Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Psych rock is not my genre.
A very good balance of rock, electronic experimentation, and psychedelia. I haven't listened to this band before but I really loved this album at my first listen. This is the stuff that I find interesting, unique and different from so many other albums and genres I listen to. I'll definitely come back to this album later.
After reading the reviews, I fully expected to hate this, but it was pretty fun! It could be the soundtrack to a psychedelic space romp or a kitschy sitcom from the 60s.
When I started listening to the album I was convinced it was going to be a 1-star album, but it recovered itself. I think the first half is is pretty messy and not very good. At 'The American Way of Love: Part I' that changes and it actually becomes quite decent! My main issue with the album is that it's generally incoherent and sprawling all over the place. It's also quite long. This album will not stay with me for long, but overall I think it was quite interesting, so going to give it a weak 3-star!
Man, the start made me think this was going to be a one star. It picked up slightly later but I still didn't really enjoy it. The mixing wasn't great and it just felt pretentious. The spot of sunshine was "The Garden Of Earthly Delights" which was a good song, if only the mixing was better and the "space-noises" were removed from the track...... Weak 2. Also the band name is pretty terrible.
Wonderfully eclectic. Another band I had never heard of til doing this. Another easy five stars.
did not like it, the opposite beat of rhythm never connected and made it just background noise
Weirdly good, loved some of the songs
Experimental rock that throws in a calliope and a (at times heavily processed) violin that almost convincingly does substitute duty for a lead guitar, as well as one of the first albums to use electronic sounds, which suits the psychedelic vibe they are going for well. Not quite Captain Beefheart territory, but it's close. Hard Coming Love and Garden of Earthly Delights are the standouts tunes for me.
That's not my taste in musik.
Fell asleep because it was so boring.
When dealing with a psychedelic album, the potential to find oneself in the midst of a masterbatory jam fest that is trying just a little to hard to be weird is always high. This album, however, is an example of how fantastic this genre can be. It utilizes both the male and female voice in addition to early electronic music, classically influenced music, and even some polyphony. The result is a textured and beautiful masterpiece that never insists upon itself.
3/5 there were some potential ones, but also some bad ones.
This was weird, but in the absolute best way. I think I’m just a sucker for weird psychedelic 60s music. My favorite song on here by far was “The American Way Of Love” but “Where Is Yesterday” and “Coming Down” were up there too. I’d never heard of this band before, and I’m glad I listened to this album. I wish they’d put out more music.
Mér finnst sækadelikk rokk ekkert skemmtilegt. Ég get ekki sagt mikið meira en það. Bara bjakk.
A very odd album. I can't say I like it, but I don't hate it. Some interesting instrument choices, but the noise/circus elements are not appealing. Lyrics and vocals are lacking for sure. Fav tracks: The Garden Of Earthly Delights, Stranded In Time
Nothing special
Whether you "like" this record or not, you have to recognize how original, groundbreaking and extraordinary it is on a purely stylistic "level". It's a psychedelic feat--filled to the brim with elextronic textures and lush vocals foretelling far later acts such as Broadcast--a far-left "situationist" manifesto, and a sixties rock LP all rolled into one single offering. A quite striking association. Is it "good", though? Let's see.... "The American Metaphysical Circus" is a moody opener Trish Keenan or Beth Gibbons could have sung on later on--those sonic collages sounded like no other music during the sixties, and I think the rhythm section here has been sampled or borrowed by none other than Portishead for "Half Day Closing", if I'm not mistaken--a sure sign that The United States Of America were indeed ahead of their time with such an opener. "Hard Coming Love" sounds as if Pierre Henry was covering a Jefferson Airplane song (those crazy electronic flourishes!), and the result are pretty effective. With its eastern-inspired arrangements on violin, "Cloud Song" is a timeless delight--an ambient track that could have illustrated a scene from a sci-fi blockbuster or a historical epic. In "The Garden Of Earthly Delights", the Broadcast impression is stronger than ever, here propelled by a lively compositions that quickly hits the right marks. And what a chorus! "I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar" is a goofy novelty act recalling similar experiments in *Sgt Pepper* but lacking their charm. It's even pretty horrid and hackneyed at times. Too bad. "Where Is Yesterday" is a dreamy cut carried by entranced vocal harmonies reminiscent of a religious oratorio. Nice way to open the second side of the LP, but more an interlude than a proper song, even if the atonal glissandi on strings create a perfect transition with what comes next. "Coming Down" is a hectic psychedelic gem--its guitar arrangements perfectly complement Dorothy Moskowitz's vocal performance. The starts of the verses, where the guitar goes haywire, are a thing of joy, as short as those moments are. "Love Song For The Dead Che" is a delicate cut, with subtle latin inflexions in keeping with its subject matter. Short "Stranded In Time" starts like an American reply to the Kinks, then quickly goes to more exotic places, and finishes on a sort of question mark--leaving things very unfinished. What the hell happenend here? And the same bum notes affect the three parts of experimental closer "The American Way Of Love". It's just a hot mess--and without the right drug and/or the right melodic touches, such endeavor never goes beyond its "curio" status. The Beatles had "Revolution 9", sure. But there were all the other stellar tunes in the White Album along with that other self-indulgent experiment to make the latter "acceptable" and even "fun" to go through. This is not exactly what happens here. So is thsi record *good*? Not always, unfortunately. The album starts very well but ends with quite dull or even grating moments. Being ahead of your day and age doesn't necessarily mean you're "great"--even if two thirds of those tracks are very close to being so. It's just that the album as a whole doesn't quite exactly gel--its last couple of tracks being somewhat of a letdown. And I won't discuss the bonus tracks, which don't really affect the brush strokes I've painted here (a mix of great tracks and disappointing ones). I'm glad this record is in the list, though. Even if I'm not sure there will be room for it in mine. 3/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential albums". Which translates to an 8/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3 ; a large part of those points stemming from the groundbreaking nature of this LP). Number of albums left to review: 339 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 299 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 159 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 212
Trippy, maaaaaan. Part folk album, part sound collage, part acid nightmare, I'm sort of confused by what's going on here. And I definitely didn't love all of it. But it was certainly interesting, particularly for an album from the '60s, predating even the Beatles' White Album. The small segments of pure songwriting sound great, and while perhaps not as interesting to the artists themselves as the creative chaos surrounding them, I'd have loved to hear a less noisy version of this album. But I guess that would have defeated the point.
I debated whether this was a 3 star or 4 star. It was interesting and I really enjoyed it. I can hear how it was Avant Garde for its time. I try to conceptualize the music in its time but 55 years later it kind of sounds like some of the more “out there” psychedelia which is very interest but not really lasting.
Another one that I had zero expectations for and ended up loving. Albums like that are why I’m liking 1001 so much.
Brilliant orchestral avant psych music that is uncompromising in its vision and still sounds fresh today.
This is complete drivel. It should be forgotten and ignored as has been decreed by the court of public opinion. They weren’t successful because they suck. And it’s okay for us to say that. We don’t have to assign merit or importance to something just because it’s old and it existed. I had to turn it off, couldn’t get through it. Sonic garbage that hurt my ears.
This is one of the worst albums I’ve heard in a while. I like some psychedelic music, but this is just *too* psychedelic. There were some interesting ideas used here and there, and I kind of liked what they were going for in the closing track “The American Way Of Love”, especially at the end, but man, it’s just not a good song. I get that this was a very influential album for psychedelic music, but it’s really not for me. Aside from a couple songs, I never plan on listening to this again. At least it wasn’t boring, though. 3/10 Top 3: 1. Stranded In Time 2. Where Is Yesterday 3. I Won’t Leave My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar
I like this album! The first track (after you get past the marching band montage) reminds me of Half Day Closing by Portishead. I may be overly influenced by that :-) The album as a whole has parts that sound very 60’s and parts that sound modern even today. I listened to the full album, which included some alternate takes, and some of those sounded better than the originals, more to-the-point, which is not what I expect from alternate.
I'm sure this was a major technical achievement at the time, but still can't shake the feeling it's a good album buried under layers of midway carnival sounds.
I get why this is groundbreaking. Some of it sounds like it could have come out yesterday. I even get how this could have influenced everyone from Bjork to Beck to the Butthole Surfers. But you know how when a kid gets a keyboard that makes rooster and fart and truck horn noises? And they go ham playing those noises over and over again? That's what this was - if sliiiightly better.
clown meets hippie, not a fan
Na
Nothing special for me, but I can appreciate it probably was at the time.
I attempt this album for the fourth time, today. I have not disliked it; it seems like innovative, experimental psychedelic rock that really pushes towards the latest (at the time) technology, using electronica in a way that few people could possibly have done before. There's a lot of anarchy and cacophony in here. Some of the vocoder / modulation of the vocals is incredible. Strongly reminiscent in delivery to Dubstar, recorded 30-ish years later. As I sit and properly try to take it in, I'm increasingly impressed with what they were doing with their synths. As I get to "I won't leave my wooden wife for you" and "Where is yesterday" I realise that actually, yes, this is a brilliant album.
A mess. All over the place. Like a very chaotic LSD trip. No thanks
4.5
Interesting example of 60s studio experimentation with electronics.
one of the cool things about 60s music was the unbridled excitement and innovation, one of the sad things about that is how silly and boring it can be
It was alright I guess
Psychedelic rock. bah.
Erg raar expiremenreel album wat een beetje wanna be pinkfloyd wilt zijn totaal niet mijn ding
Niet mijn ding, veels te experimenteel
It was definitely an interesting listen as each song was different and had a unique style/feel. I liked, Stranded in Time, I Wouldn't Leave my Wooden Wife for you, Where is Yesterday and The American Way of Love.
Goofy plata enn samt góð
Hlustaði á þessa einhverntímann í kvennó, Cloud Song og Love Song for the Dead Che falleg. Ótrúlegt hvað tónlistarfólk komst upp með skrýtna hluti á major labelum á þessum tíma. 2.5
Þetta hlýtur að vera helvíti brautryðjandi. Mikið chaos, fáránlega early adaptation af synthum og enginn helvítis gítar. Rafmagnsfiðlur for life! Þetta er töff fyrir það að vera experimental og hrátt. Feitur bassinn líka. Ætla samt ekki að hlusta á þetta aftur í bráð get ég sagt þér…
Hlustaði á þessa einhverntímann í Kvennó, cloude song og Love Song for the Dead Che falleg. Fáránlegt hvað hvað tónlistarfólk komst upp með að gera furðulega hluti á major labelum á þessum tíma. 2.5
Clown music
This was much more listenable than expected given the description included discussion of 'experimental' composition ahead of listening. The experimentation is fairly tastefully done, and doesn't seem to be for the sake of being different - it works with the music to create a better product overall. Something very 66'-68' Beatles about it. High 3/low 4
Not good with a headache. Probably not good anyway. 1/10
Wtf
Did not like this one bit. Couldn't get through 3 songs. was not for me May be the first 1
Not sure I'll finish this one. It's whacky, slightly interesting, but somehow also just kind of boring.
Isä: Sinä et kai ole koskaan ajatellut, mitä isänmaa on? (Laskee kätensä poikansa olkapäälle.) Isänmaa on kaikki, mikä ympäröi sinua, kaikki, mikä on kasvattanut ja elättänyt sinua, kaikki, mitä olet rakastanut! Tämä pelto, jonka täällä näet, nämä talot, nämä puut, nämä nuoret pojat ja tytöt, jotka iloisina käyvät tietään, tässä on isänmaasi! Lait, jotka turvaavat sinua; leipä, jonka ansaitset työlläsi; sanat, joita vaihdat toisten kanssa; ilot ja surut, joita saat ihmisiltä, joitten keskuudessa elät ja olet, ovat isänmaatasi! Pieni huone, jossa äitisi ennen asui; muistot, jotka hän on jättänyt jälkeensä; maa, jossa hän lepää, on isänmaatasi! Sinä näet ja huomaat sen kaikkialla! Kuvittele mielessäsi, poikani, oikeutesi ja velvollisuutesi, taipumuksesi ja tarpeesi, muistosi ja kiitollisuutesi, ajattele kaikkea tätä yhdistettynä yhteen nimeen -- tämä nimi on: isänmaa! Poika: Ah, minä ymmärrän, se on suuri perhe, meidän suuri kotimme, se on se osa maailmaa, johon Jumala on kiinnittänyt ruumiimme ja sielumme! Isä: Poika, onko Ameriikan maata kuvaava albumi oikean kuvaava, jos näet ei se sisällään pidä asian toista luonnetta ja laitaa, vaan survoo sisälleen sen puolen joka ain nenäänsä nyrpistäen kapinoi, vaikkakin Kristuksen Jeesuksen valossa pysyy. Näet, nuorehko sukupolvi uusi ja syntynyt on. Pieni malli ihanne. Kaduilla ja teillä mellakassa ei vain näet isommalle poliisille pärjää. Poika: En käsitä. Isä: Where is yesterday echoes huuhtoutunut täältä albumista kuin maamme ensimmäiset kullankaivajat. Che, rakastaja kuin ranskan suuri lahjoitus New Yorkiin. Aikaanjääneet itku tarina... sitä et ymmärrä poika.. Kokonaisuudessaan albumi yhsitelmä electronicaa ja psykedeelistä. Albumi saatttaa kuullostaa leikittelyltä, ja vaikka ihmiskunta katsoo aina eteenpäin, kaipuu lisää, etsii uusia rajoja, vain murtaaksesi ne ymmärryksellä että tämä maailma on yksi, jossa me kaikki jaamme vastuun tietää, että Tänään tekemäsi päätökset vaikuttavat pysyvästi huomisen sukupolviin. Saattaa paine kasvaa liian suurikse, näet ei se aina ole helppoa.
Dribble. Couldn't finish it.
Pssssychadelic, no big standouts. Lots of sounds you hear in psych rock today which is cool.
Would have been a 2 but the Hard Coming Love was actually painful
A fascinating mix of psychelia, pop and electronic experimentation. Requires several listens to really get the benefit but this was clearly a group that had an ear for a good tune, and there are similarities in some of the tracks with other groups of the era such as Spirit, Jefferson Airplane and late 60s Beatles. Dorothy Moskowitz's voice is well matched to the music and again it is tempting to compare her to Grace Slick among others.
So good. Ahead of their time.
It was alright!
Interesting and clearly groundbreaking. I could imaging getting all ganked up on shrooms and listening to this in a catatonic state back in the day lol
I want so very much to like this type of music. I think I'm getting close... however, this wasn't for me.
Some good tunes in there! But a little inconsistent for me
Meh.
What is this supposed to be? I have a headache
Not my sort of thing
99% annoying noise, 1% music.
Psychedelic hippie circus. The inventiveness grew on my as the album progressed.
Interesting album. Never heard of this band before. I liked almost all of the fast songs that the female lead singer sang, but everything else was pretty hard to listen to. Felt like they were trying to capitalize on the psychedelic movement of the 60s but I'm not sure if it worked for the most part. 2.5 stars
While I can understand the ideas behind the album, it just wasn't for me.
What a fucking TRIP man! I had never heard or heard OF this record. Shame, honestly. From start to finish I was completely entranced by the whimsical, trippy, eerie and sometimes incapacitating sounds. Right off the bat, we're treated to a circus theme that bursts into a chilled out, Pink Floyd-esque psychedelic tune. After that it's tempo changes on tempo changes on tempo changes; yet somehow it all feels structured and intentional. It's an even bigger shame that TUSOA never capitalized on this album and mostly faded into oblivion. This is a great example of 60's experimentation done right. You can hear the competencies of each musician, even when they're going off the rails. Huge props to the rhythm section; the drums and bass are phenomenal and incredibly solid. I want to write bass lines like this. The main criticism I can give is that it can get just a bit silly (or "extra") at times. A Gregorian chant to kick off Where Is Yesterday is fine, but sort of took me out of the overall feeling. Just keep it a cool, multi-layered Beach Boys feeling track, and you're good. Don't put this on at a party. Curl up on your couch, light a j, and sit back. Your mind and soul will thank you.
Surreal and near-spectacular stone cold sober, one might imagine this record would be even more of a doozy when heard dosed up.
Experimental 60s pop. Very Sergeant Pepper but without the melodies.
Ah, you know it's gonna be a good day when you see that the average rating is below a 2.7. This is some crazy shit. Exactly what I want my psychedelic music to sound like. It's called Psychedelic Rock for a reason, man! Don't put a wobbly effect on your voice for 3 seconds per song and call that psychedelic, I want to feel like I ingested some shit that would land you 10 years in federal jail and lifelong glimpses of "The Gnome Creature" from the corner of your eye. Stellar. I can even excuse the horrible mixing because it adds to the experience of this album being some strange artifact I found on a HDD buried in the deserts of Guinea-Bissau.
This was a horrible, torturous listening experience that i hope ill be able to soon forget
One of those albums I've been curious about especially with their bold band name and it's a one-off effort. A very interesting listen with sounds that might have been ahead of it's time with experiments in electronic sounds (though quite primitive by modern standards) and leftist political themes. It's psychedelia sound, along with some bizarre noises and weird stuff going on that makes it intriguing and worth the listen, at least once. Not sure if I love it or it's annoying, but it's fascinating enough I should listen again just to be sure.
The generator gave me three five star albums in a row, all completely different, all from the 70's. Couldn't last forever. You know and album from 1967 or 1968 is never far off. Sure the late 60's had some good stuff. But, even just based on this list, a lot of it was pretty terrible. Pretty freakin' terrible.
sucks
3.5
Pretty weird and experimental - I like it. "Where is is Yesterday" reminds me so much of Madlibs track "Shadows of Tomorrow" off of Madvillainy - a connection I wasn't expecting, but I love it.
crap
This made me think of the minstrel shows of old. Or maybe a traveling carnival, complete with jugglers, sword swallowers, men with high hats walking around on tall stilts, and a bearded lady. The atmosphere is chaotic, the music more a cacaphony than a symphony, and everyone is having fun. That last bit is what matters. And just as an aside, there was something about the lead singer, Dorothy Moskowitz, that really stood out for me. She's 83 and still working...Fabulous!
Very avant-garde at a time when that was a term that meant something. The acid trip allusions are a bit much in this day and age but I'm sure at the time very subversive. Some intriguing sounds and themes. Music for musicologists, could be considered progressive Classical if not for rock instrumentation. Worthy of a place on the list but not something I would listen to repeatedly, though I do appreciate stuff that veers in this direction: music you might hear at an academic Art museum retrospective and go "huh!"Sort of surprising this ever got pressed. Interesting
As a series of formal experiments, this album should be intriguing. As an album I actually want to listen to, not so much. Musically, it's an album in search of sound. Or, rather, it's an album that rejects the idea that there should even be a cohesive sound. This makes for a pretty joyless listen. The band is certainly capable enough, and there are some interesting musical threads being explored. But it feels more like an intellectual exercise than anything particularly entertaining. The vocals frequently clash with whatever is happening behind them, when they aren't just outright bad (looking at you, "Wooden Wife"). The band's supposed attempts at making a political statement are murky at best. I'll give United States of America credit for the fact that some of their lyrics are genuinely eloquent. But this is still 2 star territory at best. Fave Songs: Where Is Yesterday, Stranded in Time, Cloud Song
Look, if you start and end your album with demented circus music, you can't score higher than a 2.5. Them's the rules. 2.5/5
Why....: this just has no place on this album. Feels like a shit american copy of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band but for some reason they just made one of the worst things known to man. Copying and doing a darker twist on the alum sounds cool but this was just lacking, idk if that was even their goal. It's a bit like going to the circus and the performance is just a clown and then it's over. Shit but not the worst thing to sentence myself to.
Mijn god, niet te doen dit. Vast dat de artiesten hier wel plezier aan hebben beleefd
Lang geprobeerd dit te negeren, maar dat lukt nu echt niet langer; Wat een zaadplaat!
Experimenteren doe je maar lekker in je eigen tijd
Er zaten nog een paar wel enigszins aardige tracks tussen, maar in het geheel genomen was dit natuurlijk gewoon hippie gezever.
Leuk draaiorgel 🙂.
I've just given 3/5 to some insipid dullness from Goldfrapp and then am immediately confronted by this album. I'm wracked with guilt. I admit when I began listening to this I started off hostile but, six tracks in, I'm totally won over. This is a fantastic album.
Nope. Appreciate the weirdness, but I could barely make it through. 1.5/5
too trippy
I'm definitely too sober to fully appreciate this album. It's very weird, but strangely enough doesn't really spark any emotion in me. I have no strong feelings about this album.
my pronouns r usa
I really enjoyed this one
Wow, this is a whacked out hippy mess, but kind of in a good way. Seems a shame to give it a 3, because it’s far from average. But a lot of this is cool experimental psychedelia and a lot is ridiculous silly noise. I guess it’s reasonable to expect a bit of overlap with those 2 things.
Really early psychedelic a before I was aware of full albums dedicated to it. Could do without caliope circus and movie UFO noise. The concept was seminal instruments great vocals worth listening to again.
This is a really cool album. I don't even really know what to say about, but it's a nice experience. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone that likes quirkier music. I could understand why people might not like it, but I'm sad this has such a low rating on here. Oh well, I guess. My favourite song was Stranded in Time.
It was good enough
What a crazy ride this record is! Psychedelic and weird at the same time
This was entirely unexpected for me. Looking at the band's name and cover art, I expected something like 60s rock, Beatlesque, or The Byrds-influenced band. The name suggests a typical American nationalism that is easy to identify and criticize, which is typical for people from the USA and annoying. Keeping the comparisons, I found a great band in line with the best of the Beatle's last albums and the best of the Beach Boys. The lyrics are the opposite of my first impressions, and it's excellent! It's a shame not to know this band before; sadly, this is the only album.
It wasn’t for me…
these lyrics sure are something. Overall, it is a lot, and feels a bit "kitchen sink" at times.
Weird
Title: A Psychedelic Masterpiece: "The United States Of America" Album Review Released in 1968, "The United States Of America" self-titled album stands as a pioneering and avant-garde masterpiece of the psychedelic rock era. Led by the visionary composer and electronic music pioneer Joseph Byrd, this album is a daring exploration of the possibilities of rock music, blending elements of experimentalism, folk, and electronic sounds to create a truly unique sonic experience. From the very first track, "The American Metaphysical Circus," it's evident that this album is like no other. The cacophonous opening immediately grabs your attention, setting the tone for an unpredictable journey through soundscapes that are both dissonant and enchanting. Dorothy Moskowitz's haunting vocals soar above the intricate tapestry of instruments, creating an ethereal and hypnotic atmosphere. One of the standout tracks, "Garden of Earthly Delights," is a mesmerizing trip into the surreal. Its use of oscillators and synthesizers was groundbreaking at the time, foreshadowing the electronic music revolution that would follow in the decades to come. The juxtaposition of these futuristic sounds with Byrd's intricate arrangements and Moskowitz's haunting vocals is nothing short of mind-bending. "The United States Of America" also offers a critical and satirical take on American society during the late 1960s. Tracks like "Coming Down" and "Love Song For The Dead Che" feature thought-provoking lyrics that challenge the status quo and offer a glimpse into the counterculture of the era. The album's socio-political commentary is as relevant today as it was back then. Joseph Byrd's avant-garde approach to music production is evident throughout the album. He skillfully blends traditional rock instruments like guitar and drums with electronic and experimental elements, creating a dynamic and constantly evolving soundscape. The result is an album that feels both timeless and ahead of its time. "The United States Of America" is not an album for everyone. Its unconventional and challenging nature may deter some listeners who prefer more conventional rock music. However, for those willing to venture into uncharted sonic territory, this album is a rewarding and mind-expanding experience. It's a testament to the creative possibilities of music and a reminder that true innovation often comes from pushing the boundaries of the familiar. In conclusion, "The United States Of America" album is a remarkable and daring work of art that continues to captivate and inspire listeners over five decades after its release. It remains a testament to the spirit of experimentation and artistic courage that defined the 1960s, and it deserves a place in the pantheon of groundbreaking albums in the history of music. If you're a fan of psychedelic and experimental music, this album is essential listening and a journey you won't soon forget.
This one took a while to enjoy. I thought it was pretty bad at first. But, it got better. With more listens I'll probably find it rates a better score, but for now it will have to be a 3.5 because it is still very new to me. I will definitely come back to it again.
I could only hear one song on this album. But I'm kinda glad. I'm a little bit over these 70s albums
Two moments stood out and not in a positive way. The first was the lyric, "Reality is only temporary." And the second was the sampling of carnival music on track 10. Those two things really personify this psychedelic madness, this kind of music that was the worst thing that came out of the 60's protest movement that ultimately discredited the thinking. And it exemplifies the self-indulgent freakout that probably set us back for decades.
Judging by all of the commotion, you'd think this was another Limp Bizkit album. Though it doesn't rise to the Level of Stereolab or some Sonic Youth albums, it is far and away from a Fred Durst release. There are some good roots here and that Stereolab reference was not a mistake. I can here them coming through loud and clear on some tracks. But others are complete nonsense. And the only place for weird forgotten nostalgia in the background is on an album like this (though I still hate it). Kudos for making something weird and trying to tie it to politics ...? No, that's nonsense. Regardless, better than anticipated but still difficult to listen to.
The United States of America is a bold attempt at experimentation. It built off some early hits in the genres of democracy and human rights, but initially botched the execution of those styles. Perhaps as a new young group the USA wasn't as adept at "playing it's instruments" as it would be in later years? The deluxe edition of their debut, titled "The Bill of Rights," showed great potential and promise. But it wasn't for everyone. Further attempts to broaden their appeal and reach the masses received mixed reviews, like "The 13th Amendment," "The 19th Amendment," and "The Civil Rights Act." But each critically acclaimed hit came with blowback from those who just loved the originals and review-bombed the new material. Trying to hold on to those early fans led to such missteps as "The Civil War," "Plessy v. Ferguson," "The Tulsa Race Massacre," and "The Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr." The USA is still going strong today 247 years after its debut, but unfortunately some fans want it to embrace earlier styles and make things great again, which is just code for when its albums were hostile to anyone not like its original fans. "The United States of America" is also a bold attempt at experimentation. It built off a bizarre discordant circus rehearsal on the first track, with layers of styles that were impossible to discern. They showed some potential and promise in the more straightforward psychedelic rock with Dorothy Moscovitz vocals, but mixed in were too many odd or cacophonous experimental tracks. Rather than last 247 years, the band The United States of America disbanded after this single album. And I don't think the country missed them.
Listening to this album, not on shrooms, is like watching a 3D movie without the 3D glasses. You can sort of tel what’s going on, with intermittent moments of clarity, but everything jumbled and confusing.
This didn’t do much for my aversion to psychedelic rock. However, I read one reviewer who mentioned Stereolab having similar sounds, and it put some of these songs into different perspective for me. Still, it’s just a 2 for me.
It wa
3.5
very interesting quirk album. Overall, enjoyed it.
Psychedelic, not my fav but I get it
a psych rock theatrical production. religious themes seemed forced in (dont care if it was critical or shining about it). definitely seems like free love drug music, which is cool. over the top soloing gets to be a bit pretentious and overdone. also, fuck. why it gotta be so nearly out of key at times. this seems like a relic.
what the hell did i just listen to
Was not feeling it
I get why people would like this sound but I also get why there was only one album. It feels like way too many tracks and they are not terribly consistent throughout.
Weird in a good way. Glad I am aware of this but not likely to listen again
Too long, but pretty interesting
Jedním slovním spojením klaunská hudba. Hlasité, chaotické a nepříjemné zvuky z tohoto experimentu dělají něco, co se nedá poslouchat každý den při běžné příležitosti. Ale zážitek je to zajímavý. Střídají se různé styly, rozhodně nejde pouze o (psychedelický) rock. Můžeme slyšet latinu, folk, tradiční japonský styl, atd. Je to lidský chaos, mix všeho možného i nemožného – což zřejmě vystihuje USA, zemi mnoha vlivů, klaunů a géniů. Texty jsou vesměs dobré, instrumentace je někdy zajímavá, někdy ne. Střídají se dobré a horší momenty, někdy to zní jako parodie na generické písničky, ale pak zas nic nenasvědčuje tomu, že to není myšleno vážně. Celkově se jedná spíše o nadprůměrné album. Slyším v tom energii hodně podobnou Pink Floyd. Nejlepší písničky: Where Is Yesterday (nejlépe poslouchatelná písnička, dobrý text) Nejhorší písničky: nicneříkající písničky jako Tailor Man Hodnocení: 7/10
Pleasantry surprised by this, psych folk electronic weirdness
Aptly-named band because this sent my head absolutely west - enjoyed most of it but HATED the nightmare-fuel clown music bits.
Just amazing. Best psych album yet. Better than your Jefferson airplanes, better than artsy Velvet Underground (not "Loaded"). As good as piper at the gates of dawn
This didn't really fo much for me until the last 2 songs (Stranded In Time & The American Way Of Love). Then I had to go back and listen to the whole thing again with the bonus tracks. I was mostly right with my first impression. On the expanded version, I liked tracks 9 through 20 more than I liked the original eight.
wow, this one really impressed me. I don't really get the people saying it's weird. it's a bit experimental but the sounds are still poppy, it sounds a lot like Jefferson airplane. the singer is really good.
Weird, experimental, hippy-dippy stuff.
Some really good stuff, but a lot of it was too chaotic for my taste
Whoa. This is WEIRD. I think I like it, though. 4/5
Best Song: Garden of Earthly Delights. The female vocals are by far better than any of the male ones on the album. Worst Song: The American Metaphysical Circus. I like a weird intro as much as the next guy, but this is just downright discordant in a way that I don't want to listen to. Overall: That ordinary brand of 60s era rock weirdness. Sometimes the weirdness is refreshing, often it gets in the way of itself. A time capsule of a particular time that doesn't really need to be revisited.
No lo escuche entero
Droga
Absolute nonsense!
Really quite odd. Of its time for the late 60s I guess!!
Un album de très mauvaise qualité. Rien d'étonnant quand on sait qu'aux Etats-Unis, les frites sont généralement beaucoup plus grasses que celles que l'on consomme en Europe. Je n'ai malheureusement aucun moyen de le prouver.
Mais c'est quoi cette merde encore on en peut plus Robert reveille toi par pitié
I feel like this is where stereotypes of 60’s music comes from. I’m sure it was wild and innovative at the time but hearing it over 50 years later it sounds like hackneyed crap.
Haven’t really heard anything like it before
2+
Sounds good
Never heard of this band and I can see why. Continues to receive critical acclaim - from who? Based on the number of plays on Spotify, the only people that listen to this album are redirected from here. Hippy experimental music music reminiscent of early Pink Floyd, but not as good.
Interesting but not something I would want to hear again
Famous chef Gordon Ramsey mentions if a menu has too many options, it's a good sign the restaurant will do none of them excellently. This album embodies that concept. It's as if the album combines Dream Theater, Indigo Girls, and a dash of psychedelica. This album suffers because it can't commit.
i have only listened to the first track off this album but i think i am into the relentless experimentation and i want it to be chaotic i have liked every song after this and am half way through the album now its not as experimental as the first track but they still keep a steady amount of interest throughout i dont know how to rate it though because 5 feels too high for what the album is but i dont know what that means exactly i really like the recall of previous parts of the album but at this point i dont know if there are duplicate songs or something it seems like a repeat but different names perhaps? i think this album was just really really good and not something i thought i would like so that is why im struggling but im pretty confident now that its a 5
Trippy!
I found this nearly unbearable to listen to, although I will say it's not boring at least? It's a whole lot of musical talent but aimed towards making something really horrifically awful sounding. You have to admire the skill with which they achieve this goal, I guess? It's like 2 or 4? I don't even know, but since I could barely get through the album I'm going with 2.
I don’t know. Not the worst, not the best, not for me. Bit too folky, but too psychedelic.
this album was plain weird, and this is coming from someone who enjoys weird tom waits music. i'm not entirely sure this band is normal after "i won't leave my wooden wife for you, sugar." a lot of this was out of tune or instruments were smashed together in the hope of creating music. i get that in 1968, lots of musicians were experimenting with psychedelic music, but oh my good lord, this was not music. and then this band even used old time-y music! i don't understand. as for something positive, i liked the different vocals. i'm out tho
Very experimental, even in the psychedelic space. It's clear that this band was enjoying some acid throughout this process. That said, more experimentation in an already experimental space just doesn't seem to be for me. This was a mess.
3.75
Too many noises on this one for me.
A couple of the songs on the B side are okay, but other artists and other albums that do the same style just do it better than whatever they're doing here.
I will give it some acknowledgment, this album is very progressive for 1968. However, it’s overall nothing special for a rock album, especially compared to other artists at the time. Low to mid three.
this had its moments. Some interesting stuff. Some cool 60s psychedelia. Some lame 60s hippy shit. Overall, decent.
It’s an album that I didn’t expect to be as old as it was, but that was a fun surprise. The album seemed like it was full of songs that could populate a soundtrack for any period piece set in the late 60s or early 70s. However, it also was easy to lose track of songs and realize the album still wasn’t done yet…and it would be nice if it was. It was a fun listen for what it was worth and not the worst thing I’ve ever heard. Having a song pop up here or there wouldn’t be the worst, but I’m not sure if I’d want to listen to this album again anytime soon.
pretty fuckin sick. crazy they lasted only a year yet put out a groundbreaking album. legendary.
The album that the Mother's of Invention wished they could make. It's weird and very sixties but it hasn't got the try hard "Look at me, I'm weird" that the Mothers had. Best Tracks: Hard Coming Love; I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar, Coming Down
Gah this was not something I liked like at all. I think because they’re some of the first to do the electronic stuff that’s impressive but I was not liking anything else.
I liked/like the idea of this far more than the actual album. It's too bad as there are some cool effects that must have been out of this world for 1968, and they're applied well in each song for the most part, but the songs kinda don't go anywhere. None of them are bad! Just few are memorable or catchy. The vocals aren't annoying so much as they are just terribly basic, almost like they were a guide vocal and meant to be overdubbed by ... better vocalists. Despite that, it's an interesting historical listen and not off-putting or offensive to listen to but maybe a better producer could have corralled a lot of these excellent ideas into better songs - it's just not something I'd likely actively care to listen to again. I feel a little bad not raising this to a 3 since you can tell they were groundbreaking, but since it was a little tiring getting through how does a 2 and a pat on the back sound instead? Favourite song: "Stranded In Time" - very of-the-era (Beatles/Zombies) yet progressive. 5/10 2 stars
What a wild ride! A psychedelic stew of garage rock, folk, and electronic sounds.
Doses de piscodelia agradáveis que provocaram a vontade de escutar mutantes e principalmente Jefferson Airplane.
psychedelic rock is not the genre for me. i won't remember anything form this album, luckily.
Inte så tokigt.
Give me this over Jefferson Airplane or the Grateful Dead any day. It feels like Fairport Convention acid rock covers. I was pleased.
Dear The United States of America, Thank you for your effort. However, upon listening to your eponymous album, we do have a few critical notes for you. Firstly, your band name is stupid and confusing and needs to be changed. Secondly, we urge you to fire your lead player immediately. He's not playing the same song as the rest of you on any of these tracks. The rhythm section is nice and tight but he's off in left field playing God knows what. The resulting album is a discordant, noisy mess. The only times when your songs start to feel somewhat coherent are the times when he stops playing. It's a problem. Fix those two items and I believe you might have something compelling on your hands. Until then, we will have to reject your application for the position of "good rock band" and ask that you not contact us again. Sincerely, People who like music.
didn't really get it
Not sure I got the artistic direction of this. Was it music?
Music needs a dose of experimentation, but it’s possible to go overboard. Just did not understand what the band wanted the listener to feel.
They threw everything at the wall and some of it stuck.
everything and the girl
Some psychedelic rock albums should pull the reins a little harder. This is one of those albums. Kinda off the rails and it just makes for a little too awkward of a listening experience.
[puts on Uncle Sam outfit] I WANT *YOU* TO DROP ACID
It ended up sounding like generic psychedelic 60s music.
Bit too all over the shop at points but they were certainly doing some interesting stuff
Sometimes experiments don’t work out and that’s also a contribution to science.
This album vacillates wildy between, "yeah, I can dig this" and "Oh no, what are you doing. Often in the same song. If you know anything about music in the late 60s, you already know what this album sounds like.
Hard Coming Love is really grating on me this morning. this album is a visionary pioneer of 60's noodling, noise, and bullshit. Love Song For The Dead Che is fine.
I skipped most tracks I found 1 track that I could listen to all the way through. It was the only track that sounded like a song to me. Most of the tracks each member of the band was playing a different tune to the other band members. This discordant approach to music offends my ears hence why I skipped most tracks.
This was weird! But I also kind of enjoyed it? Solid psychedelic experimentation and some fun instrumental bits. 3/5.
Interesting. Very very interesting. Was never bored. Was mostly having a good time. Here's where a 3.5 rating would be absolutely accurate.
8/10 In spite of the British invasion of circus music at the start of the album, I found myself quite liking this album. Felt a bit like Jefferson Airplane, but with good variety between the songs
Pretty tough to listen to but at the very end I found myself slightly endeared to this album. 5/10
I could get to the end but I really didn't enjoy it at all!
Kinda weird. Liked it. Not rushing to listen again but imagine there will be parts of it that randomly pop into my head from time to time. The instrumentation, arrangement and production sounds like something that could have been recorded much later than 1968.
Very interesting album, really enjoyed the listen, but have a hard time identifying individual songs that stuck with me. Well produced and well crafted.
How had I never heard of this band or album before??
Amazing, never heard of them. Love their freakiness, the organised chaos, her voice. Reminds me of music around that time that are also my favorites, like Velvets 1st album and the White album of the Beatles. But also of later music like Weekend with Alison Statton and much more. In other words: true find
Boh, hippie che si chiamano The United States Of America e fanno un album che si chiama The United States Of America?
Whoa, this is crazy ahead of its time. At least, it sure feels like it. The electronics add to the music rather than detract, and man is that bass playing really satisfying. I actually love this album. It's just experimental enough without sacrificing the music to really bring me in. Sure, there's some weird circus-y stuff, but it hardly detracts it for me, in fact, I think it adds to the charm. Shame this is their sole album, would definitely binge their discography otherwise. I love how well it eases from psychedelic rock to baroque pop to ballads while all sounding like its own thing. Reminds me of what I've heard of the later Kinks but more rock heavy. Again, just crazy ahead of its time.
Did not connect with me
4.0
This sounds like it was recorded specifically to be used as an MK Ultra acid stress test.
Cool psychedelic rock, I could definitely come back to this. Solid 4 for now
This is an interesting album, especially since it’s the only one the band released, and yet it’s highly regarded. Harsh in some parts and playful in others, this album maintains a strong psychedelic feel throughout. The weird spoken samples that break down the end of the album are a collage of sound that was envelope-pushing in the late 60s.
A bit torn on this one. It does have its fair share of unpleasantly dissonant section and I'm certainly not impressed by the lead vocalist. But after finishing the album, the impressions that remain are of the interesting ideas throughout the album. It was clearly quite ahead of its time, even if the execution was certainly not perfect.
1.25
what a fucking rubbish name for a band and album. good amount of freaking out though.
Much better than the actual United States of America
This is what happens when try to sound like Strawberry Alarm Clock and Jefferson Airplane, but don't have the chops to pull it off. When you see people on the news chanting "Death to America": this album is part of the reason why.
This was interesting. I didn’t love it but it definitely kept my attention. Curious what they would have done if they had made more than this one album. 3 stars.
very intense, like the beatles on quaaludes.
Just couldn’t do this one, not great. Could see it being good for the times when it came out. Coolest thing about it was I recognized this is where a Mac Miller sample came from
Avant Garde and weird. Def a lot of influencing happening here also - the singing esp is so Jefferson Airplane/Grace Slick (Surrealistic Pillow came out before this record did so....) There was some good stuff on here and it was an enjoyable listen but I doubt I'll ever feel the need to come back to it.
Not my jam.
A very cool psychedelic record with sounds that were way, way ahead of their time. This is not an album I like in full, but the songs I like are very cool instrumentally! Vocally, this does nothing for me, even Dorothy's vocals are a bit grating to me. A very out there record with a lot of nonsensical stuff, but I can dig it! Favorite lyrics: - All you see of yesterday is shadows in your mind. Key tracks: The American Metaphysical Circus, Cloud Song, The Garden Of Earthly Delights, Where Is Yesterday, 7 out of 10
The intro to the first song was utter cacophony but further in the album had quite a few enjoyable songs.
Very different, sadly not my kind of different
3/5 It was a bit to much flashback for me. Too hippie dippy. It had some good parts, but also I fell asleep during it so it couldn't have been that exciting.
Gah! It's over an hour long, it's fucking weird and sometimes kinda annoying buuuuuut I don't know! Against all expectations I actually enjoyed it! Which certainly suprised me after the opening track which filled me with trepidation. A definite shock high entry given my usual tastes, but so it goes...
Delightfully odd 4/5
baita som, psychedelic sessentista
Weird trippy stuff.
This album sounds like a sound engineer who was really into avant-garde bullshit got ahold of a record that was specifically engineered to sound like it came out of Liverpool. The best tracks sound like Jefferson Airplane rejects. Best track: The Garden of Earthly Delights
So creative and very 60s big fan
very fun very creative album. breath of fresh after just listening to judas priest
Pretty far out there, but cool.
A few songs are catchy.
Oh, that's just random hippy gibberish. Just rubbish. I was hoping for the Presidents of the United States of America. This one wasted my time, and I had to hit YouTube to even find it.
More interesting as a historical artifact than it is musically, which is above average psychedelia. Indeed, reads as a period piece. To some extent, it suffers from the common psychedelic pitfall of too much and all at once – the calliope and marching band stuff just test the nerves, inclining one to think, "no wonder only one record and maybe not entirely the fault of the label's lack of commitment." The "American Way of Love" succeeds in layering and reprising (vaguely reminds one of The La's efforts on their debut (much different time, much different band and album). Singer is good and has moments – the sharp "Garden of Earthly Delights" notably and "Love Song for the Dead Che" – but overall effort never quite transcends. The social satire not exactly piercing, some of it undoubtedly lost in the flood of maximalism. And the record sounds much less avant-garde, and more zany, than it probably wanted to be. A must-hear? Not really. More like vaguely interesting to know and experience. (Note: the supplements on streaming services – notably "Perry Pier" – excel the album proper, with evocations of later bands, even the sort of then-current-not-retro sound that Stereolab would recreate.)
I can appreciate the experimental spirit here, and definitely appreciate an LP outside the usual fare this project spits out. The album in question, though, lacks any defining traits other than ‘vague circus music’ and pushes way too far into avant-garde for my tastes. Wish I could enjoy this one a bit more but it just wasn’t there for me.
„Groooße Kunst“…
Very weird album that I strangely liked. The singing didn't do a whole lot for the album, but the instrumentation was really cool. Favorite track: Where is Yesterday
Only one song on Spotify. Interesting song thought.
A really interesting album by a band I had never heard of. Not something I'll revisit any time soon but I feel somewhat more musically educated.
Damn this is some solid, hard-hitting psychedelic rock! Shades of proto-punk. Super enjoyable listen with herbal enhancement
This album made me feel like I was on drugs, and not always on a good trip. But I found it fascinating. As a one off listen with a few tracks I may revisit, it's gonna score fairly high for uniqueness and catching my interest.
Extremely dated couldn’t finish the whole thing
Great psychedelic album with lots of gems like the opener "The American Metaphysical Circus", "Cloud Song" et " Stranded In Time". This album feels like the long lost companion album to Pink Floyd's Pipers at the Gates of Dawn. I can definitely feel this album's influence in modern neo-psychedelic bands like Stereolab and The Flaming Lips. Interesting 7,7/10
2.5 Weird sound. The first song on the album is pretty good, the rest....eh.
Odd start and interludes, but for it's time, I'm sure this was a groundbreaking album. Enjoyable and quirky.
I'm not the biggest fan, but i bloody love how much experimentation went into each track. somehow each track sounded unique, yet its tellable from the same minds. for listening its a 2/5 imo, but for i greatly admire its experimentation so i'll give it a 3/5 xoxo
Definitely psychedelic and not what I expected. I wouldn't say it's shit, but the first track was very interesting to say the least, I also don't entirely understand it, I guess. It got better as it went on. Very Alice in Wonderland vibes. Organized chaos. Fave track(s): Hard Coming Love, Cloud Song, Coming Down, No Love To Give
4/10 not really for me i guess
Gar nicht meins. Nervig.
This is fucked up I love it 3 "The Garden Of Early Delights" go hard. Unexpectedly good record! 4 A little longer than it needed to be.
Hippy dippy bullcrud
As old JL once pithily put it, avant-garde is French for bullshit. Having listened to this I refuse to engage with it.
Interesting! I quite enjoyed listening to this, thinking of it in the context of Sgt Peppers and the White Album. Not sure if I'd hunt it out again, esp as I couldn't listen to it on Spotify but had to use YouTube (which gets fiddly in relation to my speakers/headphones). But some really engaging compositions and sounds nonetheless - 3.5 stars.
In the late 60’s I picked up a Columbia compilation from the 50c bin at Ashwoods In Pitt St, Sydney. Called Aquarius Revisited, it featured John Kay (pre-Steppenwolf), The Great Society, featuring Grace Slick (pre-Airplane), The Rising Sons (Ry Cooder & Taj Mahal, pre-solo careers), Tim Rose (with the version of Hey Joe that Hendrix covered soon after), etc. Track One on Side Two was The American Metaphysical Circus by this band. Until today that was the only track I remember hearing from this band. I really enjoyed this. Especially I Won’t Leave My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar & Hard Coming Love. It covers many styles but does it well. I still have that album, water-damaged & all, from the xmas break from uni when I was living in my parents’ laundry & mum let the sink overflow. A lot of good covers came to grief that day.
Not really rock enough for me. I like her voice. Stranded in time is a pretty good song, with an excellent string arrangement. but the collages and synth wibbles all over everything are just really annoying. I can see what they were maybe aiming at, but the technology just wasn't there yet to do anything other than sci-fi movie soundtrack noises. The free-association lyrics and willfully 'quirky' arrangements with incongruous jump-cuts are also distracting - 'The American Way of Love' is a really extreme example of this.
Mediocre the whole way
tedious
I love this - a fascinating album I've never heard of before, with some crazy and weird music that sheds light on artists that came afterwards.
just the most nothing album but coming down has the beat used for Mac Miller's "smile back" which is cool 1.5
3/5. A fun collection of psychedelic songs with unique instrumentation but nothing to write home about.
Weird.
Wild, imaginative and unique for not containing guitar in a guitar heavy, late 60’s era. I love it.
meh.
Begon net te heftig voor me, maar rest voelde ik al meer. Ben over algemeen wel fan van psych rock maar denk dat dit net iets te heavy was voor nu
pff euh niet heel lekker als achtergrond muziek bij lezen. Had goeie ups and downs, maar is m niet voor mij
Intéressant, clairement précurseur dans le monde de la musique prog/expérimentale
I can’t say I’ve heard of this band before. I think I might have heard of the country in passing, but not the band nor the album named The United States Of America. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: The American Way Of Love, I Won’t Leave My Wooden Wife For You Sugar I reckon this album might be a completely different experience under the influence of the devil’s lettuce. However, sans-substances, it was still a fun experience. There were some songs that I felt leant maybe a little too far into the unusual, but on the whole, this was an enjoyable melding of genres, and the last song was fantastic. Also, it would be a crime for me to not mention the zany song titles. I’d easily recommend this for fans of psychedelic rock.
I went into this expecting another mediocre psychedelic album like the last byrds album I got but this was actually really solid. Hard coming love was good, stranded in time sounded a lil too much like eleanor rigby, and I liked how chaotic american way of love got by the second and third part. Also very leftist, counter-culture lyrics which was fun.
Tough to get through
A hodge podge or perhaps cornucopia of pop and psychedelic 60's sounds. Not horrible but seems to be trying to hard to be different.
A mixed bag of disjointed psychedelic sounds. Like trying to be the TV version of whatever was groovy at the time.
Interesting. they tried a lot of different ideas with this.
Lots of interesting things on this album. I actually really enjoyed it, and seeing the different directions it would go. I have a feeling this is one of those that you like more and more the more you listen.
This is the late 60's. Some experimental sounds, mostly good but overall not my jam.
some decent tunes as early 70s genre, although recording quality is not great
in europe we have this thing called smegma, it forms when you dont clean under the foreskin in long time, i was wondering why americans dont talk about it....AMERIKKA... ON... kommentaaria... siellä ja täällä... libtardit taas riehuu studiossa, ei mennä vittu TÖIHIN vaan vingutetaan sitä kitaraa siellä saatanan pilvipalatsissa... sano että sykedeelinen...haista vittu jos luulet näin. ok albumi. paras biisi... ööh... the american metaphysical circus
This was such a damn cool album, and I LOVE the singer's voice. Everything I wanted here. Gotta love discovering something amazing you'd never even heard of before!
Some really fun stuff going on here, especially the female vocals. I think I sense proto-Bjork a little bit. The avant garde and electronic stuff is so damn fun.
Terrible name for a band.
Scratch everything that I have written about Disraeil Gear being a perfect example of album in psychedelic rock genre. This is The Ultimate experience of late sixties music, for better or worse, condensed to one, as non-linear as possible album. It's a wild ride with The United States of America, which actually reflect the state and history of the nation as well. No guitars on the record, but plenty of other instruments, you can safely pick one and it's probably used on one of the tracks. It is a very experimental concept, avant-garde at moments, with plenty of surprises and unorthodox approach to music. I definitely recommend listening to this album, even though it's too self-conscious, crossing the line of being intelligible far too often. But again, what a fun ride it is!
Does and does not sound like 1968. Has a lot of the styling of the time, but with many experimental sounds/ideas/concepts that I have not heard from music of this period
Truly psychedelic. Wow. What a wall of noise. Like a bad trip.
Прослушано! Нудятина откровенная
Sorry, but no. These are the songs that play when people get murdered on American Horror Story. Each song depicts a different cause of death, from a creepy stalking incident in some abandoned house that ends in you getting your throat slit, to an intense meat grinder accident where you stand absolutely no chance. Speaking from a more musical perspective (as much as I can with an album like this), how can this record sound so annoying yet so bland at the same time? It is a mystery.
Listened to it a few times. Never really captured my full attention. Never compelled to skip a song but no song really stands out as excellent and worthy of repeat listens, (maybe The Garden of Eartly Delights). 3 stars
Love the cover art. First track was a disaster but much better after that. The sort of psych I can deal with.
Never heard of this band before, good psychedelic album maybe a bit too experimental for me at points but glad I listened.
Canciones con un marcado carácter de los años 60, rock un tanto psicodélico, abundancia de guitarras y batería. Rock clásico. Bien para escuchar, pero le faltan matices
An unexpected gem with an ungoogleable name. I was really impressed by the fantastic cacophonous psychedelia that somehow still managed to have great melodies laid atop. American Metaphysical Circus and I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar are the standouts, but the album is one that works best as a whole piece I'm going to mark it four and regret it - much like Laura Nyro a year ago, it needs more listens before I can declare my undying love for it.
I enjoyed the bits that weren't weird.
Not for me.
What is this
This was like a wild trip. Parts were terrifying and parts were enjoyable. The 60s were weird times.
I liked this a little more than I expected, reminds me of early Floyd crossed with The Mothers. Dorothy Moskowitz's vocal style feels like it has a little exotica/lounge DNA.
Pulot.
Real wacky one here. I enjoyed the variation and unpredictability of it, but sometimes the vocals or just overall structure gets awkward. Interesting listen tho! Wasn’t expecting to find a Mac Miller sample from this as well! 5/10
Listened to it 4 times over 2 days and I just can't get into it. I get it, it just really doesn't hold my attention and I don't really find it all too nice to listen to. Their 'normal' parts are bland, their 'strange' parts are just that.
There are flashes of brilliance on this but most of it sounds like a parody of the music of the time period.
great
Proper 1968 psychedelic freakout
That sweet sweet 90s POTUSA
Imagine if you went back in time to the 1960s and took some 1960s drugs and then went to a 1960s circus. That's this album. At times it's nearly good enough to be "a bad beatles album". Nearly.
Dafuq did I just Listen to. I Wonder how this is „loved by critics“ and a „Masterpiece“ (according to Wikipedia)… It’s just bad
This album is a cut rate version of every band they try to emulate. I got to song 8, checked the track list, saw there were 12 more songs and bailed because omg no thank you.
quite interesting for such an old rock record
Epicsauce
Love this album, fantastic psychedelic music. Strange, groovy and a joy to listen to. I hope Rob doesn’t make me look silly and give me third 5 star album in a row
Så episkt!
Decent
Didn’t know this before listening on this journey. I really enjoy some of these early experimental records. Makes me wonder if I am missing something happening now or if the days of this type of experimenting are over.
Psychedelic chaos. None of the songs were particularly memorable.
Headache inducing. The Apple Music bio is freakishly long for a group that released a single, unlistenable LP.
A real trip. Not really into all the bonus tracks but the original album itself is brilliant
It might be seminal, but the whole psychedelic rock vibe isn’t doing it for me.