Reviews (page 10 of 13)
I like the feel of this album and the variety between singers. I wouldn't mind a few more listens to make a true assessment, but it's positive so far.
Meh
I know the singles, love em but the rest is kinda hit and miss at times
.
The first half of 1967 saw the release of the first album by the Doors, the Velvet Underground, and Jimi Hendrix. It saw the revolutionary releases of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane" and Sgt Pepper. Love and Traffic made their debuts in '67, and there were also sophomore releases by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention and Cream. 1967 was the greatest year in rock 'n' roll history. Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane appeared in February of '67, showing what a deep bench this year boasted. And while it didn't charm me as much as I'd hoped, the primary Grace Slick contributions were remarkable. "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" do not grow old, and carry such power. They also represent their times well. The only other song that really grabbed me was "Plastic Fantastic Lover" (a song about TV, add it to a playlist with "Trouble Every Day" and "I'm the Slime" from the Mothers.) This is only a 3/5 for me, but it's a strong 3 with some 5/5 moments in a 5/5 year.
It is undenable that Jefferson Airplane played an important and pivotal role in solidifying psychadelic rock in the 60s. And because of this, I was looking forward to exploring their music a little more. It isn't bad, but this is one of those rare occurrences where the known singles from the album stand out entirely of what's memorable and important for this band. I did enjoy some of the other tracks, but in terms of quality and impact, I didn't find much here. Finally, it is hard to take Grace Slick seriously when you have the Jefferson Starship garbage mingling in your head.
This album has two amazing songs (White Rabbit and Someone to Love, obviously) and that’s about it. Why they had anyone besides Grace Slick sing is beyond me. I owned this CD. Listened to it I think twice, ripped those two songs onto Winamp, and never touched it again. For some reason, this album feels more dated than the rest of the stuff on this list. 3/5 stars, but only because White Rabbit is so incredible, even for those of us who avoided the whole drug scene.
I love the obvious hits on this one, I like 50% of the other stuff, and the last 40% ... it's a bit too hippy trippy for me to really enjoy. Another where I appreciate the significance, and feel akin to the era in many ways, but there's something about this that's a little too ramshackle and inner aura or something. Individually, Slick is a force, Marty Balin has a one-of-a-kind voice, Kantner is a songwriter I like... maybe its Jorma Kaukonen that throws off the balance for me? (Maybe that's why I gravitate to Jefferson Starship over Airplane?) I don't know, and it's unnecessary to quibble. It's a 3.5 in my world, but I'm inclined to keep it at a 3 even with the stellar "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit." What d'ya want? It's friggin Monday morning.
I went into this album thinking for sure it would be a 5 or 4. I listened to this LP a LOT growing up and was very fond of the lesser known songs--She Has Funny Cars, Today, Plastic Fantastic Lover. It just didn't hold up to my memory of it.
This is another one of those albums where the sound of the decade they existed in settled on them like the ashes of Pompeii, preserving them just as they were. The 60s writ large, this album checks all of the boxes. At times you could be listening at the mamas and the papas, at others Simon and Garfunkel. The two break out songs broke out enough to make it to us all, “white rabbit” and “somebody to love”. Those two heavyweights carry this album to a three from me.
Album is pretty mediocre in general but I find it funny how one of their most streamed songs on Spotify is "Somebody to Love" probably because of the name being identical to the Queen song.
White rabbit er full stutt en æðislegt lag. Don't you want somebody to lvoe er líka sjöundatugarfínt. Restin er ágæt, en of mikið af filler fyrir fjarka.
not really into this one much, although it does contain two of the iconic songs of the psychedelic era, “someone to love” and “white rabbit”… so there’s that.
This is fine. I definitely prefer Grace Slick to the dude singer(s).
some iconic pop songs. some vapid filler.
I have never heard anything from this band before aside from “Somebody to Love”, and this record is inconsistent but very solid. There are songs that I absolutely love, and others that I became annoyed with after one listen. I’d love to shout out to”Embryonic Journey” as it is a beautiful acoustic guitar track.
Kinda cool, just music that is great to vibe out to. Favourite Song: 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds
It was nice to hear the classic hits within the context of the album they came from.
Ha, I mean I guess this is a pretty rocking album.
Paar hele grote hits, maar iets te veel los zand, en buiten de hits niet top.
I liked the whole album better than the radio hits.
Ready set take off
Radio hits: Somebody to Love White Rabbit Pretty guitar instrumental track: Embryonic Journey
3* might have enjoyed it more with a shroom or two
* Favorite song: Embryonic Journey * From the days where you could pan all the drums to one side and guitars to another. Everything is drenched in reverb. Really a product of its time from a production standpoint. * Some really hokey songs in here (My Best Friend) * White Rabbit doesn't fit with the vibe of the rest of this record. It's so jarring compared to the easy-going folksiness of the rest, except maybe Go To Her. It feels like an experiment, which perhaps it was in its day. Full disclosure - I have never liked this song. It goes on the list of "Songs I've had enough of in this lifetime" * Definitely enjoy Grace Slick's vocal performances.
cool sounds throughout but surprisingly sleepy at times the kind of album i'd get to look cool but in reality i just want to listen to somebody to love and white rabbit and id let the rest play until i got tired of it! also dear white rabbit lovers - the cover by Mayssa Karaa on the american hustle soundtrack is slayful 11/10
Fun psychedelic album. White Rabbit is classic and maybe best of the genre. "J.P.P. Mc Step B. Blues" was great. Still can't believe this band became Starship and created "We built this city" but anything can happen with enough LSD.
One of the biggest bands of the time and this album does have a couple big hits. It's some good psychedelic rock but perhaps a bit dated. There's a blues song in the middle of this album too? A fine listen. 5.5/10 (2.75/5)
The singles loom large on this one, and whilst Surrealistic Pillow is listenable I think much of the album pales in comparison to 'Somebody To Love' and 'White Rabbit'.
Some classics on here
I think there was a time some decades ago I really liked this, but I feel increasingly bored by Jefferson Airplane. Still, this album does some good stuff and has a few really good songs.
Great “Age of Aquarius” vibes from this record. Haunting vocals and cool guitar work. Could use a bit more sitar. Standout track are: “Somebody to Love” and “3/5 of a mile in Ten Seconds”.
Varied sounds of the songs on this album from psyadellic to blues with some rock songs throne in.
Somebody to Love, White Rabbit
An icon of 60's rock, this album is a good listen with a few surprises I wasn't expecting (a blues song!). You could certainly do worse.
Some good, some not so great. Decent album with a couple killer cuts.
Not my cup of tea
Meh
solala, zwei/drei halbwegs bekannte Lieder dabei; aber ist auch schon in die Jahre gekommen
A classic album. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit do all the heavy lifting here, but it's still a decent album, overall. Grace Slick's voice is so incredibly iconic.
Some hits but generally it felt rough around the edges. 3.16
Pretty cool
It was okay but that about sums up it, okay, some really nice tracks but VERY sleepy album just not something that’s very fantastic to me
Good album if you're in the mood / chilled out 3/5
This is an alright album where the "Somebody to Love" song is their most popular one but "White Rabbit" sounds very similar and somehow has more listens but doesn't have that part that is really cool. Overall, not too bad, it was fine as a background listen.
Love the 2 hits, the rest was good too but unsure how often I'd go to listen to this
3/5
Familiar with half a dozen Jefferson Airplane songs but had never listened through an album before. Fun, funky. Sometimes almost childlike (in a good way). I like the narrative/literary nature of many of the tracks (like Alice in Wonderland). Go To Her probably slaps the hardest.
She Has Funny Cars has great drums but didn’t really connect to the lyrics or melody. Somebody To Love is possibly the strongest second song on an album ever. Such a mighty sound, so well executed. Her voice has so much power and pain. My best friend, love the harmonies within the vocal performance, melody is solid too just not as catchy. However the change in tempos throughout keeps you locked in completely. Today, builds suspense and melancholy very nicely, I was really pulled into the story. The mini crash out at the end when singing “it’s all for you” so perfect. Straight into Comin’ Back To Me, with a long and slow intro makes total sense. I personally love the talking poetry take for the lyrics. The subtle melody is great to keep you guessing where it will go next. A well written musical version of yearning. I’d love to be two glasses of wine in listening to this next time. Woah, the complete switch back to the sound at the beginning with 3/5. This feels like the big crash out about missing someone to the point of being driven mad. Just needing to be in a circus. D. C. B. A. that last line “You were the world to me for a while” is quite frankly harrowing. Again showing their ability to make sorrow more upbeat. How do you feel, I love that pipe?? that brings you in. The chorus of vocals feels moving. I am interpreting this as being in the strange situation of meeting a fan, but could be completely wrong. Like i’m imagining them just not wanting to let them down because it “brightens up their day”. Embryonic it’s a guitar solo that is intricate and stunning. And that’s from someone who hates guitar solos usually. I’m actually having the thought that Harry Styles may have sampled it? White Rabbit seems very cautionary from the get go about drug abuse. Talking about asking Alice, i’m assuming in wonderland. Lyrically and melodically very interesting. “Feed your head” is fitting. Plastic Fantastic Lover falls a bit flat for me. Nothing grabs me. Some lyrics still ring true today but the composition doesn’t thrill me. In The Morning immediately does make me excited to see what they will do to the blues. I’m liking the instrumentation for sure. The rest is letting it down, and it’s truly too long, because it’s the same over and over. J. P. P., such a sweet song of friendship!! I think it’s adorably made. Simple but well constructed. Go to Her, feels like Somebody to Love’s cousin. I’m not the biggest fan, seems like a half assed version to repeat it. The guitar solos too long and feels unimpressive even with the pick up of tempo. Ending on Come Back Baby, the bass has a great performance, I really like that. Apart from that i’m a bit tired of feeling like this is a melody Ive heard on like 3 other songs at least. Over all the album has great vocal performances, fab rhythm sections and a lot of guitar solos. It’s too long. Personally it would be a much higher score if it took out about 5 songs. Anyway yeah most likely won’t listen to it in its entirety ever again.
The higher energy, harder parts were nice, but the rest sounded pretty run of the mill. Somebody to Love a classic nonetheless
pretty solid psych rock
Didn’t expect to recognize Somebody to Love. The production on this so far is really cool & groovy. Damn, Today is romantic as hell, first save off the album. Really enjoyed this one!
It would be much better to have more of female vocals in this album. Somebody to love is a banger; White rabbit is tense and just great. And guess what they have in common?
3 Some ok hits, and does a good job representing genre, but overall a bit long
Two great songs. Instrumentals were better than expected. Will listen again
I almost rated it higher just because it has white rabbit
A couple of all time great songs and a bunch of extremely medium songs
Good classic rock
My dad was very happy to hear this one when I was trying to find albums from the list that he’d like for our road trip
A deep dive I had once done in high school and one of the most quintessential psychedelic pieces rock albums. Very fun
Great and timeless album. Amazing to see how many songs and techniques got perpetuated through time for an album made in de 60s. Would definitely listen again, even thou its not my genre of preference.
Solid sounds of Psychedelic San Francisco. As with many of these classic rock albums I find the deep cuts to be more interesting than the extremely well-known hits.
I thought this album was actually a good listen and it certainly has a feeling of the hippy era, I liked it.
Psychedelic rock album what can I say. Love some songs but would hardly put on an entire album of it again.
A tour de force of 60s music that I generally dislike. Harmonizing vocals in a very 1960s style. Acid psychedelic stuff. Great guitar though on Come Back Baby (terrible voice...can someone else sing?). My Best Friend is pretty solid though, even though it's a bit cheesy.
Some good psych rock. I really like the way the singers voice flows.
Jesus, how many different people wrote the songs on this album? Bubblegum pop to existential dread from song to song; it's pretty jarring. The songs that hit, though? Holy shit. Just put those on a playlist and leave the rest.
I liked this album more than I thought I would, especially all the songs up to and including White Rabbit. Plastic Fantastic Lover is skippable; the rest is not bad blues inflected psychedelia, definitely of its time.
Listened to the 11 tracks original release. Besides the iconic "Somebody to Love" nothing remarkable on for me. 2,5
Ambien on vinyl. That might be what you're into, I find this one pretty dull. I can see why it was selected, because Jefferson Airplane were in the right place at the right time, but there's far better psychedelia than this album, even from the same year.
This album had really good vibes. Your two standouts, Somebody to love and White rabbit are both immense classics, standing the test of time. However, the rest of the album fails to jump out at me. Many of the songs have similar taste and sounds, which does draw back from these two major hits.
A lot of sounds, nice songs, and nice voices...
Two absolute 60's bangers with Somebody to Love and White Rabbit - unfortunately everything else is a bit forgettable. Really half arssed album cover also. Also suffers from me being a little burned out from all the late 60's pyschadelia on the list. I think I have almost reached my fill.
Good thing I had a surrealistic pillow because this bored me to sleep
it's aight
It's pretty good. I didn't find a deep cut to add to my collection, but it was solid. Most of it sounded a lot closer to the Beatles-ey sound of the time than what I expected from the hits I knew.
There are a bunch of good songs on this album, but only a few great songs. And you can guess who sings the great songs.
this seems to be the general consensus, but the best songs are the ones sung by grace slick. everything else is good... just not as good lol
Listening to this album wasn't a bad experience and Starship were one of the important bands of the Americam Psychedelic scene in the 60's, but beyond 'You Need Somebody to Love & "White Rabbit there's not much on offer here. Back in the day I'm sure this would've sounded ground breaking but it's not really well. A good album but not brilliant.
Норм,найдется любитель,я думаю, но это точно не я. Пару песен слышал раньше, одна из альбома даже нравится и это все.
7/10 like the Beatles but not as good. Embryonic Journey and White Rabbit highlight tracks
If Grace Slick isn’t the lead singer this record sucks. However - Somebody to Love and Go Ask Alice are iconic so 3 stars.
It was okay. One brilliant song and some decent others but would not rush to listen again
Kind of that loose acid hippy rock that requires well written songs to not be annoying. A few songs approached that.
A psychedelic standard. Has some good jams, a few great even. A lot of it is pretty forgettable to me though.
Some good tracks on the first half but faded. 2.5
Nice, groovy. Vet ikke om æ ville hørt på hele albumet i en sitting.
This was great. I was humming along the entire time whether I knew the songs or not. Very 60's and very Jeffereson Airplane. The production quality also made it sound very "of the time", as it wasn't the best I've ever heard. Three stars.
The two well known songs are so different from the rest!
A couple of great songs but overall it doesn’t come near White Rabbit.
.
Since the best-known (and best) songs on this album are so classic, I was expecting the full album to be more Grace Slick heavy and uh better. But even if White Rabbit and Somebody to Love are pretty unmatched high points, this is still a pretty good psychedelic rock album all the way through. 3.5/5
I’m not a fan of psych rock myself but this album had a few good, recognizable tracks
One of my all time favourite songs white rabbit. A soaring peice of psycadellia , however he rest of the album is a bit wishy washy the only really good track being 'someone to love', made me conclude the lady should have sang on all the tracks.
Somebody to Love is great, the rest somewhat less so. The extended bonus edition goes on a bit too much too.
I enjoyed the songs I knew enough to make this a tolerable album to listen to.
Some highlights, mainly the singles.
Few classic hits. Never listened to the whole album. Now I have, and I don't think it changed much.
Yes, I'm a hater of Jefferson Starship "We Built This City" in large part to how far they evolved/drifted away from their identity as 'Airplane'. Yes, on 'Surrealist Pillow', the songs with male vocals are of the fey flower child essence, and songs with Grace Slick's vocals remarkably intense, all guiding out on a trippy soul safari.
Hopelessly outdated seen from 2024. Not more than interesting compared with their musical contemporaries.
Eerste album via deze app. Leuk om een keer het hele album te luisteren. Laffe hap maar prima tijdens werk.
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. 3⭐️
THREE STARS!!!!
Whilst dripping of the 60’s it’s the iconic Slick showpieces that make this.
Has all the hit singles I knew, those were great. Rest of the album doesn't quite hold up.
A time travel with a couple of very strong songs. The sound never appealed to me fully.
Just sound
I thought I’d like this more. It’s good, but not great.
Did not use a private spotify session. Knowing the two classics from this album and with a title like "Surrealistic Pillow", I expected something more psychedelic and trippy, but it was more folksy and bluesy. The folksy stuff isn't for me, but there is enough good in this album to overlook it.
Best Song: White Rabbit. There's a reason this song is so beloved. It feels so refreshing to hear a song that eschews traditional formats and just rises in this inevitable-feeling crescendo. A rocket launch of a song. Worst Song: My Best Friend. This just feels like cosplaying as The Beatles. There is already an over-abundance of these corny, sugar-sweet harmonies in this era of music, this album would have been better without them here. Overall: A few truly fantastic songs, surrounded by a greater number of just okay ones. I can't help wish that they'd leaned harder into some of their more creative, experimental tendencies, and that they'd given their female vocalist more opportunity as her vocals stand above the rest.
Some bangers surrounded by an okay album. Rotational
A good album with a couple of classic songs, and some songs I had never heard of.
Awesome psychedlic gem
tbh I barely noticed it
Never heard the album before. White Rabbit is still a pretty amazing song with a unique structure. Somebody to Love is pretty meh now. The rest of it... Just sounds like the 60s, and not the "good" 60s. And why did so many 60s and 70s bands put traditional blues style songs on their albums? I won't listen to this album again, but I'm giving it 3 starts just for White Rabbit. "Remember what the dormouse said"
Ho hum... no thanks. Pretty boring stuff (other than the well known numbers).
Solid album with several hits from the times.
It was good in places, not so good in others.
плотный психодел щит
Two solid bangers otherwise the band is mediocre best, kind of a precursor for Fleetwood Mac, but overhyped, I think.
Like: Somebody To Love
true to form, i GOT to hit this with yet another THREE. This album was just okay, thanks
# 334 : They've done a pretty decent job, good album, I like the hits of course but 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. Favourite track : Somebody To Love.
It was okay.
Two absolute bangers and a lot of nondescript 60s pop.
OH WAT zag ik niet aankomen! DAt Somebody to love op dit album stond OH WTF en dan ook nog eens de vocal van Feed Your Head van Paul Kalkbrenner! Ok, dat vind ik dus wel echt heel erg vet. Dat je met dit project best wel veel originele versies van bekende(voor mij dan) nummers leert kennen. Hoe is de rest van het album dan? Veel psych rock, met de hits wel echt die er uit springen. Opeens met In The Morning is er een verassend blues achtig nummer wat mn interesse meteen pakte! Maar alles bij elkaar vind ik het een album wat zeker bijzonder is, blij dat ik het heb gehoord, zeker de originele versies van 2 zeer bekende nummers, maar toch niet helemaal mijn ding. Gewoon een best wel ok album. FAVO: Somebody to love, DCBA-25, White Rabbit, In the morning
Some cheesy, beach boys rock in there. “She loves me,” type stuff. Can’t believe this album includes White Rabbit and Somebody to Love. Seems like they shoulda let the lady singer write more songs.
Didn't get the chance to listen as much, but overall, I really enjoyed Somebody to Love and White Rabbit, which were both familiar!
white rabbit and plastic lover are my favorites off this
Meh.
Famous old psychadelic album, of course I know this one. Iconic tracks, but the album as whole isn't as well rounded. I love Somebody to Love and White Rabbit, but also the beauty of Embryonic Journey. PS, Starship (the current band with Mickey Thomas) plays an awesome medley live of these hits.
Overall, I like Jefferson Airplane (and Starship). This album just so-so.
Yet more 60s psychedelica-infused rock. Not bad by those standards, but nothing to really come back to and explore. Might have been fundamental in changing the direction of popular music at the time but don't think it's aged particularly amazingly. Middle of the road.
Helt ok psychedelic 60- tals rock
It's pretty good. Solid album. If you haven't listened to much 60s rock, probably much better, but this music inspired so much after it, it kind of suffers from the "Seinfeld Is Unfunny" effect for me.
One of the better albums from the San Fran Psych bands in my opinion, feels a little less pretentious than some of their counter parts. I don't get the \"I know more than anyone else because I am the center of the universe and am here to save the world\" that I get from some of those bands (Looking at you David Crosby). Also, some great bluesy stuff.
Imagine you're in a band with Grace freaking Slick and you're like, hmm yeah, we'll give her two songs, then let her sing a line here or there on the rest of the album
A couple of decent songs, but others are a little slow
I'm much more fond of the straight forward rock & roll songs like Somebody to Love and White Rabbit than I am of the flower child, ren fair shit like My Best Friend, Today, or Coming Back to me. If you're going to listen to weird hippie shit, I guess you could do worse.
Rock. A couple of great songs mixed in with some forgettable ones. White Rabbit rules.
Obviously familiar with White Rabbit and the bands name/era previously. Didn’t know they did the original Somebody To Love, which is a great song. A good album and I can understand why it would have been impactful upon release. Grace Slick has a great voice.
It feels a bit cruel to notice this was a 1967 release as it was never really going to match up to Sgt Pepper, Piper at the Gates etc. It's nice enough and some songs I recognised straight away but it didn't really grab me in any powerful or lasting way. Maybe you had to be there.
Reall good psychedelic pop compilation. Often forgotten except by those who know
They have always bored ney, don't know why
Ok, very dated
hippies!
Can imagine that you would be nostalgic for this if you listened as a child
classic 60s psych rock vibe ! really nice time listening! will be streaming white rabbit !!
White rabbit too good, wish they dropped a couple songs though
It’s the one with the hits! Looking forward to learning more. This is okay. Really like Grace Slick. She’s got a unique style. The music is good, too. Not loving the guy’s singing as much. Wish she got more leads. Overall, this is truly hippie dippie, summer of love music. It’s still got the hopeful, naive sound. It’s cute. The hits still hit. You can understand why this was popular at the time. This is probably a delight to listen to at a picnic in the park, smoking reefer with your friends. 3/5
Meh, buen disco con algunas canciones que salvo, pero en general no me gustó mucho, lo mejor son las canciones rock/blues, el folk ni me va ni me viene. Somebody to love está por siempre ligada a la escena de The Cable Guy con Jim Carrey. Top momentos musicales en comedias. 6/10
I heard four songs. two I apparently I already know. something t o love I do actually know. I like but there's nothing cool or immediate that makes me want more. to calm ig
I really like Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship and Starship, but this album just did not do much for me for some reason. Not sure why. Individual songs in it are great and production is really good, but maybe it's too produced? I feel like a live version of this album would be absolute killer.
"Somebody to love" had a resurgence recently. Nice to know where the original is from. Apart from that it was an okay album. Nothing else stood out to me.
Had never realized so many references came from this album (go ask alice) and found it a very chill listen.
I love the song White Rabbit, so I was looking forward to the rest of this album. Of course I also knew Somebody to Love -- good track. The rest of the album is OK but doesn't rise to that level.
The two big singles on this are undeniable classics, and the rest of the album is quite listenable without ever rising to their status. Strong 3.
some quite recognisable music, good individual songs and overall the album is solid with good vibes, but it's not quite there for me and my vibes. kinda old school
The more rock influenced music on this album isn't particularly interesting to me. It just doesn't seem like it's fully realized. But the more folk influenced songs, the ones with heavier vocals, are very good and I think they can compete with some of the other major folk artists (i.e. Mamas and Papas). The stretch of songs of 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds to Embryonic Journey is really good and, in my opinion, the cornerstone of the album. The rest of the album is just alright. I'm not overly impressed by it. Favorite Song(s): 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds, How Do You Feel
Couple of legendary songs on here, and some other great ones. Should be an easy 5 or at least a 4, but I found a lot of these songs while nice are quite forgettable. I couldn't even tell you what 4 of these songs even sounded like and I just finished listening to them. Still though, White Rabbit is truly one of the great songs of the 60s, the female singer has such a nice voice. Also it is absolutely insane to me that this is almost the same band that made that shitty ass "We Built This City" song. WTF A very high 3 here
Its giving wish.com beatles Jkjk its a good experience but idk it doesnt captivate me nearly as much as the ones ive heard already. Fun album to listen to though, i wouldve rather heard it than not. Has some very good songs but they are rly similar to the typa stuff the beatles does. Which isnt a bad thing but id rather just listen to abbey road :/ Does have very impressive guitar segments that i really like.
Really solid album, feels like the Beatles with more acoustics. Hey fe al vocalist was also excellent and honestly the highlight of the album for me. The slower songs really hit hard. Overall I don’t know if I’ll listen to this album a ton because I can just listen to the Beatles, but I had an enjoyable experience
While this album had some catchy hooks and amazing guitar solos, it didn’t have some of the highest highs compared so some of the other albums I have already listened to. At times it is atmospheric, and at times it is a perfect sing-a-long but I doubt it is something I would continuously return to. Despite that, I still understand and agree that this is a project I would deem “essential listening”.
About what I expected...solid but nothing spectacular.
Never heard the album before. White Rabbit is still a pretty amazing song with a unique structure. Somebody to Love is pretty meh now. The rest of it... Just sounds like the 60s, and not the "good" 60s. And why did so many 60s and 70s bands put traditional blues style songs on their albums? I won't listen to this album again, but I'm giving it 3 starts just for White Rabbit. "Remember what the dormouse said"
Decent 3
I've got respect for a Jefferson Airplane. They have their moments and a couple of them landed on this album. As a whole though, this album loses me. Too long, too muddy. Not surprised I hadn't "discovered" it previously.
weird
Not bad for what it is. Probably one of the better psychedelic groups.
Like others have said, try to skip over the deluxe edition of this album with the extra tracks. It plays much better without those additional songs. What I like about Jefferson Airplane is if I ever have any issues with knowing what a song is about, I can just assume it is about drugs. "She Has Funny Cars" leads off with a proto-typical (though not bad) 60's sounding song that I am sure is about drugs. I wonder if you had told the six members on the album cover that less than 20 years from now only one of them would still be in a band called "Starship" if they would believe you? Probably not, especially if you said that band would be singing about how they built this city and posing for album pictures where they appear to be dancing by themselves with "Saved by the Bell" looking squiggles all around them. I have never heard a Jefferson Airplane album, though I have heard a Starship album, both of which serve as a point of shame for me. The first five songs are a strong way to start the album but I am surprised the record company let them bury White Rabbit on the latter half of the album. Surrealistic Pillow deserves a spot in this book and I am surprised the book didn't hit us with 2-3 Jefferson Airplane albums, but of course, the band is not British so that explains that.
The standout tracks were Somebody to Love and White Rabbit, which were the ones I already knew. Everything else was fine, but didn't really grab me
Classic hippie rock of the late 70s
Some all time classics, but few and far between with the most sounding just 'meh'. Forgettable, really.
Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow, released in 1967, is a defining album of the psychedelic rock era. The album features iconic tracks like Somebody to Love and White Rabbit, which capture the spirit of the 1960s counterculture. The male vocals from Marty Balin and Paul Kantner are generally more appealing and accessible, while Grace Slick's distinctive voice, although powerful, can be polarising. The production quality is clear and highlights the band’s musical talent, yet the album occasionally lacks focus, with some tracks feeling more like experiments rather than polished songs. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 4 STAND OUT TRACK - 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds
I have mixed feelings about this album but I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. On one hand, I am beginning to feel resentful about the amount of albums on here that were released before even my parents were born, and I really struggle to identify with them. However, I was quite impressed with the hits on this album, and have no doubt that it was impressive for its time. I can appreciate the songwriting and vocal performance, even if I had lost interest by the end of the 59 minute runtime.
i like this period of music. of course white rabbit is amazing. has bluesy songs like in the morning that i didn't realize they did.
too much of this boring ass dude singing and not enough of this cool ass lady singing. never heard of this album or this band but somehow I knew a lot of the songs here, speaks to this album's influence I guess. really enjoyed it even though it became kinda boring in the middle, picks up towards the end. Highlights: She Has Funny Cars, Somebody to Love, Today, DCBA 25, White Rabbit 3.5/5
Very calm, tender and delicate through most of the songs. I can feel the emotion and power despite the generally slower tempos. Enjoyed quite a lot of it, but the later half of the album was not as strong. Wish I'd discovered this group before. I'd heard of them but never looked into the discography. Highlights: Somebody to Love Comin' Back to Me 3/4 of a Mile in 10 seconds
Some songs I recognised, but would probably need to listen to it again.
Two gems. The rest was just fine.
If you were to ask me to name a song that encapsulated the psychedelic music genre I’d probably name white rabbit within a few songs. Jefferson airplane definitely altered music and bit and left their mark with the hippies. This album showed how their music was very much the psychedelic rock that made it different than anything else before. A unique and strong album that goes a bit long but overall it’s good. 7.0/10
Eh. It was ok. 2.5 stars. Rounding up
I was hoping to be blown away by a lost masterpiece. I see now why I only know "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love". Was this "Somebody to Love" before or after the Beatles "With a Little Help from My Friends"? I never drew a line between those two songs since they sound so different but the whole "somebody to love" thing makes me wonder if one influenced the other. Anyway, just give me the hits from this one.
Containing two of the most iconic 60s songs (White Rabbit & Somebody to Love) and a third that was used to close out the influential sitcom juggernaut, Friends (Embryonic Journey), “Surrealistic Pillow” is a worthy listen. A majority of the album sounded like I needed to be high to truly appreciate the sound and message, but even sober, I could see how this album would have helped influence a generation looking to progress past the stagnant straight laced existence their parents had existed in prior. Not my favorite album but for those looking to delve into the 60s sound, I see this as being a quintessential album.
3 TIL Grace Slick is not the lead vocalist of Jefferson Airplane… and what the hell were they thinking? I’m pretty sure her vocals are the only thing that saves the group from sounding like just another slice of late ‘60s psychedelic rock. Like, Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are the two best tracks here, and it’s not even close - and judging by their Spotify play counts, most people seem to agree with me in that regard. Imagine listening to Led Zeppelin III, and coming off the heels of Immigrant Song, they were like, “Alright, we’ll let John Paul Jones sing the rest”. Her voice is so captivating and enchanting that it really makes the rest of the album feel like a letdown in comparison. I guess Jefferson Airplane is just one of those bands where one member clearly outshines the rest - too bad we never got a solo career out of her. But yeah, the bulk of this album is just fine. There was never a point where I was like “Wow, this song sucks”, but after Somebody to Love, I did feel like I was just spending my listening waiting for White Rabbit to come on. The most remarkable thing I can say about any of the songs in the middle is that they have unique names. D.C.B.A.-25? No idea what that means. ⅗ of a Mile in 10 seconds? So what, 216 mph? Did I have to do that math? No, but it was more entertaining than the song - this album is so incredibly fortunate to have Somebody to Love and White Rabbit to bail it out of pure mediocrity. Both are great, but I have to say White Rabbit may be the definitive ‘60s psychedelic rock track for me - it actually feels like you’re tripping on LSD just listening to it, and I love the allusions to Alice in Wonderland (it’s also responsible for that iconic moment in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). On a tangential note, I have to call out the guy in the bottom right of this album cover. No idea who he is, but I get a chuckle looking at him every time I see this cover pop up. Like, the guy is mugging the camera like he’s Clint Eastwood or something while rocking the goofiest-ass ‘60s bowl cut I’ve ever seen and holding a banjo. Idk, maybe it’s just a me thing, but it’s always provided me with a bit of light humor.
Solid but expected more bangers based on the huge hits on the album.
Amazing that we started here and ended with We Built this City on Sausage Rolls. Should this be on this list? Yes Do I give a shit? No
Pretty good psych rock, especially Somebody to Love. Top tier song. 3/5
Classic. A couple of the great songs of that era.
3/5
earlooped by Somebody to love.
I've liked this way more than I thought I would. Psychedelic rock is not my thing but beyond the two hits ("Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit"), the album is really nice to listen to.
All I knew was “White Rabbit.” Or so I thought. “Somebody to Love” was a song I’d heard before, but I assumed this version was a cover. Turns out I was right, but Jefferson Airplane really made it famous. Anyway. This was cool. Miiiiiight be another album that made it here because of a famous track or two, but it’s hard to deny the talent here. They’re a tight group with a well defined sound (even if it deviates a time or two). This sort of gave me what I expected and not much more. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Somebody to Love, D.C.B.A-25, How Do You Feel, White Rabbit
Somebody to Love is an all time 60s anthem. Great jam -- love Grace Slick's vocals here. Really dig the laid back nature of Today -- the little clean guitar line makes me think of a Grateful Dead song that I cannot place at this moment (maybe Morning Dew?). I will never not love White Rabbit. Timeless, unsettling jam. Some really solid stuff here, but much of the middle wasn't terribly interesting. 3/5 for me
Reminiscent of the Beatles a bit. Not nearly as good though. High 3.
Some pretty good psychedelic rock the whole time. I feel like this would be a great intro psychedelic album to show someone who has never listened before. During Somebody to Love I can never unsee Jim Carrey doing karaoke to it in The Cable Guy. Great scene
groovy good dorm album!!!
They have a couple of good songs on this album. It is typical late 60’s and early 70’s rock. It is average album.
I enjoyed hearing different singers and they probably should have a sung a couple songs not about love because that was the only subject the entire time
It was okay. It was another 60s psychedelic rock album. “Somebody to Love” was a good song and otherwise there wasn’t anything super annoying which was nice. Also the songs weren’t stupidly long which was nice (unlike Bob Dylan). None of the other songs really did anything for me at all but I at least didn’t hate it so that’s something cause a lot of the stuff on this stupid list I do end of hating.
never been a fan of psych rock & this album does nothing to change my opinion. apart from the couple of songs where Grace is lead vocal, the other vocalists are very weak. really don't like the tinny guitar sound. Embryonic Journey was a nice surprise but also didn't feature vocals. 2.5 stars
A couple songs I recognize. The album was a fine listen, but nothing I would ever return to. Just not my style of rock.
Overraskende okay
Never really been a fan of their sound and style. Listening through this album didn’t change my mind
This album has a few songs I’ve heard my whole life but never knew who sang them. They have a real hippie rock sound that’s enjoyable but I think it’s gets a bit boring by the end of it.
A good album all together. A few standout tracks amidst a lot of general psychedelic music. 3/5.
Though familiar with many songs on this album, and considering the frequency that White Rabbit and Somebody To Love have been used in movies, the album more than personifies a period in Western culture.
Couple of great tracks, rest of the album is very average.
You can definitely hear the psych influence in the album. Grace Slick is a terrific vocalist.
One of the more enjoyable old boy records I’ve had on this list. I liked the addition of the female vocalist, and the general vibe was toe-tapping for me. The slower tracks were a little bland but overall, a reasonable album for something I wouldn’t normally listen to
A good easy listening album
This is not something I would probably listen to again but it was pretty okay. Nice in a time-capsule kind of way.
When the band stretches out and rocks, this album is sweet. I didn’t enjoy the ballads as much, although I really enjoyed Embryonic Journey.
3.6
Jefferson Airplane is overrated mid tier music that gets fellated for some odd reason. Yes, there are some good songs on here but as a whole this is a 2.75 at best.
The songs with Grace Slick leading the charge are reliably fantastic, the others are wildly inconsistent.
Somebody to love is the obvious standout here. Grace Slick is a great singer. White Rabbit is a perfect example. The ones that lean into the psychedelic sound are the strongest, and the more poppy 60's fluff kinda gets in the way sometimes.
"White Rabbit" is deservedly a classic. The rest is fine.
good album and i can see how they influenced other artists
Some bangers. 60’s tripping music. Not my favorite but could listen again.
I liked it
Nice if somewhat dated
sie het echt funny auters. song isch mega cool, seeehr sixties somebidy to love kenntmer, banger. gitarreparts sind super und d melodie au. my best friend cute, taktwechsel chunt seehr guet. today findi chli seicht aber immerno schöö. comin back to me gad au. 3/5 of a mile wie der meh upbeat denn gfalleds mer besser dcba 25 wieder seehr schöni vocal harmonies how do you feel wieder cute country feel cool jo nice white rabbit seg so ein vo ihrne hits aber finden etz nöd bsunders cool? plastic fantastic lover isch viel cooler. mega dissonant zum teil und ultra geile bass.
Not something I would listen to more often, but a pretty nice listen 3/5
Some less popular tracks were meh
Again some 70s classic stuff, I'm still not sold, I'm still bored.
So this is a known quantity, of which I’ve listened with enjoyment many times. Can’t help wondering what it could have been like if they’d thrown off the shackles of the three minute pop song and let Slicks animalistic voice, so apparent in ‘white rabbit’ roam more freely.
Bunch of drug taking hippies. Not as good as I remember but white rabbit is the ultimate 60s trip.
Margt gott. White rabbit frábært lag og somebody to love mjög skemmtilegt líka. Einum of mikil sýra hins vegar fyrir mig á köflum.
7/10
Second listen. I know it’s good and I like White Rabbit, but I just struggle to remember the rest of the album. I don’t know, none of it really seems as impactful or as interesting as White Rabbit.
Well more of a realistic pillow . Its by good luck that I didn't fall asleep listening to this.
i most definitely leaned more towards the chiller songs on this album. i really liked when the guitar was pushed forward in some songs. comin' back to me, i think is my favorite as of right now, for example. how do you feel is a vibe like okay im ridin and shit. embryonic journey is a fun listen guitar like ooo where we going.
if psychadelic is your thing than look no further, otherwise I didnt find too much to keep me listening or wanting more. Worth a listen at least
It’s a trip and there’s lots of good songs on here. It gets a little long but overall it’s a fine listen
3.5/5
Good songs overall but lacks cohesiveness as an album. The group never really coalesced into a whole that was greater than its parts.
3/5
There are some classics on this one that I'll never tire of hearing. The rest of the album was alright. 3.5
A cool, flower-power, psychedelic adventure. "Somebody to Love," "Embryonic Journey," and "White Rabbit." The song with the female vocalist are way better than the others.
A peak of this style. Somebody To Love is a real hit. The back half falls off for me into that noodling 60s stuff that i generally don't jive with. White Rabbit is iconic.
Good
Overall a pretty good album with a couple of classic songs (Somebody to Love, White Rabbit). Very listenable with a good variety of styles and with different vocalists. Still can only give it a 3 rating.
More folksy overall than I'd expected. No real standouts other than the two hits we all already know by heart.
White Rabbit and Somebody to Love are classics, but the rest of the album is middling 60's psychedelic rock.
3*
It’s fine Woodstock core rock n roll, the album definitely gets boosted from the acid song
Pretty decent music to chill to, second half was better than the first.
Not the worst of that genre of music we’ve been hearing
Great psychedelic folk that stands up well what with having some great songs and all that.
some bangers are there
A mix of hopeful and somber, I had never listened to these guys much – but they make some smooth classic music.
A few good songs, but mid at best overall.
Nicht meine Zeit. Aber sicher ein Meilenstein der Musikgeschichte.
Somebody to love and in the morning were great. There were a few other good songs but I won't revisit most of this album.
Old School Psych classic
Although I like psychedelic rock, this album is mostly too hippie for me. It smells too much like flower children. And yet it was nice to hear 'White Rabbit' and 'Somebody to Love' again. In the Morning' is great blues. 3/5
I prefer We Built This City
I've heard of this album many times, cause it is an essential composure of the hippie sound track, the summer of love and the San Franscisco sound. Lead by the acid queen herself Grace Slick one of the best female frontman of all times. Beside two songs: Somebody to love and Whte rabbit i havent listen to the others songs. The song aree mainly about the classical psychedelic thems: drugs experimentation, critics of the american society, love and fantasy. Musicaly its show onfluences from the undegrorund osycxehdelic scene they were comminbg from, but also more mainstream pop rock act like the Beatles and folk rock/psychedlic us artists like the Byrds or the Mamas and the papas. My Best friend really could have been a 60's british invasion song White rabbit is my favoriute, with a clear allusion to Alice in wonderland and proably a psycehdelic dream/drug, the music and the way the song is tell is purely magic. How do you feel is also pop influenced but still with the psuchedelic instruments and vocals harmony like the Byrds. Embrionyc Journey is an instrumental track, with a cool folk guitar work. The others are a bit forgetable to be honnest I understand why this album is influencial, but there is a reason why we remerber the Doors, Jimi Hendrix or pets sounds, is the depth of those album, and this one lack even compare to the Byrds so its not bad but not as impactfull as i would tought
Lots of gems on this one between the two big hits. Easy to pick out the songs Jorma and Jack wrote. Solid early San Fran sound. 3.5
Perfectly fine record, but nothing really clicked for me, sorry.
klassik
I’m incredibly shocked by how much I enjoy this. It’s poppy enough to keep my ears tuned in, even when I tune out during the more verbose, winding psychedelic guitar parts. I’m also not a fan of when they get super quiet and folky, either, as those moments feel too subdued. The stereo mixing doesn’t do the pop sensibilities justice, unfortunately, but a good song is still a good song. Still, all these elements are small issues, and are mostly kept to a minimum on this record in favor of bright hooks and tight 3-minute song structures. And that’s why it wins me over – the annoying psych moments are never allowed to overpower what’s really just a good pop album with an aesthetic. Honestly, if I’d gone into this blind without knowing the history of the San Francisco scene, I don’t know if I’d even consider this a full-on psychedelic rock album, and that’s a benefit in my opinion. More positive toward a 3.5 with this.
Good album, though I might be influenced by the popular songs from this. Ultimately don’t think I’ll listen to the entirety of this again
Früher Prog-Rock, noch unspektakulär 3/5
This is really an album of two songs. Two of the best songs ever, mind you, but two songs nonetheless. The rest is okay but a bit dated.
fun hippie shit
Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are cool. You need drugs for the rest I guess.
I've never been in the mood for this album. I respect it and REALLY like Somebody to Love, but that's all.
Pretty good. I liked most of it. Some good stuff Good 3
it’s some fun
A classic album, right? I know, but I'm not sure it's aged very well. Some of the riffs, lyrics, and arrangements just feel a little too groovy hippy trippy for my taste. On the other hand, the band was a reflection of a scene happening out here on the west coast and I'm sure for a lot of people, the Airplane nailed the moment.
Yes, good. I don't think this album will ever mean as much to me as it does for others. White Rabbit is a trippy masterpiece, of course.
Psychedelic Rock is not my cup of tea. White rabbit is memorable.
Decent album overall. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are both great songs, but a little overplayed for me.
A lot of these classic rock records end up feeling very meh to me, and this one is no exception. Some good songs that don’t linger mixed with definite classics, but I would rather crank up the Monkees than listen again.
Not sure what to say. I just might have been in a bad mood for this listen, but I feel like I just listened to an entire album because White Rabbit is on it.
“Go to Her” was enjoyable, “come back baby” was nice too, upbeat blues. “Somebody to Love” is the hit single that still plays today.
It was not bad, surprised I recognised some of the songs
Un muy buen álbum de rock psicodélico. Sin duda, la mejor pista de todo el LP es "Somebody to love". Si bien el trabajo de Jefferson Airplane es bastante consistente y sus composiciones son interesantes, la arenosa y difuminada producción le juega bastante en contra a este disco. La experiencia general es muy plana. De todas formas, lo recomiendo para cualquiera que quiera adentrarse en la psicodelia de los '70s.
favourite: she has funny cars, somebody to love, white rabbit, go to her least favourite: today, jpp mc step b blues the songs are good, there's nothing really "bad" about it, but nothing amazing about it either white rabbit is the best song by far the fake stereo they used was kind of distracting, should have just listened to it in mono mayb 7/10
Bears similarities to Pink Floyd. But this is a little more mainstream sounding than piper at the gates of dawn.
Aside from the singles, pretty average for me.
transports you to Woodstock or something. Hippy love!!
Probably their best album but just not my favorite group.
Liked Songs Somebody to Love Today Comin' Back to Me White Rabbit
Quite good album! Catchy 60s psychedelic rock with a couple of really good songs (Somebody to Love, White Rabbit, Go to Her) and only one really awful song (In the Morning). Almost a 4, but the strong songs didn’t quite make up for the 10 okay ones
Rock, Beat. 1967 -> 3
Eh.
Sooo… this record sounds and feels ancient. You can tell why it was so influential as it literally gave birth to psychedelic vibes in rock music. Furthermore, the melodies in how do you feel have almost dreampop-ish vibe and the chords in embryonic journey sound like they were pulled from some random country song. White Rabbit is incredibly overrated and I don’t get its appeal, though I understand it’s importance. The last track was interesting and sounded ahead of its time. I did not enjoy the album at all however and don’t intend to listen to it ever again.
Somebody to Love en het nog veel betere White Rabbit samen op één single. Gedateerd, maar geweldig. Dus hier had ik zin in. Het album is echter veel gevarieerder. Natuurlijk een kwaliteit, maar ik had nou net zin in meer van de Slicks. Helaas horen we de stem van Grace verder alleen nog op de achtergrond terug. In plaats daarvan horen we vaak wat meer ingetogen platen. Een nummer als Today heeft nog wel kwaliteit, maar een nummer als How Do You Feel is alleen maar saai. En dan staat ook nog My Best Friend op het album, een draak van een Beatles-nummer.
Embryonic Journey.. Jorma kaukosen soolo kitara soi... ei ole hirveä säväytys.. On nähty parempia... Osoittaa sukujuuret köyhässä suomessa.. suku ollut tavallisia tallaajia kautta aikain... sopii soittaa blues tyyppistä musiikkia vaikka tämän soolon genrenä folk..... Monta hyvää pikkuista osoitusta lahjakuudesta miellyttää tällä albumilla.. ei välttämättä pusketa kovaa eteenpäin... tämän genren ongelmia.. otetaan lomaa albumia tehdessä... Pink band vuonna 1973 kuitenkin.. ei lomia pidellyt vaan psykedeelisyydestä rievaat juhlat ja paljon antimia.. Tässä nyt vaan annettiin keplutella menemään...
3.5 for somebody to love
Coming back to you is cheeks. 3.5
A classic. I def see how this is foundational to the entire genre. Grace Slick is clearly the highlight with White Rabbit and Somebody to Love being the obvious standouts.
Really impressive guitar through our and a few great 60s definitive classics.
Some good psychedelic music on this album. A lot of the songs sound similar, but there are some of their best on here. 3/5 Might listen again
Sooo good but maybe a bit too long. Love how much musical variety there is in this single record, with a couple of absolute bangers too!
It's good but I'm just not meshing with it this morning.
7/10 - 3/5 I only knew 1 or 2 songs going into this album, so I expected a lot more energy. The female singer's voice kicks ass. Seriously underutilized. Comin' Back To Me sounds like Bob Dylan, which I didn't expect. Overall, a little more of a snoozer than I expected.