Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus This is one of those albums where you find yourself tapping along quite happily but then find it all sort of drifting by. I’ve listened through 3 times and have enjoyed each listen, but I can’t actually recall any songs or anything much in particular. There’s some very good bass playing, some nice guitar, leaning more on country than acid blues, and they do a line in catchy, if not exactly memorable melodies. I like the picked guitar figure of Prelude, before it moves into the relatively rote Nothin’ To Hide. The kettle drum in the intro of Nature’s Way really makes me think of Black Beauty, and it’s quite a nice eco-ditty. Animal Zoo is another nice song, anchored by some nice bass, electric piano and a catchy, singalong melody. Mr Skin’s rhythm and horn section gives it a nice late 60s/early 70s soul-rock feel, and the pummeling bass gives When I Touch You a nice proggy drama. I quite like the Kinks-esque Life Has Just Begun, Morning Will Come is a fun, bouncy track and I like the very west coast soft rock feel of Rougher Road. A funny one altogether. They try on a few styles and nothing quite fits I think, and there’s nothing quite as good as their Nuggets mainstay I Got A Line On You, but it is a pleasant listen. Think that makes a 3. 🥼🥼🥼 Playlist submission: Rougher Road

It's OK. Like the last embers of the 60s but that creeping self indulgence and collapsing under its own weight of psychedelic rock becoming the fundamental over/and unfocused that saturated and became prog. There are some good bits then it goes off all over the place, and like a lot of prog acts for me they aren’t talented enough to keep it on course. I almost like it, preferring the more folk acoustic elements but as not a prog fan and the flights of fancy loose me - 3 Star

Just really boring

Saw title, year and cover and thought here we go. Saw the length of songs and thought there is hope. Listen to said album and enjoyed it even saved a song to favourites. Enjoyable a solid 3.

This is one of those albums where everything seems to blend together by the end. No big highlights, but I can't hate it too much.

4.5/5

Some areas felt like rolling stones, others a bit pink floyd-ish, others deep purple-ish, it feels good, the type of music to hear in a trip, driving, and feeling each note and sound.

First Listen Favorites: Love Has Found a Way Space Child Nothin' to Hide Honorable Mentions: Life Has Just Begun

3.75. I liked it

Felt a lot more fun than most of the psychedelic music I've heard from this time.

2,4/5

only the obvious age of the record prevents me from really liking it. it's flowy rock album with a straightforward and reduced instrumentation as well as a voice that's equally tight.

Listening to albums like this make your realize what a masterpiece great concept albums are. This one was blah. A couple good tracks, some good instruments but nothing to keep me involved in tje “Twelve Dreams”

Funky and fun. I liked most of it.

До того, как выиграли 3 Инта...

Self indulgent and moronic

The sounds like the last dying gasps of the 60s.

Super solid record but too long, too much meh mixed with the good stuff to be a 4 or 5

I didn't connect with most of Side A, much more so with Side B. Also, I'm still a sucker for a good horn section. [Based on original 12 tracks] 5 keepers in 12 (42%).

Fun unique listen that takes you on quite the journey

I don't believe I've ever heard of Spirit before even though the fall right into the sort of music I like. But whe. I noticed I couldn't remember a single thing about this album the next day, I realise why I've never heard of them.

It’s another one of those “ok but nothing special about it” albums

“Love Has Found away” is like an XTC song. And we all remember “Nature’s Way “ because of FM radio. The whole thing works nicely as an album. Part middle of the road rock, part jazz, part psychedelic, part hard rock, but all put together well. Arty and kind of epic. Pretty good.

All over the place... but in a good way! REALLY digging the variety of sounds but still squarely into psychedelic 70's rock. The production is solid. Do I give it five for the surprise it gave me? I think I will... I hope to come back to this one.

This was fine, if a little All Over the Place. I didn't hate it but may not remember it.

This album definitely had spirit. It felt like 1970, but overall okay.

Well I enjoyed that worth a listen and a replay.

🙂

Not the best. Lyrics are very random and there is no common theme or anything to it. 2 stars.

What an album. Had absolutely no idea what to expect from the cover or the name but was not disappointed. 60s and early 70s routinely amaze me with the creativity in production they were able to do at the time and this is a prime example of that. If you like Jethro Tull, this is a must listen

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

Weird but not bad I would say

So I guess the 70s were pretty lame huh

This sounds like a blend of The Who with a couple drops of The Doors and some horns thrown in. Somehow, that combination is surprisingly more boring than you'd expect. It's not a bad album, but it doesn't really make me want to listen again.

Never heard of Spirit and was happily surprised. Great music that keeps you on your toes. So many different styles and ideas. This ones a good time.

This is a good album. I am quite familiar with it. The only question is whether I will give it a 4 or a 5. The vocals are good. Nice guitar work. Good songwriting by Randy California and Jay Ferguson. Excellent production by David Briggs. Prelude: Nothing to Hide opens the album with a bang. Nature’s Way is a beautiful song. It’s nature’s way of telling you something’s wrong. This is one of the first environmental songs. Mr. Skin is a joyous song. Great sax. It is about their drummer Ed Cassidy. Morning to come has some catchy hooks to it. This is a good album. Four stars.

3,2 Highlights: Nature's Way, Animal Zoo

Part blues influenced, part hippie influenced. Never quite great, but not a bad record by any means. I had a little dread reading it was classified as prog, which I sometimes struggle to get on board with. But this is much more cohesive as a project, and they don't really let any individual songs outstay their welcome or get overindulgent. They are solid musicians and adequate songwriters putting together a solid album. I feel I wouldn't mind dying without hearing it, but also I do think my life is very marginally improved by hearing it...

I can't recall ever hearing of this band before giving this a listen. Very late 60's early 70's feeling psychedelic rock with interesting vocals. No tracks really stood out, the whole album flowed as an experience. Some songs were more on the progressive side and others a bit pop rock sounding with just enough experimentation to keep things fresh. Will have to give this or another album from them a listen in the future.

★★★☆☆ I had never heard Spirit before, and this was a bit of a mixed bag. The first half had a lot of songs that were fine but didn't really connect with me, and there was enough filler that I was starting to wonder what I was missing. Then “Space Child” into “When I Touch You” completely changed things. Those two almost feel like they should be one long prog-rock song, and “When I Touch You” was easily the highlight of the album. “Street Worm” kept some of that heavier, more emotional sound going and was another standout. There are some really good ideas here, and I liked the second half considerably more than the first, but there's too much to get through before it really gets going. My track ratings averaged 5.6 and the overall experience didn't do enough to raise it. **5.5/10. 3 stars.**

Fine.

This wasn’t bad, quite good rhythms. Would have been very ground breaking for its time too!

Kinda cool, kinda lost. When are they going to pull it together for perfection? Not by the last song. Totally fine album, but it felt like it was a little bland and boring at times.

65

3.8

solid 3.5. álbum agradável, apesar de um pouco one-note

Vaca catch up

Perfect example of a lost classic- filled with great songs and production for its time

3.6/5

Almost really good without ever quite being really good.

Pre Listen: Never heard of this group nor album, but based on the year and release date, I'm expecting some zany psychedelic rock. How zany will determine how much I like it, but there's no way an album with such a title will be even remotely serious. Notable Tracks: Animal Zoo | Mr. Skin - Tied for my favorite albums on the track. I love the energy these songs have with them, absolute bops. Reminds me of the Kinks at their strongest. Love Has Found a Way - Least favorite track. I feel like this song embodies the worst stereotypes of this sort of psychedelic rock. In an attempt to sound unique and interesting, it forgot to sound good. Space Child - Another highlight of the album, it's got that psychedelic spacey sound down. The piano on here is goated. Post Listen: There was a lot of interesting things on this album, a lot of worked great, and overall the energy this album has in it is wonderful. That said, a good number of things fell flat here, but overall it was a positive experience. I noticed the influence of Hendrix, The Kinks, Pink Floyd, and even a bit of the Rolling Stones in here, but only influence alone. Their sound was unique and consistant enough to have their own feeling. The strongest parts of the album were the key three ingredients any good rock album has got to have; their bass, drums, and guitar playing were all great. The additional instruments included in many songs were wonderful too. Where I think the album struggled a bit was the more experimental sounds included; the odd distortion, back tracking, sampled noises, etc. Sometimes they worked fabulously, like on Animal Zoo, other times it just felt out of place and added nothing. That said, overall the Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus were positive ones. I'd dream with him again, I like his Spirit. 4/5

A fine 70s rock album. I was not so sure after the first hearing but the second convinced me. I had never heard of or listened to the band before so this was quite interesting.

I think this is objectively a good psychedelic album, although it's not completely my cup of tea. There aren't really misses on this album, just a handful of songs that fall flat. the songs that are good on this album are sick though. There are funky guitar sections that give me flashbacks to Caravanserai era Santana. And grand, layered vocal sections that give me Journey vibes. I could see how for some people this album could be a 5 or a 1, and for me it's a hard 4.

Aika mielenkiintoista kuunneltavaa. En tiennyt Spiritistä mitään muuta kuin sen että bändi haastoi Led Zeppelinin oikeuteen, koska Stairway to Heaven kuulosti liikaa joltain heidän biisiltään. Mitä Spiritin musiikkiin tulee, niin jokseenkin pidin tästä levystä, mutta se ei kuitenkaan ihan nouse tämän ajanjakson progressiivisen rockin parhaimmistoon. Albumikokonaisuus tuntuu hieman hajanaiselta.

Does Dr. Sardonicus dream of easy-listening psychedelia? Obviously.

pretty enjoyable - if the melodies are there i tend to enjoy myself. nothing groundbreaking, no barn-burners (aside from when i touch you, the standout track for me) but no complaints otherwise. highlights - prelude - nothin' to hide, nature's way, love has found a way, mr. skin, space child, when i touch you, morning will come, soldier

Just some proper 70's era psychedelic rock. Simple, fun riffs, and holy hell that bass line on "Animal Zoo" is nice. I've got to be honest, for as much as I enjoy this album, I have no idea why its on this list. I don't think it's groundbreaking in any fundamental way, it's just a fun album that I hardly ever see get mentioned. But I will happily add this album to my rotation.

Not nearly as flat as I thought it would be. Not an amazing work of art, but not at all dull or predictable. "Love Has Found A Way" into "Why Can't I Be Free" was a dynamic display of this band's willingness to just commit to one sound or idea for a song, then swap it right up for another. Then the folliwing "Mr. Skin" has some Zappa vibes going for it. THEN "Space Child" sounds like golden era Pink Floyd a few years ahead of the curve. One of the more tolerable classic psych rock records with some foresight for what you could do to pull at the edges of certain guitar music tropes of the time. 3/5 Continuing to read about these guys, they seemed to be quite ahead of the curve for lots of sounds, or at the very least surrounded themselves with tastemaking folks and artists who eventually would draw inspiration from Spirit. It adds an additional level of respect I hold for this record

Finally, some good proper psychedelic music! This is what i want from the list, something completely left field that blows my socks off :) The songs are good, definitely more hit than miss, and the production is excellent - you can hear every instrument clearly, and it's honestly made me want to play in a band again where you're properly surrounded by music - this album is going on my pile for sure! Fave tracks: Mr. Skin, Animal Zoo

I’d come across this album a few times in the stacks but never took the time to listen to it. I’m sorry for that! This was a surprisingly good album. Every time I thought I knew what direction it was going to changed, from the Chicago-style Mr. skin with the heavy horns to the Xylophone-rock of Why Can’t I Be Free. It doesn’t sound like it should work but I does! Stylistically they were somewhere between Moody Blues and Grand Funk Railroad, both of which I like. It was somewhat psychedelic (Space Child), a lot of rock, and some softer moments mixed in too. This was a perfect 1001 discovery.

Random thoughts: * I'm surprised I've never heard of Spirit. This could be one of those hidden gems. * I'm not sure it is quite hidden gem status but this is a solid sounding early 70s rock album. * I really liked Animal Zoo, that was my favorite song. * I thought it kinda sounded like "Free Ride" by Edgar Winter Group. * Everything about Spirit sounded like something I already knew. Maybe that is why it is good but also why it isn't so popular. It just isn't unique enough. * Another nice one to add to my listening experience but one I doubt I'll seek out again.

Didn't love it

Another hour filled with nothingness

Some decent in there

This was fun!

5.5/10

i get the impression this album is part of a greater tapestry of late 60s California rock rather than a cultural touchstone in its own right. it's not really the best at anything. covers a lot of ground though. Prelude - Nothing To Hide is a cool psychedelic freakout, and there are other songs like Love Has Found A Way that are experimental and weird too, but it doesn't always hit. it noodles at times and it lacks flavor and courage at others. it's fine. deserves to be one of the 1001? mayyyybe there's a case but i would be quick to swap this for another Animal Collective album (Strawberry Jam i reckon)

3.5/5 pretty good psychedelic rock

VERY 1970, mostly fine, Nature’s Way earns goodwill, but once the vocals flirt with yodeling and the imaginary field carnies start gathering, I’m out.

At times I listen and I say, "Wow this is kinda interesting. Diverse, original and sonicly well done." But most of the time I find myself saying, "What is this utter garbage that I am being subjected to right now?!?" Kind of like the Red Hot Chili Peppers in that way. I understand why it's on this list.

I had never even heard of these guys before, I'm glad to have heard them. What a cool early 70s album. I'm going to have to revisit this one soon and check out some of their other ones too.

Psychedelische hippierock, ja wat anders. Maar het luistert lekker weg, met fijne samenzang en spel tussen alle gekkigheid door (wie heeft die trekker gestart?). Allemaal dikke prima, zowaar is er ook nog een blazerssectie en een orgel. Afwisseling genoeg.

Vanaf Motorhead was het even terugschakelen. Dus mijn eerste gevoel was: saai. Maar langzaam raakte ik het gewend en werd ik me bewust van de extreme balans van met name de eerste helft. Doordat alles elkaar in evenwicht houdt, moet je moeite doen om de instrumenten en toch bijzondere overgangen op te pakken. Als je die moeite doet, wordt je verrast door een pop-ontstijgend geheel. Al ben ik erg gevoelig voor pakkende uitschieters en mis ik die toch. Stiekem vind de op het internet gehate Nintendo-family-game-muziek van Space Child dan wel een fijne break. Na dit nummer, lijken ze bewust wat traditionelere composities neer te zetten. Met When I touch you gelijk als voorbeeld. Er wordt zelfs wat geschreeuwd. Dit zijn niet de beste nummers die we in deze lijst tegenkomen. Maar ook met deze keuze komen ze op albumniveau tot een balans.

Dit zijn dan toch de leuke albums om te horen, sowieso uit een periode en in een stijl die ik over het algemeen wel kan waarderen. Psychedelische 70s met een goede dosis progrock, maar ook af en toe wat experimenteels en zelfs een nummertje glam. Er is continu afwisseling, maar het duurt nooit te lang en er wordt een vrolijk potje gemusiceerd. Ik lees op de wiki dat ze nooit zijn doorgebroken bij het grote publiek en dat dat mischien wel komt omdat hun management het aanbod om op het legendarische Woodstock te spelen afsloeg. Ook in de top2000 staan ze niet en ondanks dat er best nummers zijn, waar je van denkt "komt dit me niet bekend voor?", is dit een totaal nieuwe ontdekking. En daar luisteren we deze snoblijst toch ook voor. Ik mis ergens wel dat hitje, al zitten er nu ook al sommige stukken tussen waar je gelijk al mee begint te neurien. Dus de hitpotential was er wel degelijk denk ik. Een positieve verrassing, net niet goed genoeg voor 5 sterren, maar een dikke 4 sterren verdienen ze zeker!

*Love the songs with instrumentation the most- but lots of cool prog and psych moments

this is some goofy weird shit and i hate it Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: nope! 1.4

The album by the band Spirit—led by Randy California, who was not yet seventeen at the time of its release—stands as one of the earliest art-rock albums. Randy’s jazz influences are evident in the musical diversity and the simultaneous use of horn arrangements and synthesizers. He had already played with Jimi Hendrix, and the then-unknown Led Zeppelin served as Spirit’s opening act. Jimmy Page lifted the riff for the smash hit "Stairway to Heaven" from the Spirit track "Taurus." Although Led Zeppelin has repeatedly disputed this, the resemblance is unmistakable when the two tracks are heard back-to-back. So the original song by the band Spirit gave us all one of the greatest hits in music history. In the years that followed, Led Zeppelin far eclipsed Spirit in terms of success. The music on this record is a truly ambitious and creative blend of various styles and forms of musical expression. It features beautiful ballads, some unconventional guitar solos, psychedelic elements, and touches of jazz. For me, the final track, "Soldier," is the highlight. The song concludes the album by revisiting the musical theme of the opening track ("Prelude – Nothin' to Hide"), thereby bringing the record to a harmonious close. Its defining final line is: "You have the world at your fingertips / No one can make it better than you." This message is more important than ever.

It's kind of goofy this album in its intense progginess but I love it. It's cool to hear such a clearly American take on the genre. I didn't know David Briggs produced it. He knew how to capture a vibe.

Pretty solid, nothing sticks out and it’s too long but nothing sucks on it. Listenable.

I loved that? Just some prog rock, but good prog rock Favorite Songs: Mr. Skin, Street Worm, Morning Will Come, Animal Zoo

Possibly Spirit's best album.

Was preparing to give it a 2 after feeling indecisive between 2 and 3, but Morning Will Come helped bump it up. I don't understand its place on this list though.

A pretty typical Woodstock era rock band. I don't think I've ever head anything from this band before, or if I had it didn't leave much of an impression. They are fine. I was sort of expecting that they either went on to other famous things or had clear significance to other musicians of the time. Doesn't seem like it from their wiki post. They were always just "fame adjacent" (Milton Berle's nephew as manager? Frank Zappa's former engineer as engineer? Who cares.) Anyway, low 3. Fine. Not sure I needed to hear this before I died, though.

It's not the best psych rock record I've ever heard, but it's maybe the weirdest, so that's something

p196. 1970. 2 stars. Aimless early 70s hippy noodling with no tunes. Saved from 1 star by clean production and some fabulous guitar work.

Fun proggy rock, some of the messages really hit you over the head, but I guess it was a newer idea and subtlety was not there

i don’t have much of an opinion on this, some of it was boring but some of it was alright

It’s from 1970, I don’t know the band, and it has a quirky title. I expected drug addled prog. I am delighted to be wrong. Really enjoyed this - great vocals, great melodies, guitar that hits the sweet spot. The songs were even a sensible length which is very rare for 1970. Look forward to reading more about this album and the band.

#8 What a classic sounding record. Doesn't even sound like it was recorded in the 70s. This band could've definitely become more well-known if they didn't sound like all the other popular rock bands at the time.

one one hand there's a lot to love, but then I think that's because it reminds me of other music at this time and it eerily sounds familiar although lacks the same execution. natures way and animal zoo are fun

1054 - "Here's your juice box and orange slice. Thanks for coming."

I was expecting this to suck, but this is what the album generator is for- exposing me to stuff I’d otherwise have no conception of, and… enjoying it. Nothing I’d add to my playlist, but a good listen on my drive to work. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Du rock qui s'écoute franchement plutôt bien, je suis le premier surpris !

Álbum me surpreendeu positivamente. Belas canções, o instrumental é muito bem trabalhado. Pula Unicrom.

Not bad 70’s guitar rock, if it was brave enough to be a touch weirder, it could almost be respectable as Blue Oyster Cult. It’s a bit short of that and as a result a little forgettable but still worthy of a listen

I’ve never heard of this band or this album. For real though, I can’t tell if I like this or hate it…which is probably a good sign, at least in the sense that I’m still thinking about it. I like bits of the instrumentation. I wish the engineer would cool it with the panning. I like some of the harmonies. The songs are…decent? I think? It feels old and sort of current at the same time. Alright, at the least, I can say I’m glad this album cropped up. On the real tip though, this is a weird fucking record. I think I like it pretty good. 8/10

Psychedelic title, psychedelic album. ‘Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus’ is solid, chill listening and very 1970. Top tracks: “Animal Zoo,” “Mr. Skin,” “Nature’s Way”

fun listen! never heard of it, enjoyed it. Like an American Tommy.

--Prelude – Nothin' to Hide...didn't immediately grab me but some interesting things happening --Nature's Way...the standard flower child plea for the environment. we didn't listen --Animal Zoo...also called a zoo. fun country groove with a touch of funk --Love Has Found a Way...could be a Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music track --Why Can't I Be Free...short dream folk --Mr. Skin...sexy bass groove. and we get some sexy sax! --Space Child...sounds like title screen music for a nintendo game. Final Fantasy? --When I Touch You...simple yet effective riff. really like the atmosphere of this one --Street Worm...solid but standard classic rock stuff. nice guitar solo at the end --Life Has Just Begun...some interesting production techniques used here. more hippy stuff but also something more --Morning Will Come...now we got horns. love horns. straightforward rocker in the best way --Soldier...an oddly lazy closer. should have ended with "Morning..."

thought they were gonna play some nice guitar, peaceful nick drake type of thing but then they just got loud and annoying