Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

View Author

Wed Apr 19 2023

4

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.

👍

View Author

Thu May 25 2023

4

I can see why zeppelin wanted to rip them off

👍

View Author

Fri Apr 28 2023

2

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

👍

View Author

Wed Jul 12 2023

5

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.

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 03 2023

5

Ended up really liking this album!

👍

View Author

Thu Sep 21 2023

5

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

👍

View Author

Thu Apr 20 2023

4

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

👍

View Author

Sun Apr 30 2023

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.

👍

View Author

Tue Aug 15 2023

5

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.

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 23 2023

5

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

👍

View Author

Thu Sep 07 2023

5

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

👍

View Author

Wed Sep 13 2023

5

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

👍

View Author

Wed Sep 20 2023

5

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.

👍

View Author

Fri May 05 2023

4

-didn’t write a BL, completely blind listen- AL: I’m often on the fence with psychedelic albums, some have the opportunity to lack all kinds of pacing and fall flat on their face, this however does not feel this way. I enjoyed this album and it was a very good listen, with some genuinely out there instrumentation at points - without ever feeling like it loses it’s way. Very good would listen again. FT: “Animal Zoo”, “why can’t I be free”, Red Light Roll On” 4/5

👍

View Author

Mon May 22 2023

4

V interesting - unique sound

👍

View Author

Thu May 25 2023

4

entretenido

👍

View Author

Fri May 26 2023

4

Quality prog rock

👍

View Author

Sat May 27 2023

4

Side two was exponentially better than side one. I guess the dreams get better the longer you sleep. Best track: Street Worm

👍

View Author

Thu Jun 08 2023

4

Pretty good... I will say this list has introduced me to a lot of American Rock of this era that I hadn't listened to before. At times this almost transcends both its era and genre.

👍

View Author

Sat Jun 10 2023

4

Rock progresivo.

👍

View Author

Sat Jun 10 2023

4

I didn’t mind this. It drew me in straight away and kept me interested to the end. What more can you ask for?

👍

View Author

Wed Jun 14 2023

4

I wasn’t pleased when I saw a psych album from 1970, as we’ve had plenty of those already but this is a good one. Weird enough to be interesting but still tight with focus and direction.

👍

View Author

Sat Jul 01 2023

4

Si c'est assez bon pour Zeppelin, ca l'est aussi pour moi :P J'ai adoré et je découvre spirit sous un autre jouré. 4.85

👍

View Author

Fri Jul 07 2023

4

Better than expected 4

👍

View Author

Wed Jul 12 2023

4

I'm not usually a fan of psychedelic rock as it can be a little too experimental. I didn't get that feeling with this album. I actually enjoyed the entire thing, their melodies are clean and the production is quite good.

👍

View Author

Thu Jul 13 2023

4

Great album! Strong grooves, licks, musicianship. The second half takes an odd turn, which ultimately holds it back from a 5. But overall a great rock album.

👍

View Author

Wed Jul 19 2023

4

Loved this

👍

View Author

Wed Jul 19 2023

4

Drôle de son et de chanson, mérite une deuxième écoute

👍

View Author

Mon Jul 24 2023

4

Don't really have anything specific to say about this album—another thoughtful and simultaneously goofy record with a complex 70s sound.

👍

View Author

Fri Jul 28 2023

4

It’s not without its problems but it’s got a lot of great 70’s prog riffs and harmonies.

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 03 2023

4

Favourites: • Mr. Skin • When I Touch You • Soldier

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 23 2023

4

I enjoyed a lot of this album, felt like the longer it went on the more I liked it. I preferred the more rockier songs to the psychedelic stuff but will definitely listen to this again. Highlights: Mr Skin Street Worn Animal Zoo Morning Will Come

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 23 2023

4

Never heard of spirit and it seems like they have a pretty large discography. Trippy, proggy, sometimes funky rock. These guys must have taken a lot of drugs. It was interesting, at times really enjoyable, the rockier songs where the singer was pushing his voice were the best of the bunch. A few tracks didn't land for me but that's to be expected from a band like this

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 23 2023

4

Excellent find this. Never heard of them before and I cant fathom why they werent as big as other similar bands of this genre. Albeit they seem to bend into quite a few genres to their credit! Sometimes rock, sometimes pysch, sometimes jazzy, always progressive and interesting. You don’t really know what the next track will be like. Highlights are: Prelude, Natures Way, When I Touch You, Street Worm. The riff in When I Touch you sounds like it’s straight from a Sonic Youth record. Class. A strong 4.5 from me

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 24 2023

4

Well this was incredibly fun! Never heard of Spirit before but was pretty blown away by this, it’s super varied and catchy and has quickly become a favourite dad rock album

👍

View Author

Fri Aug 25 2023

4

This was a shock. They're a bit late to the psych gang, but that only means they have so much inspiration. In addition to the standard SF psych sound, I'm hearing roots ("Nature's Way"), prog ("Street Worm"), pop ("Life Has Just Begun", "Soldier"), metal ("When I Touch You"), folk ("Love Has Found a Way"), jazz ("Mr. Skin"), glam ("Morning Will Come"), rockabilly ("Animal Zoo") and so much more. Most of the songs are strange and unpredictable. As one example, "Space Child" is a jazzy, jammy instrumental featuring highly unconventional synths with an ambient intro and closing section. It does resemble space rock, especially near the end with the echo, but there's so much more to it. One of the most engaging things about the album is how the songs transition well between each other. It's always shocking moving from one song to the next because you can never tell it's happening, and they're all so wildly different in structure and style. It always occurs so suddenly but not in an annoying way; they all feel finished. Whenever I get an album like this, I usually shrug it off as a band trying too many new things without knowing what they're doing, but they somehow hit the mark here. It's an entertaining list, with a lot of offer, but never being excessive or off-putting. Somehow, they still have a personality to stay consistent, even if that's the only thing tying the band together. Favorites: Love Has Found a Way, Mr. Skin, Space Child, When I Touch You, Morning Will Come

👍

View Author

Tue Aug 29 2023

4

There is some lovely psychedelic licks. Needs further listening, sadly I'm so far behind with my 1001 albums it's not getting the due diligence it needs

👍

View Author

Sat Sep 02 2023

4

Got to admit that I have never heard this before. Instant classic with me. Love it to bits.

👍

View Author

Wed Sep 06 2023

4

Nice album, would listen again

👍

View Author

Mon Sep 25 2023

4

I was expecting a really boring rock album but I was pleasantly surprised by some really unique and interesting production that used classical instruments and some electronic sounds. I especially enjoyed why can’t I be free.

👍

View Author

Sun Apr 30 2023

3

Fuck

👍

View Author

Sun Apr 30 2023

3

i had absolutely no idea what this was going to sound like so i was pretty crestfallen when the unmistakable sounds of the 70s started falsetto singing its way in to my life. some ok tracks but on the whole its more 70s crap from a band with one of the weakest band names i've ever heard.

👍

View Author

Sun Apr 30 2023

3

Vond er weinig speciaals aan, maar niet slecht

👍

View Author

Sun Apr 30 2023

3

I'm guessing this is gonna be some kind of psychedelic nonsense? The name isn't exactly subtle. Yep, although thankfully far more 1970s than 1960s. Crazy how music just shifted instantly on the turn of a decade, at least to me in 2023. Didn't piss me off but I'll never listen to it again. 3/5.

👍

View Author

Thu May 04 2023

3

Nothing blew me away. Natures way was decent.

👍

View Author

Sun May 07 2023

3

Stylistically a hodgepodge and tonally kind of weird. Not sure whether Spirit wants to be earthy or proggy or psychedelic, so they threw a little of everything against the wall. An odd but ultimately unmemorable album, with a few bright moments and buoyed by one exceptional track in "Nature's Way." Fave Songs: Nature's Way, Street Worm, When I Touch You, Animal Zoo, Life Has Just Begun

👍

View Author

Sun May 14 2023

3

Some good tunes.

👍

View Author

Thu May 18 2023

3

Kind of good, kind of original, psychedelic rock. Not impressed, but I am entertained. 3/5

👍

View Author

Sat May 20 2023

3

Nice stuff

👍

View Author

Wed May 24 2023

3

Some okay prog rocky stuff

👍

View Author

Wed May 24 2023

3

Quite melodic rock. Less guitar noodling than Led Zep and more middle of the road singing (a favourable comparison to Robert Plant). Ok.

👍

View Author

Thu May 25 2023

3

Wasn’t really playing too close attention but it was fine

👍

View Author

Mon May 29 2023

3

This seems like something I would like more on a re-listen.

👍

View Author

Mon May 29 2023

3

There is some cool stuff here, but I can’t see myself wanting to revisit this album. It’s a little proggy for my taste.

👍

View Author

Tue May 30 2023

3

I know I've heard the song 'Nature's Way' before, and liked it, but I don't think I had heard anything else by Spirit (well, other than 'Taurus' for obvious reasons). Although this album definitely sounds very much of its era, the band is quite good. Moments of this album are excellent, and it has moments that, to my ears, fall back into the psychedelic tropes of the time, which I state only as a matter of personal aesthetic. (I never view a style, genre, etc., as inherently better or worse than any other. It's art, after all.) My listening preferences these days tend toward styles and genres that differ from this work, but I can appreciate it.

👍

View Author

Wed Jun 07 2023

3

Pretty interesting sound

👍

View Author

Thu Jun 08 2023

3

If its time.

👍

View Author

Fri Jun 09 2023

3

Mi pareva partito bene, ma sembra un po' una lagna.

👍

View Author

Sat Jun 10 2023

3

This was a bewildering album. The first half was slow, instrumental, weird and not much of an older rock album. The second half of the album was much more typical classic rock that was enjoyable. The range of instrumentals on some songs were very cool. But it took so long to get to the enjoyable part of the album. Very curious the thinking behind the A and B sides. Overall the latter half of the album redeemed it and made it okay. 6.1/10

👍

View Author

Mon Jun 19 2023

3

Not bad but nothing standing out for me.

👍

View Author

Wed Jun 21 2023

3

Ik hoorde hier nog wel aardige dingetjes. In een goede bui, dus 3 sterren.

👍

View Author

Wed Jun 21 2023

3

Odd but pretty decent

👍

View Author

Thu Jun 22 2023

3

Fun album. Great classic rock. Could definitely listen to this happily, and can 100% feel David Briggs influence on the sound here.

👍

View Author

Sun Jun 25 2023

3

Much better than the title led me to believe.

👍

View Author

Wed Jun 28 2023

3

It was surprisingly good. I did a massive eye roll at the prospect of listening to another 70s psychedelic rock album but it was far more entertaining than I imagined.

👍

View Author

Sun Jul 02 2023

3

Rating: 6/10

👍

View Author

Wed Jul 05 2023

3

3/5. A pretty neat collection of songs, nothing too crazy but nothing bad. I like their earlier self titled album more but as this one stands, it is a safe one.

👍

View Author

Fri Jul 07 2023

3

Pretentious but isn't bad at all

👍

View Author

Fri Jul 07 2023

3

While Spirit appears to be doing what they intended to do on this album, a lot of the ideas fell ever so slightly too short to make it a great cohesive project. Sardonicus sounds like it’s in a strange spot in psychedelic music, being released between the late 60s and the progressive 70s.

👍

View Author

Sat Jul 08 2023

3

Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

👍

View Author

Thu Jul 13 2023

3

Prog rock album that suffered a bit from its long runtime and lack of lyrics in many songs. The songs that had lyrics were actually quite good so a bit potential wasted here

👍

View Author

Mon Jul 17 2023

3

Ironically I think the singles on this album are just ok but their more Proggy numbers are interesting. Some folks here talk about Side 2 being better than a Side 1 and since I’m assuming that the majority listened to this online, how do they know when side 1 ends and when 2 begins? Their influence on Led Zep is also unmistakable.

👍

View Author

Mon Jul 17 2023

3

It's a very end-of-the-sixties progressive sound, not afraid to experiment with different styles. In the end, I'm not in love with the final result, though "Street Worm" is the kind of song I would Shazam promptly if I heard it playing somewhere - but where? I also like the song that all the other Spotify listeners like, "Nature's Way".

👍

View Author

Thu Jul 20 2023

3

3/5 Seems ok, Never heard of them or any of the songs before.

👍

View Author

Fri Jul 21 2023

3

I prefer Zeppelin.

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 02 2023

3

Czy sardynki marzą o 12 elektrycznych owcach?

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 09 2023

3

Very nice

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 10 2023

3

I never connected with this album, which is a bit of a surprise. 60's/70's rock and alt rock is my groove. I recognize the style and the beats, but it does nothing for me.

👍

View Author

Tue Aug 15 2023

3

I don't hate it, but i'm not the biggest fan. Spirit are not the only band to drop acid, then record a concept album, but this one often feels lost in a turn of the decade classic rock haze; it doesn't feel very experimental. However, Mr Skin is a banger, and im a fan of street worm too.

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 17 2023

3

Surprise, new band to me. 3 stars which is an awful lot for me for music of this kind. Nice guitar rhythms, nice voice, not overly psychedelic (hate that) but still that early seventies atmosphere with some Beatle influences like in Street Worm, think When I Touch You is my favorite song.

👍

View Author

Fri Aug 18 2023

3

weird

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 23 2023

3

I had a re-listen to the album when I read the effulgent praise from the group. I don't quite understand where it is coming from. Was going to give it a 2, but I'm easily led, and I did like Nature's Way. I've not been this conflicted for a while - middle ground time.

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 24 2023

3

I listened to the album twice. I liked "Nature's Way" and "Animal Zoo", generally. But I couldn't find a song that stands out, or has a memorable hook.

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 30 2023

3

A few tracks I enjoyed, decent album but that's about it. Too many like this, middle of the roaders. I've never heard of this group, though the name Sardonicus sounds familiar, apparently there's a horror movie with that name but I haven't seen that either. This isn't horror-themed at all, it's just loosely psych-y rock. A drop in the bucket at this point. I would sincerely trim down the psych rock field on this list, including with this one, even though it's decent. Decent doesn't cut the mustard. Favorite tracks: Mr. Skin, Life Has Just Begun, Rougher Road. Album art: Some freaky deaky stuff going on here, or really just a funhouse mirror shot of the band? Better than most band photos, but nothing too special. I do like the font. 3/5

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 31 2023

3

Ok

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 31 2023

3

I enjoy listening to this album but can’t really retain any of it afterwards. Strong 3

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 01 2023

3

Oh goody, yet another late 60s/early 70s cult-favourite. Sigh. Psychedelic influences? Tick! Band broke up on initial release? Pretentious lyrics? Tick and tick! Multiple re-releases on hip reissue labels? Slathered in studio trickery? Progressive leanings? Critical darling with underwhelming commercial appeal? Tick, tick, tick, tick and tick! We just won White-boy Rock Critic Bingo! (I've listened to the album twice through now, and there are some mildly catchy tunes. It's not bad, but I'm not in love with it.)

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 01 2023

3

I only went to the Sunbury Rock Festival once - in January 1973. It kicked off on the Friday night, leading into the Australia Day long weekend. I drove from Sydney with Dave Kelly. We met up with his brother John at the festival & when it was all over, you could say I drove the Kelly Gang home. Unfortunately Dave & I did not leave Sydney early enough to catch the Friday night performers. By the time we arrived in the middle of the night, the music was over. And that’s how I missed seeing Spirit, who were the first international band to ever appear at Sunbury, & had headlined on Friday night. What a bummer. I have never heard this album before. I really enjoyed it. There’s a diversity about the music It’s poppy, then folky, then psychedelic. David Briggs’s production is terrific. I’m still not sure how Randy California’s estate didn’t win their case against Led Zeppelin stealing one of his riffs to use in Stairway To Heaven. And listen here to the keyboard opening to Space Child & tell me it’s not the same keyboard intro to Steely Dan’s FM.

👍

View Author

Sun Sep 10 2023

3

Pretty solid psychedelic rock

👍

View Author

Wed Sep 13 2023

3

weird and wild and wooly. 3 stars.

👍

View Author

Wed Sep 13 2023

3

I'm interested by the title but very much put off by the album art. In the end I kind of liked it, more than I thought I would anyway.

👍

View Author

Thu Sep 14 2023

3

Has a heavy blues vibe in the vein of Deep Purple or Led Zepplin. Also has some nods to the prog-ishness of likes of Yes. It's cool at certain points, but I find the lyrics to be pretty repetitive and mostly chorus. Favorite tracks: "Nothin' To Hide", "Mr. Skin"

👍

View Author

Wed Sep 20 2023

3

Enjoyed

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 22 2023

3

Probably warrants a second play through. Has the feel of an album that grows on you over time. Animal Zoo & Morning Will Come were the standout tracks IMO.

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 22 2023

3

I am still amazed that Sometimes even after 50 years spinning round this planet I can come across some music this well recorded and produced. And have never even heard a whisper about it. Not saying I loved it. But it’s certainly got its moments. And as mentioned. Is produced really well. The balances and sound levels are really well done.

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 22 2023

3

Good 70’s rock. Nothing special, though.

👍

View Author

Sun Sep 24 2023

3

A fun, out of the ordinary LP that offered a welcome deviation from the norm. Wish that as a whole the album could’ve been a bit more grounded in the often stellar guitar and rhythm section rather than the synthy interludes, but for what I expected this was still a great listen.

👍

View Author

Fri Apr 21 2023

2

Prelude-i don't really like this. Spirit doesn't seem to have anything that stands out as great. maybe I'm wrong. We shall see....

👍

View Author

Thu May 04 2023

2

A very strange sounding sci-fi-esque album by Spirit, it almost feels like being possessed by some at parts! I can see how this would have been enjoyed by many college radio stations in the 70s, and not so much by the mainstream charts. Best: Nature's Way Worst: When I Touch You Note: Spotify had 1996 reissue bonus tracks - didn't listen to these.

👍

View Author

Sun May 07 2023

2

Spirit is from Los Angles, USA Genre Progressive rock First Listen. Heard of the band, not familiar with the album or any of the songs. Singles: ------------------------------- Animal Zoo (#97 USA) Nature's Way (#111 USA) Mr. Skin (#92) 2.5

👍