Surrealistic Pillow

“Surrealistic Pillow” by Jefferson Airplane (1967) This album put the ‘love’ into the ‘Summer of Love’. Now, psychedelic accoutrements (blacklight posters, strobes, spiral illusions, chroma key video, ingested chemicals) are not needed in order to delve deeply into this music, although I’m told (heh, heh) they help. “When the truth is found to be lies, and all the joy within you dies, don’t you want somebody to love?” In the 2009 Cohen brothers sadly under-appreciated film A Serious Man, the aged Rabbi Marshak quotes these words of wisdom to the young (and stoned) Danny Gopnik at the conclusion of his bar mitzvah. It’s as if the ancient rabbi suggests that in the midst of Danny’s pubescent crises he should ask himself whether giving love is the great healing balm that erases any perceived deficit of the good, the true, or the beautiful. Stop cringing, Danny, and get out there and make LOVE. The end of boyhood, boys, comes with the transition from receiving to giving—shifting gears from the passive to the active. Put your testosterone to work. That’s how God made you. And it takes a woman named Grace to enlighten us. Apart from the rock classics (“White Rabbit”, “Somebody to Love”, and “Embryonic Journey”), the remainder of this album excels as well. There’s great stylistic variation and development in the order of the tracks. Plus, this is a very well constructed album, begging to be heard start to finish (as originally released—join me please in hating rearranged reissues and ‘bonus’ tracks!). With consistently excellent vocal ensemble blend and percussion that goes beyond simply keeping the beat, this music glides on sonic thermals. Grace Slick’s powerful contralto both dominates and blends. When she solos, she switches on a vibrato that’s like a nervous system on speed and acid simultaneously (one imagines). Her tightly controlled grace notes (no pun) are simply unsurpassed. From the angry (“White Rabbit”) to the earnest appeal (“Somebody to Love”), she’s on top of each composition with soul and style. Marty Balin’s seductive and resonant tenor on “Today” and “Coming Back to Me” has inexplicably escaped the notice of many ears (including mine, folks. Why are we so addicted to ‘hits’?). Jorma Kaukonen’s superb solo acoustic “Embryonic Journey” is a must study for all aspiring folk rock guitarists. And stealth support on guitar by Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) on several tracks adds to the musical airscape. This album is another classic. The only flaw is that the bolero-structured “White Rabbit” should have been five minutes longer. But that’s perhaps a greedy quibble. 5/5

Best songs were when Grace Slick was lead vocals. If she was the main vocalist on all the tracks it would’ve gotten a higher score

There is a reason why this is one of the most influential and essential Flower Power albums; it just sounds AMAZING. How do they got that gloomy, murky, echoey but clear and mesmerizing sound in '67 is something I still can't explain.

I don't think that I actually know that the two big hits on this album were by Jefferson Airplane. Basically when it comes to certain strains of classic rock, there is a big batch of songs whose artists I don't know and a big batch of artist names I know whose songs I can't identify. I didn't listen to this album as closely as some others, but I did listen to it 3-4 times, and I liked it. The rest of the songs fit right in with the hits. My personal enjoyment: 4/5 Did it belong on this list: 5/5

This album is a masterpiece for so many reasons. White Rabbit is what I called an "unpredictable hit", sounds like nothing on the radio, but still... It belongs to the radio. Somebody to Love is powerful and catchy, She Has Funny Cars is an insane opener with punchy drums and guitars. The album even leads the listener to the refined and unexpected classical guitar piece "Embryonic Journey". How Do You Feel and My Best Friend are also solid songs. A landmark album of psychedelic rock and the year 1967.

Houston… I mean, San Francisco, we’ve got a problem. ‘You can do whatever you please, the world’s waiting to be seized,’ co-vocalists Marty Balin and Grace Slick sing on the opening number, ‘She Has Funny Cars.’ Then, ‘Your mind’s guaranteed. It’s all you’ll ever need.’ Hmm. Sounded real groovy in the youthful idealism of the 1960s, especially 1967’s summer of love, and most especially in San Francisco. Turned out, though, the mind was not so guaranteed, and it wasn’t all we ever needed. Grace Slick reprised that idea, and then some, in 'Surrealistic Pillow’s' second to last song, ‘White Rabbit,’ when she further advised to ‘feed your head’ with magic mushrooms, at least. The problem being: the mind is ravenous, and fully capable of eating its host’s body and spirit. Ms. Slick found that out herself, eventually, when she developed an adult addiction to both hard drugs and alcohol. But you can’t necessarily expect youth, then or now, to be fully receptive to adult wisdom. They sometimes just have to figure it out for themselves, trial and error, just like their parent’s did (or didn’t). On ‘We Can Be Together,’ the opening number of Airplane’s final LP, 'Volunteers,' they further affirm (sneeringly tongue in cheek, sorta) to be ‘obscene, lawless, hideous, dangerous, dirty, violent, and young… And we are very proud of ourselves.’ (And then they proceed to shove the untrustworthy motherfuckers over 30 up against the wall before then tearing it down. Their words, not mine.) But I digress… Ok, that’s the problem, and I don’t have to tell you where all that kind of mindfulness led. If the 1970s are any indication of the consequences of doing whatever one pleases, with a money back mind guarantee, then I want my money and mind back. No wait, that’s partly what got me into this jam in the first place. Am I even making any sense? What did that sneaky dormouse feed me? Uh oh, my mind just starting leaking out of my ears. Hold on, I need to drink some orange juice and go for a walk in the forest. I’ll be back later Ok, where were we again? Oh, yes. The problem. Identified. But our clever Jefferson Airplaners offer a solution on the second song (which incidentally, the Beatles were working on that same year with ‘All You Need Is Love,’ but seeing as how they were in England and the Airplane were on the west coast of the United States, it’s anyone’s guess who arrived at it first): ‘When the truth is found to be lies, and all the joy within you dies, don’t you want somebody to love? Don’t you need somebody to love? Wouldn’t you want somebody to love. You’d better find somebody to love!’ Love, not mind, is the real guarantee. And fortunately, 'Surrealistic Pillow' ends up offering love in spades. Trial and error. Hey, give ‘em a chance to figure it out. They’re young. The two big hits of this LP, ‘Somebody To Love,’ and ‘White Rabbit,’ have not endured the test of time for no reason. Grace Slick’s uniquely powerful, Wonder Woman-esque vibrato combined with the psychedelic sound of the band, particularly Jorma Kaukonen’s trebly (in a good way), note bending clean of the fret, fuzz tone, wah wah, acid rockin’ (stylistically similar to the dual guitarists of another Frisco band, Big Brother and the Holding Company) lead guitar playing, truly create a mood, man. ‘White Rabbit’ isn’t just a song. It’s an experience. I still get chills when I hear it, accentuated by that infamous made-for-television (plastic fantastic lover), after school, anti-drug movie that scared the shit right out of me as a kid, 'Go Ask Alice,' where the formerly sober teen freaks out on LSD to the tune of ‘White Rabbit.’ You baby boomers out there remember? Gen X-ers and Millennials, no worries, a viewing is hardly necessary. Just listen yourself to drummer Spencer Dryden’s marching cadence that, along with the chord structure, builds to a tremendous climax as Slick sings, full on vibrato, ‘Remember what the dormouse said: Feed your head!’ You’ll see what I’m talking about. Wait a minute, did I just taste that one of those quarter notes, smell that measure? Hold on, the sheet music is asking me a question… No, I don’t have any Cheetos. How would you eat ‘em anyway? You’re paper. Hmm. Might need to go for another walk. Be back in a moment. Whew. Next review, half a dose. I’m guessing what would surprise those with a causal knowledge of Airplane most about this LP is the depth of sound on the remaining non-hits. The very Simon and Garfunkely ‘Today’ and ‘Comin’ Back to Me,’ the former a musical recreation of the wandering, searching youth in the late 60s and the latter more of a wistful vibe. Or the signature jangle guitar sound of the Byrds on ‘D.C.B.A.-25,’ or a near Allman Brothers acoustic instrumental on ‘Embyronic Journey.’ Even when little snotty nose Paul Kantner sings tenderly, ‘O, how my heart beats…’ when he sees a beautiful girl on ‘How Do You Feel,’ I can’t help but smile. I didn’t mention Marty Balin much, but his vocals throughout simply soar. And the rascally Jack Casady walks his bass on the acid rockers like a dog straining on its leash. Finally, just in case you forget its 1967, some cat (I thought) kept popping in and out with a flute on the softer, acoustic songs; but, lo and behold when I checked the credits, it was Ms. Slick on an even more classic 60’s woodwind: the mighty recorder. I proudly played one of those suckers myself in 1967. (Grace plays better.) Perhaps that explains why the YouTube channel I was playing 'Surrealistic Pillow' on listed the musical genre, in addition to folk and rock, as children’s music!? Look, I’m starting to come on down now, so I’m gonna go stretch out for a bit. I’ll be on more solid ground for the next review. Let’s just hope it ain’t Grateful Dead’s 'Anthem of the Sun' or 'Aoxomoxoa.' My mind is already sated.

If it’s written by a Slick, it does the trick. If it’s written by another, no need to bother.

Never really been fan of “White Rabbit”. I mean it’s ok, but it’s no “Somebody to Love”, which easily makes it into in the top 5 songs of the 60’s. The rest of the record pales in comparison to those two hits, but it’s enjoyable overall. This band is clearly at their best when they’re playing in rock mode rather than folky acoustic shit.

didn’t know i needed jefferson airplane in my life but wow. this kind of blew me away

Tremendous variety on this one. Great instrumental folk, excellent blues, as well as the widely known psychedelia

I'm really into this! The late 60s/early 70s have such a unique sound. White Rabbit is the only one I've heard before, but it's always made me paused to admire it. So good.

What a fuckin snoozefest

Now I’m not much of a fan of 60’s rock, I am indeed a Beatles disliker, so I wasn’t going into this album too optimistic but staying open minded, and I’m glad I did. Although this record fully embodies the 60’s rock sound I can’t get over how well each song is put together, each one is as consistent as the last and makes for a strong album. This album does have some stand out tracks such as ‘Somebody to Love’, ‘White Rabbit’ and ‘Go To Her’ but honestly each song here is incredibly strong I find it hard to pick one that doesn’t click with me. Another thing I really like about this album is the handful of slow songs mixed in with the classic rock songs, these include ‘Today’ and ‘J. P. P. Mc Step B. Blues’, and not forgetting the lovely instrumental track ‘Embryonic Journey’ that sits nicely in the middle of the record. In all honesty I really liked this album and I’m saying it like this as I’m surprised to how much I liked it considering my experiences with other 60’s rock albums. Gonna give it a few more listens but for now there’s nothing negative for me to say.

Muy agradable. Recibo lo que espero del rock psicodélico + un toque de folk, a ratos incluso hasta dark folk, la voz de la vocalista muy cool. Buenos solos de guitarra, buenas vibras. Canción favorita: somebody to love que tiene esa energía que hasta ahora no percibo mucho el renacimiento del género en las bandidas hipster de neo psicodélico. Mood del disco: Bailando desnudo con alegría en un campo de flores y después deprimido y sintiendome muy malote manejando en una carretera forestal en un estado gringo del midwest.

Good music. Bad album cover.

Somebody to Love is great, of course. The rest is not very distinctive, pleasant psych-folk, Grace Slick should have more of the vocals

Enjoyable. Wish I hadn't listened to the album with bonus tracks though as it's far too long.

My first album on this journey! Only song I knew before listening was Somebody to Love - one of my favorite songs from the 60s. Aged great, imo. Enjoyable album all the way through. Grace's voice is incredible; I would give this album a 5 if she was in more songs. Standout tracks: She Has Funny Cars, Somebody to Love, Comin' Back to Me, White Rabbit, Go to Her 4/5

Hearing this after the dreadful Quicksilver Messenger Service album restored my faith in Psychadelic Rock. I have always liked Slick's voice much of the album is good and surprisingly focused for the genre.

Einige sehr starke Songs gemischt mit ein paar durchschnittlichen Songs.

Humble hippie music. Huggable.

I mean... it was fine. What I expected. They are psychadelic. They are fun. No surprises.

Unfortunately, it didn’t pass the test of time.

Not my thing at all. Hippies.

Super groovy, loved this all the way through! The vocals! Ahhh!

Being a big 60s psych fan, I (naturally) love this record, being one of the many classics from '67. It's called acid rock which is typically groovy rock with a little bit of folk-rock, a few acoustic numbers, plenty of vocal harmonies and an echoey production. Faves include the dreamy 'How Do You Feel', groovy 'Somebody to Love', zaney ' 'Plastic Fantastic Lover' and moody DCBA'. But the album 's highlight is easily the bolero flavoured (and trippy) 'White Rabbit'. It's such a powerful track which till sends shivers up my spine. Ps - the original album is just the first 11 tracks (ending with Plastic Fantastic Lover), the bonus tracks are alright but they lesten the impact.

Candidate

Awe shit! Dude this album has White Rabbit and Somebody to Love!! This will be fun. Would have been cool to be around when this first came out, to listen to it on vinyl...Grace Slick has such a unique voice! I also love the distinct sound of 60's rock. What a time that would have been to be alive. The intro to Comin Back To Me is pretty with the flute. Same with Embryonic Journey! what a cool name too. Ooooh super diggin this In The Morning song!! so bluesy!! 5 Stars!

I really like

I loved every single thing about this album!

Lässt sich gut hören

I enjoyed this. I've always been a fan of White Rabbit, but the whole album had a great feel and was a joy to listen to.

Nothing like hitting a dab pen and listening to some classic psychedelic rock. Shoutout to Jefferson and their Airplane. Also, more importantly, White Rabbit Supremacy forever!

10/11/24. Excellent record, have heard a couple of these songs before. Definitely need to learn a couple of these on guitar!

Man I love this album. My father had me listen to this at as a teenager and I remember him saying “that’s the one with Embryonic Journey, you gotta check that out”. That song, in particular, has remained a personal favorite of mine ever since. The album, as a whole, is a bit raw. The recording isn’t great by any means, but I blame that on the era. 3/5 of a Mile in Ten Seconds, Plastic Fantastic Lover, Somebody to Love, this album has everything. My Best Friend is another personal favorite; it’s very rare that you hear the swing/groove of a song change within a song like that. Not sure this is really a 5 star but I cannot give it 4.

Pre-listening thoughts: LETS FREAKING GOOOOO I have such a weird soft spot for this band since I saw them live this past year (yeah yeah there was only one original member idc it was a cheap ticket. Show went crazy though). But this is when they were still Jefferson Airplane and their material is so so good during this era of their career. Very excited to hear this full album Post/during listening thoughts: Grace Slick is literally so amazing I love her so much. Just like a lot of other 60s music, it has a Beatles-esque quality to it but it’s very enjoyable. I’m really realizing how much of this album I’ve already heard just from trying to research their material for their show 😭. Their harmonies are so tight though. THIS is psychedelic folk/rock that remains engaging and interesting. Great album!!! 9/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah but I personally enjoyed it a lot Fav tracks: hate to be this person again but I enjoyed almost every song ‼️ Least fav tracks: was lukewarm on the blues track but that’s to be expected from me atp

great!

i like this album more and more each time i hear it! just so groovy and fun and beautiful, and has so many different kinds of songs while still maintaining such a distinct and cohesive style.

The jumping off point for whole genres to follow - prog and psychedelia to name but two. A band blessed with many wonderful vocalists, and plenty of virtuoso musicians in every section of the band.

cool

5/5

cool

Amazing

Lots of vibes

Great album and white rabbit is an all time great song

I love 60's psychedelic rock bands from San Francisco like the author of this book loves Bowie and 90's Britpop. Yes, that much. Everything about this album is great. The songs, the vocals, the instrumentation, the cover. When you have Jerry as your musical and spiritual advisor, how can you go wrong?

Great songs on this one album!!

a beautiful snapshot of 1960s West coast psychedelia. Their best album by far and an iconic 60s rock album

Отличный альбом с двумя любимыми хитами.

fire as fuck

I got some Monkees and some Fleetwood Mac vibes from this band that I had never heard of before, but will definitely be returning to. I really enjoyed it! It holds up super well.

A blast from the Summer of Love! The hit singles are fantastic and the other tracks hold up very well. Although I prefer the more rock based songs, the slower stuff is also pretty great. Although I didn't enjoy as much as my other 5 star albums, the enjoyment, atmosphere, and historical importance of the album. The sheer vibe factor of the 60s is unmistakable. 11/07/24

Simply amazing!!

A great 60’s rock album with some true classics but lots of great music.

At last - a favourite/great album - of interest only to a fellow nerd - the original UK issue had a couple of tracks replaced with tracks from ‘Takes Off’ - so two different female vocalists. As an aside - the airplane and Fairport Convention had a lot in common initially. As a further aside, the airplane had a bit of influence on another British group - The Beatles.

I grew up with this album so there is probably a heavy bias here. Jefferson Airplane was one of those unique bands that took rock to new levels, most of them drug fueled. It did however give a new way to look at music that has inspired generations, for example listen at “Today” and then "Infinite Tamboura“ by Rusted Root in the 1990s, or anything by Tame Impala. “Embryonic Journey” was a favorite of my dad’s which was played on his coconut headphones as nauseum.

Pretty excellent. I had listened to it a bunch when I was a teenager so remembered a lot of it, but forgot how bluesy some of it go. But yeah, lots of classics.

This is a fantastic album. Interesting songs throughout. There are the big hits that almost overshadow the rest. Grace's vocals demand attention. I like the around 30 minute runtime. Besides White Rabbit, Somebody to Love, Embryonic Journey... I liked Today. I was in a mood today, high 4 and gonna round up.

Surprisingly delightful

9/10.

not the best of its era or genre, but a great work of psychedelia nonetheless.

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

A great example of psychedelic rock. Grace's voice changed Jefferson Airplane for the better and the two songs she wrote became their most memorable hits.

What an album! Defining a genre rather than genre defining I guess. Full of great psychedelic sounds, fantastic song writing and topped by Grace Slick’s (one of the best lead singer name ever?) belting vocals. Love it. This is defo one of the time/places in music I would love a time travel machine too. Five stars alll the way. Side note: Interesting fact I hadn’t twigged before. Grace Slick was also the singer of Starship of ‘we built this city’ fame. I’ll let that not influence my scoring here!

Bluesy and psychedelic. I loved it.

I do really love this album. I want to give it 5/5 but anything not voiced specifically by Grace Slick is a snooze. Lyric free tracks like Embryonic journey are doooope. Ahhh but the cultural influence is just so high - this has to weigh it higher, right? 4.5

i can’t even make a fun little joke about this. this is quite literally just gorgeous. the world that they created in this album is fucking insane i absolutely love this. This is real music

Classic. Never gone out of my way to listen to them, or a whole album, but I like this one. Some classic tracks on here.

Great album.

i'm a huge fan of 60s psych, and this is a cornerstone album in that genre. i used to have a kneejerk reaction to not like this album because it was forced by my boomer parents down my throat but after falling in love with so many of their contemporaries' music, i have come back around on this one. the songwriting is great and the production sounds great for an album from 1967 - when 'hi-fi' as it currently stands was a distant dream. i still can't believe how good and clean 'embryonic journey' sounds for something recorded in this era - it honestly sounds like it was recorded a decade later. grace slick's vocals on this are iconic. it is a really great package altother. and although i still want to have a kneejerk reaction to this one, i have to admit, it's a classic and important album for a reason.

Grace Slick brings her sense of poetry and fantastic voice to a great set of players - greatness will follow and eventually produce Hot Tuna. There are at least five great songs here and hardly a dead spot.

This album epitomizes the Summer of Love. Messy at times, it's psychedelic and heartfelt.

An absolute classic of the San Francisco psychedelic scene and the summer of love. A handful of standout tracks really make this album shine. 'Someone to Love' has an intensity rarely heard in the genre. 'Embrionic Journey' feels like a destined journey across the country. 'White Rabbit' is the tribute to Alice in Wonderland that we all needed, whether we knew it or not. Truthfully, a few tracks are kind of forgettable but the hits more than make up for them.

relisten. one of the greatest and probably most underrated albums of the entire 60s. so many absolute bangers. still cant believe they put she has funny cars, somebody to love, today, white rabbit and plastic fantastic lover on the same album.

Sounds almost as fresh and out there now as it did back then. 4.8

Onhan tämä hippien metkuja, mutta ai että miten hyviä metkuja ne onkaan! Kestää aikaa ja aina jaksaa kuunnella. Helkkarin hieno! 5/5

This is a time capsule to the late 60s psychedelic, hippy era. It transports you back to that time, yet hasn't aged a day. This album still sounds incredible, with awesome vocals, especially from Grace Slick, great songwriting, instrumentation and innovative production. Another album I wish I could visit in my hypothetic time machine.

Hippies rock maaaaan

I think we've got a hit here, boys. Surrealistic Pillow is something pretty special. All tracks on the album are great in some way or another, with very convincing hooks and a couple of excellent singles (Somebody To Love, White Rabbit). The opening track is killer, being both energetic and psychedelic, setting the mood for the rest of the album and for the Summer of Love as a whole. Embryonic Journey is an unexpected instrumental gem, featuring intermingling elements of classical, rock, and folk music. Go To Her, How Do You Feel, 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds... Just great. A really well constructed setlist with equally well constructed songs. The vibe here is also pretty darn brilliant, if a little dated. Jefferson Airplane perfectly capture the year of 1967 in pop/rock, in all its colourful-yet-dark, flourishy, crazy, psychedelic glory – more so than any other band, even the Beatles. In fact, there's a definite chance that the two bands played off each other during the latter's Revolver- and Sgt Pepper-eras. Key tracks: She Has Funny Cars, Somebody to Love, 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds, White Rabbit

- Jefferson Airplane ist einfach Psychadelic auf der Königsstufe - Die haben einen unverkennbaren und eigenen Stil und Sound, der mir immer ein bisschen das Gefühl gibt, ich würde mich jetzt gern auf eine kuschelige Decke legen, Mushrooms essen und mich meinen Halluzinantionen hingeben - Das Album ist super stringent - Die Aufnahme könnte an der ein oder anderen Stelle (wie bei so manchen Psychadelic Bands) schon etwas mehr technische Qualität vertragen, aber geschenkt - Wäre mein Lieblings Jefferson Airplane Song „Volonteers“, mit dem ich mich damals in die Band verliebt habe, auch noch auf dem Album wäre es sicher nah an der 5/5 Rating: 4,5/5

- Geieeeeeeeel - Gibt wenig Alben, die für mich authentischer und charakteristischer eine bestimme musikalische Zeit repräsentieren als dieses. - Neben den absoluten Bangern White Rabbit und Somebody to Love, steckt dies Platte aber auch noch voller anderer toller Songs wie Today, Embryonic Journey, Coming Back to Me. Für mich persönlich gibt es keinen schwachen Track auf dem Album, wenn auch manche, die vielleicht einen Schnuff zu kitschig sind. - Ich LIEBE die Stimme von Grace Slick. absolut ikonisch und prägend für kommenden psychedelic, prog, stoner rock. 4,75/5

8/10

Toffe hippiemuziek met samenzang en psychedelische randjes. Ook dit blijft meer dan 50 jaar na dato leuk. Niet teveel kijken naar de puisterige melkmuilen op de lelijke roze hoes, maar je laten meevoeren door de walmen van wierook en geestverruimende middelen.

A classic that holds up remarkably well. Yes, it is pivotal for the psychedelic rock of "White Rabbit" and the rock of "Somebody to Love", but there is also great folk rock and blues on here as well. The first album of Jefferson Airplane with Grace Slick and new drummer Spencer Dryden, and wow you can feel their impact. Slick's strong vocals have been acknowledged for years, but Dryden's ability cannot be understated, as he tightened the band up considerably and gave Jack Cassady, the bass player, a wider palette from which to improvise. My favorite tracks not only include the singles "White Rabbit" and Somebody to Love", but also the guitar instrumental of "Embryonic Journey", folk ballad "Comin' Back to Me", psychedelia of "Fantastic Plastic Lover" and the heartbreaking "Today". Such a great album.

Who doesn't love Jefferson Airplane. Always good.

Awesome album, want to add to my collection

I loved the album great music and a lot of variety in the songs. Had not aged in the same way as other bands

Classic hippie music 🎶 right up my alley

A true classic album! Standout tracks: Somebody to Love, Today, Embryonic Journey, White Rabbit

At its core, the album captures late-1970s Britain, a period marked by economic uncertainty, social unrest, and a palpable sense of angst among the youth. This backdrop is crucial for understanding the resonance of The Adverts' debut, which channels the era's turbulence through its visceral soundscapes and candid lyrical content. Musically, "Crossing the Red Sea" distinguishes itself with a melodic tint that threads through its tracks, as notably heard in "New Church." This melodic sensibility, woven amidst the raw chords and aggressive rhythms typical of punk, adds a layer of accessibility to the album, making it stand out from its contemporaries. It's this blend of melody and mayhem that elevates the album, showcasing The Adverts' ability to marry punk's abrasive ethos with hooks that linger long after the record stops spinning. Lyrically, the album oscillates between profound social commentary and the more mundane grievances of its teenage audience, epitomized by tracks like "Bored Teenagers." The song, while possibly tongue-in-cheek, encapsulates the paradox of punk's revolutionary spirit confronted by the ennui of its protagonists. It's a humorous, if somewhat ironic, reflection on the luxury of boredom in an era of supposed teenage angst and rebellion. This juxtaposition invites listeners to ponder the authenticity and depth of punk's critique against a backdrop of historical struggles where such boredom was a luxury few could afford. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, "Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts" remains a pivotal album within the punk genre. It is a testament to the power of music to capture and express a moment in time, even if that expression sometimes veers into the realm of the paradoxical. The Adverts' debut is both a product of its time and a timeless reflection on youth, rebellion, and the quest for meaning amidst societal malaise. The album's enduring appeal lies not just in its musical innovations or lyrical acuity but in its unvarnished portrayal of a generation in transition. It's a snapshot of punk at its most raw and reflective, offering a melodic take on the genre's otherwise stark narrative. "Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts" is, therefore, a must-listen for those seeking to understand the depth and diversity of punk's legacy.

It has stood the test of time. Every member of the band shines. Kaukonen masterly weaves in psychedelia, hard rock, and folk.

Psychedelic rock at its best. Today is underrated

BL: a band I know by name, and one some of my friends who are into psychedelia absolutely adore but I’ve never personally gotten round to. So it’ll be good to give this one a listen finally. AL: Awesome psychedelic listen. I loved the instrumentation and the stereo mix was amazing, and I’m sure absolutely revolutionary for the time. The lyricism, and everything blends together into an absolutely beautiful melting pot of what made everything so great about 60s music. Definitely one of the best discoveries on this generator so far FT: “She has funny cars”, “3/5 Of a Mile In 10 Seconds”, “Embryonic Journey”, “White Rabbit”, “Plastic Fantastic Lover”, “Come Back Baby” 5/5

Amazing!!

WOW 🤩 just WoW to hear an Iconic Album with Incredible riffs, lyrics a that smooth rich sultry voice of Grace Slick…. I’m still on a high just hearing This album!!

Yay! All time favorite group. I fell in love with Jefferson’s music and went back to listen to Jefferson Airplane's earlier stuff. In love with every reincarnation.

Go to Her, White Rabbit and Someone to Love may be the best songs ever. I’ve been listening to the second two since I was a pre-teen and at points felt I lived in the wrong decade due to those songs. This album was amazing.

Really liked this one. Favorite songs: "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit"

Almost as good as the Doors.

Classic classic classic. I’d listen for ever