Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Enjoyed parts of this
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.
Really enjoyed this. In some ways it reminded me of Fleetwood Mac's later music and even at times a little of Mana's and Papa's. Excellent collection of music and the lovely voice of Grace Slick never disappoints. Stood the test of time very well.
an album I always loved and never 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.
Psychedelic grooves, some seminal stuff on here, lots of genres peppered in. Cool man
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.
классный альбом я его знала
Summer of Love Blues. Can't imagine any album being more 1967.
don’t even need to listen to know my rating. iconic.
All bangers.
Good psychedelic fun
7/10 like the Beatles but not as good. Embryonic Journey and White Rabbit highlight tracks
Buen disco
If Grace Slick isn’t the lead singer this record sucks. However - Somebody to Love and Go Ask Alice are iconic so 3 stars.
Better every time, feel like even though they were innovators they would have made better music if they already had a psych basis to go off if that makes sense
Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are so good they raise my rating a star, rest good but not nearly as standout.
You know, I've always wanted to listen to an album from a band whose name is comprised of a US president's last name and an aerial method of transportation. Fortunately, Jefferson Airplane has me covered with their second album, Surrealistic Pillow. This album's great! Never before have I been so happy to listen to a classic rock album. The style here is very enjoyable. I like that it's not definitively one specific style of rock. Most albums fit comfortably into something like psychedelic rock or hard rock. This album largely has elements of folk and psychedelic, with a bit of blues in there as well. I like listening to this music. The singing and writing are both pretty good as well. I especially like Grace Slick's vocals. The album has some great songs, with the obvious highlights being "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit." Both of those songs are excellent, but the other songs are also enjoyable. Overall, this is just a nice album that I really like. Good job, Jefferson Airplane! High 4/5.
Excellent classic
• 4/5 • White Rabbit and Somebody to Love are fantastic and make the most of Grace Slick • I was surprised at the variety in the tracks: not solely psychedelic, but acoustic, blues, etc. Some good tracks but not at the level of the iconic singles
It was okay. One brilliant song and some decent others but would not rush to listen again
General impression: this is the kind of 60s music you hear in Tarantino films Detailed review: I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, mainly because I knew nothing about them going in. Turned out I did know “Somebody to Love.” This is some killer ‘60s psychedelia. Kinda wish I could go back in time to drop acid and spin this record. It’s just got a great, layered, punchy, vital kinda sound. Some of the tunes didn’t hit as well but most of them did. Deeper thoughts (context): really intrigued to listen again, it might upgrade the score. Score: 4.2 Number of albums left to review: 938 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 37 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 26
Was expecting it to be a lot more psychedelic and was pleasantly surprised in how much they mix up genres. Enjoyed the one bluesy song very much
Kind of that loose acid hippy rock that requires well written songs to not be annoying. A few songs approached that.
Made me want to watch the Cable Guy.
Maybe it was more monumental at the time? Idk I’ve always changed the station every time Jefferson Airplane comes on the radio so it might be a personal preference. Jefferson STARSHIP, on the other hand… (kidding!)
The names are so bad it’s crazy. Surrealistic Pillow? Embryonic Journey? Easy on the acid fellas. Music ain’t that bad though. Some of it is 60s schlock, but the blues tracks are fun. My dad said he liked White Rabbit when he was younger, not a huge fan myself
A psychedelic standard. Has some good jams, a few great even. A lot of it is pretty forgettable to me though.
Actually good
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.
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars for my own personal enjoyment, but there is no doubt this had a huge influence. I just don't like it enough to give it 5 stars, as this is not the type of album I would go back to regularly, but there are some flashes of brilliance amidst the psychedelia. And, of course "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" are classics that most people have heard one way or another.
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.
I can't say I'm a big fan of the band, but there are a couple songs from Jefferson Airplane that should be included on anyone's greatest classic rock songs list from the 60's. Somebody To Love and White Rabbit are a fine introduction to Grace Slick in her debut with the band on the album, Surrealistic Pillow. This record has a certain vibe and energy that perfectly suited the time period and era and Slick's strong vocals ties it all together. Personally, this album is the essential record from the band I need to hear and I don't need to the hear the rest of the group's catalog, especially when they transformed into the Starship.
.
No one knows what it means but it’s provocative.
Super groovy, loved this all the way through! The vocals! Ahhh!
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
White Rabbit is the only good song on this album.
Man this shit sucks. There's two good songs and then a bunch of nonsense.
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.
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.
This one’s tough. Two of the greatest songs ever written, but the rest is jangly forgettable nonsense.
Some highlights, mainly the singles.
Every so often in my younger days, Saturday nights were spent round my pals house with a bag of cans and some funny cigarettes and a Woodstock 69 dvd, which had Jefferson Airplane on it. Blew my mind then, and I still find some of their tracks have that ‘punch in the gut’ sound that nostalgia leaves behind. Realised after listening to this they do have a more 60s rock/pop side to them too. Not all tie dye pysch. Either way, I enjoyed them them and I enjoyed this a lot now. Way better than most other 60s records that have been on this list, and tread that line well between pysch and blues/rock. Good stuff
Actually thought this was great. Going through this list I've learnt I don't care for much 60s psychedelia, this is definitely the best example of it. Has a classic 60s sound but thought the songs in general were just better put together than their contemporaries. Want somebody to love sounds about a decade ahead of it's time but even the more standard 60s stuff was good. I might listen again but it's not a 5 for me, just not my genre. 4.5 but more a 4.
I'm fine with psychedelic/folk rock. I only knew the singles, but had a good time listening to this. I think the female vocals are much stronger, and I enjoyed the songs she led on more. Somebody to Love, and White Rabbit are great, and the whole album zips by. I think if there was one musical era I'd have liked to have been in, it would be late 60s psychedelia. Tie-dye, hallucinations, the evolution of rock.
Think my first and probably only exposure to Jefferson airplane is from the bathtub scene in fear and loathing. Saw that film a fair amount as a teenager so kinda knew what they were associated with.....Wouldn't have been able to tell you that "somebody to love" was their song, although I know it. When this was good it was great. The more bluesy, psychedelic tracks particularly. However, there were quite a lot of tracks that were too beatlesy for me which passed me by. Was reading that the grateful dead were the psychedelic band that stood the test of time, rather than these guys. I thought this was considerably better than the grateful dead album we had, but in their defence it was a live album. Really like the psychedelic blues rock sound and I'll definitely be back. Bet it was a fun time to live through! Favourites: Somebody to love Comin back to me White rabbit In the morning 4
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.
Grace Slick's voice is wonderful. Dark, weird, explorations of life and the human psyche
Groovy man! Obviously, 'Somebody To Love' and 'White Rabbit' stand above the rest of the tracks, but the rest of the songs are still enjoyable.
Jefferson Airplane could have yelled into a well for 30 minutes and this would probably still be a 4 due to “Somebody To Love”. Grace Slick sounds unbelievably good.
How could I give the album containing White Rabbit anything less than 4?
Candidate
good album
I mean... it was fine. What I expected. They are psychadelic. They are fun. No surprises.
"White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" make this a four. You can leave the rest of them.
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!
Embarrassed to say this is the first time I've ever listened to this album, and it was much better than I expected. A bit sprawling at 17 tracks, but a surprising amount of range.
I liked this. Some of the poppier tracks remind me of Oddysay and Oracle. A couple of these songs drag, but when they hit they hit. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are all time classics, I also liked the opener and My best friend. 4
It’s emblematic of the Summer of Love, but runs a little long and the songs where Grace Slick doesn’t sing lead aren’t as good in my opinion.
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.
Favourite song - 3/5 of a mile in 10 seconds
Great album stylistically. Perfect representation of the late 60's sound. Makes me want to turn on, tune in, and drop out. The hits off of this one are total classics, and while a couple of the other tracks lost my interest a bit, overall it made me long for the days of dropping acid and sitting in a room with black lights on. Solid 4/5
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!!!!
I really like
Whilst dripping of the 60’s it’s the iconic Slick showpieces that make this.
I loved every single thing about this album!
Has all the hit singles I knew, those were great. Rest of the album doesn't quite hold up.
It's hard to believe this is the same band that would later record We Built This City 😆 The album is essentially the entire 60s music scene in one handy package Quite long for an album recorded for vinyl.
A time travel with a couple of very strong songs. The sound never appealed to me fully.
Just sound
Not for me. 1/5
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.
Solid shite
Oh no, I really liked this
A couple of nice hits, the rest is also not too bad
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
Great album
Jefferson Airplane are pretty good dad rock.
Lässt sich gut hören
White Rabbit is great. The rest is meh.
A good album with a couple of classic songs, and some songs I had never heard of.
Mostly love it
1 star for somebody to love and 1 star for white rabbit. The rest was annoying hippie folk. Not something I like to listen to. Something about the way the guy sings really rubs me the wrong way.
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.
Awesome psychedlic gem
Great songs and vibes, hippie music for a good mood.
Good psychedelic vibes Lots of good singles Would I listen again - probably yes Would I buy - Probably no Favourite song I'd never heard before - Go to her
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!
One thing. I’ve learned from this project is that 60s psychedelic rock isn’t really my thing - it mostly sounds the same to me. I can’t pin down exactly why, but in comparison to its peers, this album went down more smoothly. For that, I’m rounding up the 3.5.
Such a wonderful album. I inherited this record from my Father. I oftentimes see Jorma around town and at the gym. My only complaint is a lot of the songs sound similar.
tbh I barely noticed it
It was decent fun Rating: 3.6
Is it weird that 'White Rabbit' is one of my go-to workout songs?
10/11/24. Excellent record, have heard a couple of these songs before. Definitely need to learn a couple of these on guitar!
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).
They sounded very dated. I didn't particularly enjoy this album for some reason.
Epitomizes the 60's hippie culture, with lots of self inspection, freedom, drug usage, social commentary and critique, and musical development. While not everything on this album is a strong listen, it's hard to underestimate the impact of both this album and Jefferson Airplane as a band, so even though this only has a couple of top-ten hits, it's a great album in its context, so I'm going high. Fun fact: the first drummer left (before this album) because he didn't like the band's culture and drug use. He was a former US Marine Core drummer... about as opposite of a culture from the band as you could be.
Solid album with several hits from the times.
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.
It was good in places, not so good in others.
плотный психодел щит
Great album, some good classics
Two solid bangers otherwise the band is mediocre best, kind of a precursor for Fleetwood Mac, but overhyped, I think.
3.5/5
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
Like: Somebody To Love
"somebody to love" is nice "white rabbit" is okay
Some good stuff. Like a bit of good stuff. Two good things. Two really good songs. What more do you need? Favourite track: Somebody to Love.
Not for me. A couple of classics but it really dragged on and on. Didn't have a theme I could get around. Struggled to get through this one.
One pill makes you horny!!! I really enjoyed this album. The duel male and female vocals. Light and dark songs. Good, chill, groovy vibes.
true to form, i GOT to hit this with yet another THREE. This album was just okay, thanks
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
Really cool psychedelic rock album with some great songs. Probably a bit long and could do with a bit of a trim, but I really enjoyed the way the instrumentation (the distortion pedals) created this dreamy sensation that definitely reminds me of an acid trip.
# 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.
great!
It was okay.
I love Grace Slick's voice but too many of the tracks (the ones she isn't leading) just blur into one another for me in the most uninteresting way.
Not my thing
Pretty decent album. Couple of my favs from this group on here. I thought they would be a little more psychedelic but seemed to have a but more structure than I have anticipated. Solid 3.5 rounding up.
A bit outdated
Two absolute bangers and a lot of nondescript 60s pop.
One archetypal San Francisco sound track and two iconic Grace Slick songs surrounded by a ripoff rundown of all the best selling folk rock styles of the period. One star for being famous and a bonus star for Slick’s unmistakably genius contributions.
Two relatively decent 60’s classics, the rest was surprisingly bad.
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!
La droga es la salud
Classic/psych rock
insanely well-structured songs, no frills or indulgences, just a terrific command of what a pop song should Do. it’s a shame that jefferson airplane get written off as one-hit wonders because of “white rabbit” in the grand scheme of things (NOT BY ME!) considering how good they actually were. fav tracks: today; comin’ back to me; DCBA-25
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.
This is #day50 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... "if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair!" Somehow, the late '60s music scene has always drawn me in... it's a true sign of the times. With artists like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, and the early Doors, you feel the era's spirit. Jefferson Airplane's signature blend of folk rock, psychedelia, and blues, highlighted by Grace Slick's otherworldly vocals, is delicate and dark. Standouts like "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit" are just the beginning; There are also "She Has Funny Cars", "Today," and "Comin' Back To Me." This is a 5 out of 5 this time around. Looking forward to #day51.
white rabbit and plastic lover are my favorites off this
Somebody to love I knew. Not really my kind of music.
Fun album with great dynamics. My favorite is D. C. B. A. 25
cool
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.
Way better than I initially expected, I tend to forget that 60's psychedelia was way more accessible than its reputation would sometimes indicate
Overall, I like Jefferson Airplane (and Starship). This album just so-so.
good stuff. 4
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.
This album was pretty golden, had a couple of hits inside
Rock sesentero. Un megahit. Un 4.
Folk rock, psychedelic rock, acid rock. Somebody to Love.
Helt ok psychedelic 60- tals rock
5/5
Right on. Knew more than I expected.
I’ve never listened to Jefferson Airplane before but of course recognised a few songs. Quite a few songs I really liked - coming back to me. One song I really didn’t like - my best friend.
cool
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.
3.9 - I thought this was going to be another album with the big hit in it. There were a few nothing tracks, but some real gems outside of the big songs. This will be given a thumbs up.
Very close, but not quite a 5 for me. A few classics in early psychedelia and the absolutely stunning Embryonic Journey. But also a few generic 60s fillers. Fave Tracks: Somebody to Love, Today, Embryonic Journey, White Rabbit 4.4/5
5/10 This one didn’t land for me. Competent 60s folky psychedelic music, but nothing about it made it stand out in particular. A couple of really nice tunes but a load of quite boring ones. At times reminiscent of the Velvet Underground or Mamas & Papas, just not in their league Best: Somebody to Love
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
Good album. Not just the two big hits. And it was a bit ahead of its time.
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.
Although White Rabbit and Somebody to Love are the clear standout tracks, listeners may be surprised to realize how diverse this album is, featuring not only psychedelia, but also healthy doses of blues and hippy love songs. Through the modern lens, this may feel like an antiquated mix, but it's a welcome relief to anyone who is more familiar with the latter-era output of this group (and its associated offshoots). One has to imagine that it was a mind blowing listen upon its release in 1967. The overall aesthetic isn't really to my taste; I'd prefer to give it a 3.5, but in the absence of a half star option, I'm giving it a generous 4 stars.
I knew the really popular songs from this album but had listened to much else of theirs. It was okay overall. Her voice is really iconic.
60er.
Zwei Hits welche man heute noch kennt, der Rest ein Kind seiner Zeit.
Amazing
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.
Peak Summer Of Love vibes here, standout tracks are the obvious ones, Somebody to Love & White Rabbit, but the whole album oozes warm trippy 60s goodness. Accessible and evocative of the era that it's from, well worth revisiting.
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.
Pari kovaa biisiä, muutama rasittava vässykkäjollotus. Kokonaisuutena en voi sanoa nauttineeni.
Bretty good. Most of this is standard slightly blues-y early psychedelia (with some occasional structural or melodic experimentation); the best tracks on here are actually the slower, low-key folksy ones like "Comin' Back To Me", "My Best Friend", "Today", etc. Today and Coming Back To Me I'd say are the best songs here- pop genius, I tells ya, practically every part of that is great. The way the latter's arpeggios contrast with the bass notes, and change in harmony is incredibly interesting and sophisticated. It's honestly kind of amazing they were able to get so much mileage out of those triadic-based melodies. The sparse arrangements are gorgeous as well. I'd listen to a whole album of that. I'm honestly a bit bored by a lot of blues-based music, but some of the melodies or chords here tend to step out of the typical blues/rock schemas and rhythms which is really nice. There's a lot more interesting lead parts or arrangements here compared to many of their contemporaries or predecessors. There's even some contrapuntal guitar parts in here! Even the more regular tracks are fun and have that nice, driving RAWK rhythmic intensity. Also, Grace Slick is a GORGEOUS vocalist! I'd like this way more if she was the main vocalist here instead of... *googles* those two guys Paul and Jorma. Still, they're pretty good too, and the dual/occasional counterpoint vocals are very nice. PS Embryonic Journey totally sounds like John Fahey
Lots of vibes
Reall good psychedelic pop compilation. Often forgotten except by those who know
If it’s written by a Slick, it does the trick. If it’s written by another, no need to bother.
Somebody to Love is great, of course. The rest is not very distinctive, pleasant psych-folk, Grace Slick should have more of the vocals
They have always bored ney, don't know why
Ok, very dated
I knew a couple of songs but only really like one of them. This album is a drug infused, psychedelic trip. I will never listen again.
About a decade before their time. Great musical storytelling with diverse sound
hippies!
Great album and white rabbit is an all time great song
Great album. A cornerstone of 60s psychedelia and Woodstock culture.
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.
This was a good album. Unique sound
it felt like i could hear a different band in each song. very cool they came first.
Say you're a teenager thinking about dropping acid (or just doing drugs in general) for the first time. You've heard that there's as much a chance as something wonderfully life-altering as bizarro freakout happening. What do you do? You put on Surrealistic Pillow -- the gentlest drug album ever recorded. It's good rock and roll, for sure, but there are plenty of psychedelic fun times with sounds and space to be had. But nothing threatening. Even "White Rabbit" -- as dread-inducing as that beat can be -- comes across as a friendly guide in the context of the album. It's plenty good. Unexpected bangers: 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds, Plastic Fantastic Lover, Go to Her
Nice and familiar sounds.
I'm told this is psychedelic rock. It absolutely is, and it's wonderful. I hadn't heard of Jefferson Airplane prior to this, but I had certainly heard the 2 singles that came off this album, Somebody to Love and White Rabbit. The Album could potentially have been pushed to a 5/5 if the female vocalist had taken the lead in more of the songs but it is what it is. My infant also really enjoyed this, she was legitimately dancing along to the music! 4/5
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 !!
The first two songs on the album were my favorites with "Today" being sandwiched between two mediocre songs. The rest of the album just sounded like regular 60s rock.
White rabbit too good, wish they dropped a couple songs though
I really enjoyed this album, perhaps because the last five albums have been dogshit? I first heard White Rabbit in the movie 'The Game' with Micheal (sex addict) Douglas. The scene is where his house has been trashed, and he slowly ascends the staircase to see what is happening. It's such an awesome and fitting scene for this song. Every time I hear white rabbit, this scene is painted in my mind. This is great, dramatic, psychedelic music. 3 stars for the track, White Rabbit and round it up for the rest!
There is A LOT of psychedelic rock on this list - but this is one I actually enjoyed compared to many of the others! Most of these stars are for Somebody to Love and White Rabbit - great tracks! Somebody to Love always makes me think of that karaoke scene from The Cable Guy and both tracks are in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - I think these films might need a rewatch! I haven’t heard the Boogie Pimps remix of Somebody to Love for years - thanks 1001 for the blast from the past!!
Great classic rock band that are just not as famous as other major acts but are just as talented
Good historical perspective. Does not play well today.
Flower power at its best. Grace Silks voice is amazing. Her songs on the album are the highlight. Somebody to love is the standout tune but there are some other belters like white rabbit and she has funny cars. Favourite song: she has funny cars Least favourite: everything is cool Album cover: standard cover
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
This will take the modern listner a few go rounds. Side B greatly outshines A, I feel JA saved the rockin psych stuff for side B, see Crown of Creation. Probably their best effort all-round, with a fee true classics
A couple of good songs but the rest of it wasn't awfully memorable tbh
Oh man, I mellowed out so much. SO much. Some of the grooviest work of the 60s with not one but TWO iconic hits. The famous stuff rocks and quite a few of the deep cuts sound great too. However, a couple songs I could have cared less for, making this a solid 4.5.
Interesting
Very enjoyable, great vocals and wonderfully mixed music. Definitely stood the test of time
Was not a big fan of this one. Not too good imho.
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 searched and downloaded this not expecting to know any of the songs on the album. Pressed play and Bang! “Someone to Love” played. Oh these guys did that…. This sounded like a typical Californian 60’s summer of love album and I dig that man! Really enjoyed it, now where did I put those flowers…
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 liked this! Will need to listen to it again at some point
Enjoyed every song in the album. Just a smooth psychedelic rock album and with nice surprises of Somebody to Love and White Rabbit
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.
Un classique rock/folk psychédélique que j'avais jamais écouté. Ça vire un peu en rond rendu au milieu, si c'étais pas de ça je donnerais un 5, mais je vais quand même le garder dans ma collection
"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.
The music is good, great even, but it's Grace Slick's voice that makes it iconic
Had never realized so many references came from this album (go ask alice) and found it a very chill listen.
Started out strong then it just dragged on and on and on and kept dragging and kept going. Just like a lot of these 5 star reviews
me gustó esta banda, particularmente las canciones White Rabbit y Plastic Fantastic Lover.
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.
While there's no mistaking the era this album comes from, it's surprisingly listen-able. There's enough variety to the tracks (a mix of upbeat tracks & folky melodies, as well as straight psychedelia and forceful rock) to keep things interesting - not to mention Grace Slick's baller vocals on the two hits. This might be like a 3.75 but rounding up because when you write a song that still gets associated with trippy experiences 50 years later, you get a pass.
An albumYMHBYD, sure, and I should listen to its hits and "Embryonic Journey" more often - and "Comin' Back To Me", now - but it needs more Grace Slick; I think I'm not sold on Balin's dominating voice. I appreciate its existence, a ton, but in its hippie pop rock entirety - despite *sounding* amazing - it doesn't do as much for me as I would like it to.
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
not really my thing, was falling asleep
Zal nooit begrijpen waarom ze de zangeres niet overal de lead hebben gemaakt. Zeer goed, maar 2 nummers springen er gemakkelijk bovenuit. Had 5 sterren kunnen zijn
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?
Good, wasn't expecting much due to the age but Somebody To Love and Comin' Back To Me were really standout tracks
Great album. This is quintessential psychedelic rock and a classic of the San Francisco hippie movement and The Summer of Love. ****
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
Starts to drag on after a while, but wow one of the strongest albums of that era.
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
Classics
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”.
Somebody to love, generally chill. 4
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
Heard the hits so many times over the years but never really checked out the whole album. The album is a real time capsule back to 60s San Francisco and is a great look back, but not something I would listen to often.
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
Really liked this pshycodelic rock album by Jefferson airplane.. I knew of "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" before listening, but not the other tracks.. Enjoyed it.
This was awesome, a really good psychedelic rock album from SF-based Jefferson Airplane. This came out in 1967 (along with basically every other great album) and is their second album. One thing that's pretty unique here is that one of the primary vocalists is a woman. It's not completely unprecedented (The Velvet Underground and Nico came out the same year), but most of the bands from this time are very male-dominated, and this is a really nice change of pace. Interestingly, Grace Slick (the singer) joined the band before this album since the prior female vocalist left the band, and the two most well-known songs on this album ("Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit") both came from Slick's time before Jefferson Airplane. "Somebody to Love" was a B-side of her previous band's (The Great Society) only single, and “White Rabbit" was was written by Slick when she was still in the previous band. This album definitely has some filler songs, but the sound is generally really strong and there are a few standout songs on here. It's solid throughout, Slick has a great voice, no major complaints from me. Another great late-60s album. Favorite song: White Rabbit Other: She Has Funny Cars, Somebody to Love, Today, Comin' Back to Me, Embryonic Journey, Plastic Fantastic Lover 7/30/24
Fängt den Geist der Gegenkultur der 1960er Jahre ein. Das Album verbindet Folk-Rock mit psychedelischen Einflüssen.
Not bad for what it is. Probably one of the better psychedelic groups.
Grace’s vocals make the band. And the guitar. Whatshisface didn’t do much for me.
I know it is important. But it’s pretty boring. 2/5
Enjoyed this a good deal. Not really familiar with this sound or really much from around this time but I found the instrumental playing and vocals from both leads to be pretty impressive. Especially enjoyed the female vocalist whenever she was at the forefront of the song. Some tracks were a bit scant and the writing was a bit rough to me but overall it was enjoyable.
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.
Jefferson Airplane was a big high school band for me. Somebody to Love, White Rabbit, and Go to Her were some of my favorites songs then, and always stuck around. The rest of the album had kinda faded away into memory. On re-listening, this album rips. There's definitely some songs i'm pretty "eh" on, but on the whole it's still great. White Rabbit is a 10/10 masterpiece song. Album cover: A. It looks exactly how the music sounds. Also the photo was taken in a house less than a mile from my dad's place.
Overall very rad. REALLY wish this was a 10 point scale. Cant quite give it a 5 but I really enjoyed it.
This album has quite a few super famous songs that I didn't know were by Jefferson Airplane. "Somebody to Love" is a classic and I was happy to hear it! "My Best Friend" is such a fun song. "White Rabbit" and "Embryonic Journey" are also great. I'm liking this album a lot so far. "In The Morning" is a great jam. This entire album rocked. It was a little too long for me but I was never bored. Lot's of awesome songs and many additions to my playlists. 8/10
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
This is probably closer to a 3.5 for me, because the album felt a little dated at times with the sound and style. The 60s were great musically, but when it's overly noticeable it detracts from the songs. Of course, "White Rabbit" is a classic, and overall I'll probably listen to this album again but won't reach for it often.
Classic hippie rock of the late 70s
An album with a lot of flower power feeling. Somebody To Love and White Rabbit are very well known songs.
Boundary pushing, but otherwise, I find it reasonable that I only know two songs from this album. The others were good, but didn’t reach thrilling. Good production for the time. I wish they had let Grace sing more songs. Still iconic. 4/5
Lovely. I already knew a few of these songs, but it was nice to hear some new ones.
A first time listen to the entire album. Knew and always dug the hits man but had no idea how good the rest of this album turned out. Great listen into a time I was too young to really appreciate
Today and Comin back to me are new favorites
Great songs on this one album!!
Some all time classics, but few and far between with the most sounding just 'meh'. Forgettable, really.
a beautiful snapshot of 1960s West coast psychedelia. Their best album by far and an iconic 60s rock album
This is great! I didn’t think I’d enjoy it nearly as much. Well done JA!
Well this was a journey. Initial distain for hippie, psychedelia gave way to recognition of some classic rock from my youth, some decent blues and some quality throughout. A surprising number of hits, some good variation and nothing to moan about. A suprise hit.
The type of classic album that verges on self-parody 50 years later. It's iconic for a reason, but that doesn't make for super enjoyable listening in a modern context. Loved Embryonic Journey, though!
Not for me.
Отличный альбом с двумя любимыми хитами.
Surrealistic Pillow stands as a psychedelic landmark, dreamy and defiant, drenched in the swirling spirit of the late 60s. Jefferson Airplane created an album that feels like stepping into another dimension, with Grace Slick’s voice cutting through the haze like a siren. It balances rebellion with reverie, capturing both the chaos and beauty of its era. “Somebody to Love” is an anthem that still feels urgent and electrifying, while “3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds” injects a shot of frantic energy to keep things moving. The masterstroke, though, is “White Rabbit.” Its slow, hypnotic build explodes into one of the most iconic climaxes in rock history, turning Lewis Carroll’s imagery into a velvet-wrapped punch straight to the counterculture. The crescendo is breathtaking and unforgettable. More than fifty years later, this album still sounds revolutionary. It is messy, beautiful, and alive, exactly what a psychedelic record should be. Favorite Song: “White Rabbit”
One classic song, the rest not for me
fire as fuck
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
Not to be dismissed as a Summer of Love relic, there’s a lot of damn good stuff here. 4/5
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.
WHEN THE TRUTH IS FOUND TO BE LIES
Great album. White Rabbit is such a fantastic song
remember what the dormouse said: feed your head
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.
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
Iconic and psych rock as heck. Two mega hits strung together with other support songs that hold the groove
Simply amazing!!
Super front and back loaded with not as much meat in the middle. Still a great listen, so many famous masterpiece tracks, super influential clearly. Fav tracks - She has funny cars, Somebody to Love, My Best Friend, Today, Comin' Back to Me, White Rabbit, In The Morning; J.P.P Mc Step B. Blues; Go to Her, Come Back Baby Least Fav - None really
Einige sehr starke Songs gemischt mit ein paar durchschnittlichen Songs.
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.
Lot of classic bangers here that I couldn't have told you who they were by. Great album. 83/100