Reviews (page 8 of 8)
these lyrics sure are something. Overall, it is a lot, and feels a bit "kitchen sink" at times.
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.
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.
Was not feeling it
No lo escuche entero
Droga
Absolute nonsense!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Too many noises on this one for me.
psychedelic rock is not the genre for me. i won't remember anything form this album, luckily.
Not sure I got the artistic direction of this. Was it music?
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.
Sometimes experiments don’t work out and that’s also a contribution to science.
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 sounds like it was recorded specifically to be used as an MK Ultra acid stress test.
1.25
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.
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
Weird trippy stuff.
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.
Extremely dated couldn’t finish the whole thing
Gar nicht meins. Nervig.
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.
Mediocre the whole way
tedious
just the most nothing album but coming down has the beat used for Mac Miller's "smile back" which is cool 1.5
What is this
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.
Headache inducing. The Apple Music bio is freakishly long for a group that released a single, unlistenable LP.
It might be seminal, but the whole psychedelic rock vibe isn’t doing it for me.
I feel like I took bad drugs...
Sounds -- and looks -- like something from the cutout or bargain bin. That band name isn't doing them any favors. Neither is the music.
Leave the psychedelic rock to the archives
Too many drugs were consumed in the making of this record.
I do not need to listen to this. I heard Mike playing it and it did not sound good. Not my thing.
listened to the one song available on spotify and it was shit.
Kind of just noise, may have had cultural relevance at the time but not for me.
03/01/2022 No. Not at all. Absolutely not.
Look, I love experimental music usually. But this was like Sgt. Pepper's listening to itself on a bad acid trip, the kind that takes you on a tour of hell. I welcome music that makes me uncomfortable; I often take away something valuable when that happens. But in this case, I did not.
Sirkusspiladósir, hippahigh fílingur, köntrí, gregorian chants, folk, sítar, kaos. Veit ekki alveg hvernig mér líður með þetta.
couldn't finish
Not good.
Wat kakofonisch album, waarbij ik effectief een paar keer grimassen heb getrokken, omdat het echt wat raar klinkt met momenten. Heb er mij echt moeten door worstelen
Das hab ich gestern gar nicht derpackt...nix zum Autofahren
Possibly the worst album I’ve ever heard.
I didn't understand the sound of this album.
Given the year this was released, this band seem in some ways very much steeped in the times (lots of psychedlia; cacophony of sounds, instruments, effects; melodies and vocals that sound like the times, etc.) and also a little out there on their own. It mostly doesn't work for me, and frankly I found a lot it annoying, but I appreciate what they were trying to do.
Enticingly unique and unexpected leading into increasingly erratic and annoying.
You'd think that if you named your band "The United States of America" it'd call some attention but yikes this is not great. Mediocre singing and playing. Kind of reminds me of a high school band. Couldn't even finish it because it's just so bad. 1/10.
Didn’t enjoy this at all
yuk
Worse than the Electric Prunes. Hang your heads in shame
Absolute rubbish - could barely make it through - worse than the prunes and that’s all that needs said
Electric Prunited States of America
Only managed 4 tracks before I gave up.
Just kind of felt like it was a knock off of lesser quality of the Beatles
Weird
Not available for streaming
Well, first two songs are OK but it gets kind of boring after a while, and a song about fucking Che Guevara? "Communist Rock"? No, thanks... next!
fuck this shit
Not for me
I'd give it less if i could
I tried. I really did. Way to experimental, poorly mixed, jumble of sound. I almost turned it off on track 1, pushed through and made it..but I would much rather listen to anything else.
Quelle horreur