psych rock band that I've never heard of, it's either because my dad never heard of them or never liked them. So I was immediately suspicious. It turns out I'm going to have to be the one to introduce him to Spirit, as I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I didn't just like the tunes or the songwriting either; it hangs together as a concise project as well, sort of concept-y without leaning too heavily into it. I kept this one on rotation for the whole weekend and am quite likely to buy it very soon.

This is an example of a relatively unheard of recording, that rocks. I loved it the first time I heard it and have loved it ever since.

Nr. 171/1001 Prelude 3/5 Nature's Way 4/5 Animal Zoo 4/5 Love Has Found A Way 3/5 Why Can't I Be Free 4/5 Mr. Skin 3/5 Space Child 2/5 When I Touch You 3/5 Street Worm 3/5 Life Has Just Begun 3/5 Morning Will Come 4/5 Soldier 4/5 Average: 3,33 Better than I expected. This is a good 70s rock album.

Had some stuff, kinda lost track of it half way through. Will I listen to again: 10%

Another album that surprised me a little. I enjoyed this album and many of the songs on it. I could listen to it again if I were in the mood. I’d call this a decent album.

This might be an amazing album, but to tell you the truth, I'm so over exposed to Psychedelic Rock in this album challenge that I think I have become desensitised! Perhaps a bit of rebranding is in order '1001 Psychedelic Rock albums you must here before you die'

Psychedelics without personality. Faceless rock.

Prog rock is not my taste

Well it’s not bad but it’s quite forgettable. The recording is good.

Not that good

Yet another album the curator's here dug up somewhere, but which should have clearly left alone.

Meh

Aww yeah, I really dug this! Went for a third play through right after the second. These folks were not on my radar at all, so I'm grateful for the introduction - will definitely check out their other stuff. I very much like their weirdness and experimentation, and they manage to steer clear of the naff tweeness that a lot of psychedelic bands from the time slip into. It's also cool when they slip back into something more conventional-sounding. Fave tracks - "Prelude - Nothin' to Hide", "Animal Zoo", "Love Has Found A Way", "Life Has Just Begun".

You could almost add "ualized" at the end of the band name, and it would be much the same. Not a bad thing at all: this is adventurous, epic, noodley fun. Which is also how I refer to sex.

Beautiful! Another hidden (to me) gem, now discovered thanks to this project. A little proggy, good fun, some seriously gorgeous moments - shocked I hadn't heard them before!

This band must have been a big influence on other bands and artists. I hear parts of other songs and samples cut from these songs. 5/5

After the first half dozen songs I was leaning towards a four, but I was blown away by the run from Space Child to Soldier. Exceptional energy, production, and musicianship. Never heard of them before but I'm a convert

This album holds a special place in my heart ever since my mom gifted a CD to me out of the blue many years ago. Silly hippy shit!

I put this on with absolutely zero idea of what to expect. The opening bars had me won over completely - exactly what I needed to hear on a wet Monday morning at the end of September. This lasted for about 45 seconds before the album took the first of what turns out to be MANY turns, changes in style and diversions. This isn't a bad thing at all, because while sometimes it sounds a bit rock-operaish, it keeps itself fairly consistent within the boundaries it has set for itself. A nice example from a band I had no idea about.

- Another just about perfect record, this one from a criminally overlooked band. -

First time I listened to this it didn't even cross my mind to give it a 5. Now on my third full listen I'm kinda loving it? Idk who the guitarist is, but I love what he does on this record Favorites: "Prelude - Nothin' to Hide", "When I Touch You", "Street Worm"

Never heard of them, but really enjoyed this; nearly ever song.

I’m at a 5. I just deeply enjoyed that; I thought the instrumentals were off the charts and the ingenuity in the production for 1970 was super cool. A lot of blended synth work here, in a way that made everything feel super sonically pleasing – “Love Has Found A Way” impressed me in particular. Lyrically, while there was some repetition, that repetition never fully extended to the vocals, and I think they were pretty damn good on this album too. Seriously, I don’t have a complaint about any track; I enjoyed this from top to bottom, and for 1970, it feels a bit ahead of schedule. Super fun album, really good vibes, great variety, and it nails down the “12 dreams” thing it’s going for. Pretty solid 5.

This band is famous for having all the ingredients of a great late 60s rock group but never taking off for some reason….this album is the same. It’s really good but just never breaks into great. Still a really enjoyable listening experience.

Never heard of this before and started playing it with slight concern that it might be "of an age". How wrong could I have been. Love this. Grabbed my attention and kept on shaking me to get more. On my third listen and I still don't know where the next track is going to take me apart from looking up their other releases. Thank you for unearthing another unknown gem

Wow, I loved this one! It was sorta weird folk rock that felt like it was made especially for me!

Man...this is excellent. One of my favorite totally new discoveries so far. The songwriting here is just top, top class. I definitely hear the parallels between this and Neil Young all the way through. If there's anything I love in an album, it's mood shifts and variations in feel, even within the tracks themselves. This album has that in spades. Favorite track: Morning Will Come

I was prepped for something offbeat from the title and cover of this album. It felt very 60’s, although the music was not as weird as I imagined. I liked this after the first listen. Since I had some time I gave it a second listen and my like warmed up to love. A good variety of tunes with some interesting lyrics that I really enjoyed. Terrific!

I have not listened to this album before or heard of the artist so it really shocked me how good it was. I found myself bopping along to pretty much all of the tracks. But my favorites were: Animal zoo, Mr. Skin, When I touch you, and Street worm. It had really catchy instrumentals and addictive vocals; will definitely listen again!

Really enjoyed this one!! The psychedelic sound was amazing.

Inmersivo, rock psicodélico clásico de los 70. Progresivo y con impronta rock and roll. Con partes acústicas muy bellas. Una banda que seguro investigaré más.

This is fun. It feels like prog that is both willing to be wild and experimental, but also doesn't take itself too seriously. Maybe I'm just in a good mood but I'm leaning 5 for the second consecutive day. Fave Tracks: Nature's Way, Animal Zoo, Morning Will Come, Rougher Road, Red Light Roll On 4.6/5

Really like this album - have a cd copy of it but had not listened to it for years - the psychedelic rock from that time is not my genre - but on this album it is beaten by a strong pop feeling.

Excellent. Would listen often. 5 of 5

F'ing loved that. Proper took me on a journey with layered music, what rock should be 5

Psychadelic! They found so cool ways to make big transcendental sound. Love Has Found a Way is an incredible standout!

Brilliant

In the words of the bard, "This is some seriously good shit!" Everyone knows about Page ripping off the intro of Taurus which was somehow thrown out of court. What most of us don't realise is that they released some brilliant music despite never being big. Maybe they received some airplay on the US because I never heard of them in Australia. They are a band I'm going to dive into. Maybe the rest of their albums weren't as good but I'm expecting to hear something good.

There are a lot of fun songs. I love the smooth transitions between a few of them. Never heard them before but I’m really glad I’ve found them now! Some of the vocals are obnoxious, though.

That’s fucking awesome! I absolutely love this and am sorry it took me so long to find it!!!

This really felt like what a perfect album should be. I thought it was pretty incredible. Like really incredible! I shouldn't give it a 5, but I really want to. So I will!

super pretentious, but in the kinda way I like — 10/10

This is a grand album somewhere between psychdelic rock and early progressive rock. I really enjoyed this one, especially the interplay between drums and piano.

I will not be factoring in the bonus tracks included with the 1996 reissue for this review. I've heard of the band Spirit for their biggest single, "I Got a Line on You," though that came from their second album. Instead, we have their fourth album, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus. Based on my prior experience, I figured we were getting a straightforward 70s hard rock record, and it started in that manner from "Prelude—Nothin' to Hide" through "Animal Zoo." Then the album got weird. The backmasked instrumentation transitioning into a xylophone piece on "Love Has Found a Way" marked this album's ventures into psychedelia and I was here for it. The experimentation continued with the funky horn arrangements on "Mr. Skin" and "Morning Will Come", the ethereal instrumental "Space Child" with the guitar delay effects, sprawling synthesizers, and commanding piano lines, and the buildup into "When I Touch You" with that reverbed guitar hook. When this album cooks in its progressive compositions and songwriting, it cooks. What connects these tracks are Randy California's excellent guitar work, Jay Ferguson's jazz-influenced vocal lead with occasional harmonized vocals, and John Locke's superb piano play. Call me genuinely surprised by Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus. It might not be the most mind-blowing experience given that it's still indebted to 70's progressive rock styling and limitations, but it showcased a lot more to this band than a simple hard rock love song ever could. Give it a shot.

This rocks

really cool, feels quite timeless, I think there are quite a lot of singers, which means that it doesn't get too boring. Some nice guitar solos as well. Only complaints are really that some songs feel like nothing. Favorite songs (that I remember (probably more) ): Street worm, rougher road. Overall around 7/10

Certainly an album that grows on you with more listens. Reading other reviews it seems like this was an album out of time, not well received but quite a magical psychedlic rock album nonetheless. Faves: When I Touch You, Morning will Come

Classic early 70s rock / psych rock combo with some sweet sound stages and killer jams. Not as sophistocated as some other albums, but that is okay. Does its job and does it well. 7/10

I’d listen to it again

I haven't heard this album before and it was a good suprise - a great mix of psychedelic and progressive rock, with amazing production work. The songs are unique and they kept me interested throughout the whole record. I'll come back to this album later, it might grow on me if I listen to it a couple of more times - at my first listen it is a solid 4.

This was a great listen. I love when an album uses stereo properly. It can add so much depth to the listening experience. Enjoyed it a lot. I'll listen it it again. Good to be on the list.

Really good, production, compositions and writing. On my listens, I enjoyed it, but specific songs didn't stick with me. As an album though, overall I have no complaints

Not quite dreamy, nor sardonic, but a solid 1970s style Rock 'N Roll album. No wonder Led Zeppelin plagiarised off of them. Favorite Song: "Prelude-Nothing To Hide"

UBER cool. has that 1960s rock sound while leaning into psychedelia without fully committing to it. a great blend that i hadn’t really heard before

Not sure what I expected, but I loved what I got. Proggy but leaning more in the rock direction of things, which is right up my street

Too much to say, and I'm lazy. This is underrated, even today. Equally OF and BEFORE it's time.

Special and compelling.

"Animal Zoo" kuulostaa vähän Butthole Surfers - Dracula From Houstonilta. "Space Child" kuulostaa siltä, ​​että se loi pohjan Jamiroquaille - Seven Days in Sunny June. Se saa sen kuulostamaan melko nopeasti, vaikka en tiedä sitä. Laulaja kuulostaa toisinaan Kurt Cobainilta ja bändi Led Zeppeliniltä. Upea kitarasoundi, hyvin kerrostettu tuotanto, kokoelma erilaisia ​​(joskus yllättäviä) instrumentteja tavalla, joka ei kuulosta pakotetulta. Edes vaskisoittimet eivät ärsytä minua. Kokeellinen muuttumatta liian abstraktiksi: Se on minulle ihana paikka. Kappale, kuten 'Morning Will Come', on melkein poppimainen, mikä auttaa pitämään sen hallittavissa. Kun yhdistät kaikki yllä olevat kohdat, saat albumin, joka todella yllättää minut. Maukas!This is really bad. Hippie nonsense. They be getting $0.00000000000000002 royalties on Spotify this year when i touch you

Dude this album kicks so much ass. Huge yacht/classic rock vibes.

A solidly enjoyable listen. Fits this era nicely. Great for an artist I don't think I know anything by. 4.5

Always enjoyed this one since I found it, a lot of variety from song to song but that's part of what makes it fun to listen to.

Strange imaginative psychedelia that leaves a lasting image.

Enjoyable album

This is fantastic.

My first Spirit album and I’m definitely impressed. Strong vocals and nice musical diversity. Will definitely be returning to this one. 4/5

This way exceeded my expectations, very raw and full sounding bluesy psychedelic rock that tickled my ear bone just right.

Easy listening

Spirit is always great!

This is a great album that I forget about. Obviously with album artwork like that it’s hard to forget it. This is perfect mix of Psychedelic Rock, hint of Progressive and fun Songwriting (I’m looking at you Animal Zoo) This makes me want to come back to this one way more than I have in the past. This is just substantial PSYCHEDELIA. With this genre there comes a territory where a band gets forgotten about amongst the other heavy hitters. SPIRIT deserved better Stand Out tracks Prelude - Nothing to Hide NATURES WAY (beautiful ) Animal Zoo (Sounds kind of like Traffic) Love Has Found Away Space Child (spookyish instrumental but one to get lost in) Life Has Just Begun The First side of the album is definitely the stronger side with the “Songs” but the second half still keeps the flow going and has some interesting ideas 4/5 1* - Not Good 2* - Has Merit 3* - Would Listen Again (Good) 4* - Like It/Love It 5* - LOVE IT AND IT IS A CLASSIC ALBUM

Great surprise for someone who loves any music from the 70s. Never heard of this band, but great rock, pop, folk and soul all in one package.

Shit slaps ngl Worst song: animal zoo Best song: Mr skin? idk the entire album is a jammer--too busy at work to identify specific songs, but this album was grooving the whole way through 4/5

While I don't typically listen to Psychedelic Rock, I found this album to be quite interesting and cool.

eig ganz cool

yo this good

Well, that was better than I expected. Enjoyable couple of listen throughs. I reckon they will be on my occasion listen to list when I feel like a dose of obscure nostalgic 60's folk rock Americana. So, once every 4 months, maybe? 4 stars.

Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus by Spirit is a captivating fusion of psychedelic rock, folk, and jazz that remains fresh and innovative. The album's eclectic sound and adventurous spirit are reminiscent of the Super Furry Animals, with a similar playfulness and genre-blending approach. Each track offers something unique, creating a varied listening experience that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. The intricate musicianship and rich production give the album a depth that rewards multiple listens. It's a timeless record, filled with creativity and unexpected twists, making it a standout in the psychedelic rock era and still enjoyable today. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 7 STAND OUT TRACK - Animal Zoo

The more late 60s rock I listen to, the more I think that rock peaked as a genre then and anything after was watered down. I surprisingly liked this album a lot

Dug this. All over the place but not in an off putting way.

4+

I may revisit this as I enjoyed some songs on it

I don't know why I groove with this album so much more than In The Court Of The Crimson King, but I do. Have to give it 4 stars and need to keep wondering why the other album only wants 3 from me. Just do not understand...

A little rough around the edges, but I like their style and a lot of songs were just swell

Wow, this took me off-guard. Had never heard any of this before, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

the most unfamiliar album (and band) i have yet rolled in this, and its a rousing success for me...somehow incredibly precise and disciplined while still being as vibrant and non-uptight as ud expect from a late 60s california band. tons of rly effortlessly appreciable melodies, and GREAT production from a david briggs, fresh off the beginnings of a very fruitful collaboration with neil young. not too much jumps to mind to specifically say, just cozy and good!

Rock progresivo psicodélico. Me ha gustado. Un 4.