Reviews (page 2 of 7)
I'm not even finished listening to it and I'm giving it five stars and putting it on the playlist for when I go up to the cottage with my girl to get real high and f*** all weekend
Tasty tasty psychedelic rock! This album has been one of my favorites since my deadbeat school buddies listened to it getting high. Amazing guitar work, joyful jamming. Sure, a bit self-indulgent but I put myself in the shoes of the grooving hippies who got to see John Cippolina live. The man definitely deserves a spot on this list, and this album (especially side 1) shows him off at his finest. Favorite tracks - When You Love
This project's taught me that I don't like the wider world of 60s psych rock as much as I thought, so it's great to find something that sounds like what I actually had in mind. Y'know, jam music
Sent me into a trance with it’s 27 minute track - not sure it’s for me but love the audacity and enjoyed it over a pint as I’m sure is best
kärlek som tema, ett koncept kanske. trevligt koncept 60-tal. och en gunghaj spelar gitarr och en flaska rom. tyvärr inte rom utan droger. eftersom ett gäng narkomaner. DRUGMAN!!! DRUG FREAKS!!! de gjorde fortfarande bra musik även om det inte fanns något mandat att använda dessa droger om det skulle behövas wjere do you love
Instrumental 60's rock. Yes, please.
I'd never heard of them until now, but having listened to the album everything suddenly makes sense. A definite missing link in psych-rock, and they seem pretty influential too.
honestly the best album here so far with the nick drake one, love the transitions, love the grooves, love the cover, just a great vibe generally
Dødskult og rar psychedelisk rock med innslag av americana/country
Three takeaways: - Kevin Bacon was a terrible day trader, but didn't know he made music - "happy trails" -heh - Where You Love is terrible - otherwise this is one of the greatest stoner rock albums ever -
YES! So trippy. Where has this been all my life???
10/10 super nice, proggy stuff love it
Over half the album is one big fucking jam. Sick
Возвращаюсь в игру. Тру Детектив + Джентльмены Гая Ричи (в подтверждение!!! у меня после окончания альбома медиатека продолжила проигравание похожего и включила Cream — Sunshine of your love из Джентльменов) Такое я люблю Очень приятные мне звучание и музыкальность, кайфово просто сидеть и слушать, следя за мелодией
очень круто! треки перетекают один в другой, альбом как одна полу-импровизационная композиция (как выяснилось (так пишут в вики) - смесь рока и джаза) захотелось снять короткий метр построенный полностью на хэппи трэйлс (что опять же говорит о его структуре)
I think I quite enjoyed every song except for the title track but I guess it's just a nice closer.
Meu favorito até agora! Kkkk Muito bom. É bem mais rico do que os outros que eu escutei até agora. 5/5. Definitivamente.
This is a wonderful tribute to Bo Diddly. Most of the album is comprised of Bo Diddy covers or Bo Diddly inspired tunes. Side one is a tour de force - Who Do You Love Suite. Almost all rock groups in the late 60s and 70s wore the Bio Diddly influence on their sleeves for a song or tune. What Quicksilver Messenger Service did was something different. Rather than simply play or modify the famous Bo Diddly rhythm, they use it as a starting point and explore all the intricacies contained therein. I also love that it was recorded live at Fillmore East and Fillmore West, but they don’t tell us which coast.
This was right up my wheelhouse. I was wondering how long track 1 could be when I looked and realized I was deep into track 3. I mean that as a compliment. The whole first side of this album was a fantastic and interesting jam. Like the pig-pen era Grateful Dead with a harder and tighter edge. Great guitar parts. I never heard to this and will come back to this for sure.
Fantastic freak out medley on side 1. Then "Mona" Maiden Of The Cancer Moon" Does any other album scream San Francisco more than this?
Awesome psych rock album, great solos
I dig this a lot.
Loved this album. A staple in psychedelic rock
Loved it, loved their other music as well
Loved this.
Cool guitar stuff
Pre Listen: Looks like cowboy music to me, based on the album cover and title? The year is off for something like that, but we'll see I reckon. No expectations. Notable Tracks: Who/When/Where/How/Which Do You Love - What a neat little jam session. Had some highs and some lows, with the highest being the Who parts 1 and 2 for me, and the low being the Where part. It got too experimental for me. Overall though that was a cool little psychedelic experience though. Calvary - SO IT WAS COWBOY MUSIC ALL ALONG. My favorite song, love the mash of a psychedelic rock band's sound with more western-ish sounds. Post Listen: I think that was a Live album? It had some audio effects that made it feel like it was a studio album made to sound live? If it was Live, that was an exceptionally good Live album! If not, that was still a pretty good album. Cool jams all around. Every instrument was very solid, they reminded me of The Doors a little bit. Would've never guessed it was gonna be this type of genre from the album cover and title in a million years. I especially liked all the guitar work they did, and how every song flowed into the next with ease. Will probably listen to this album again *off the goop* at some point. 4/5
Never have I encountered a greater contrast between album cover and content. I was expecting folksy county, and I got psychedelic jam rock. The first half is absolute fire. Must've been amazing to see that live. The second half drops off a bit, which unfortunately means so does my rating.
I had heard of QMS before but never paid much attention. Came up on the generator and I immediately went out and got the record. 25 min live improv jam of Who Do You Love, yes please. If you don't like psych blues 60's rock or jam bands this isn't for you but if you are a fan then this kicks ass
Excellent. Might be a five but for sure an easy 4. Took me down memory lane of all the similar songs I’ve totally forgotten about. I was on my way to some very happy trails while listening too. 🤘
I owe boomers an apology. This ripped!!!
there's a lot of songs with word "love" in them, that's for sure
Yeah this shit is right up my alley. Give me more of this.
insane gitaarwerk, perfecte studeermuziek 3.5
Some very nice jams. Enjoyable throughout.
Pretty groovin' rock and roll.
The entire A side of this album is one song, with four songs worth of blues jam in between verses. Uhm…sold! I know one song by these guys and it’s a heater (Fresh Air), so I was not surprised but still slightly impressed to find this album rips so hard. It’s not labeled as a live album but I’m pretty sure it is, and that’s when you get to see musicians being musicians. Some people don’t like the jam runs, I do. Therefore, I like this album.
Might relisten - Solid as far as I remember though.
I’m a sucker for groovy guitar
surprisingly great
Just a ton of fun. Working in what sounds like live recordings and studio work in a way that's just fun to listen to.
Interesting to get this so close to 'Live/Dead,' given that they were both recorded in part at the Fillmore West within a couple months of each other. Based on the two albums here, I'd go see Quicksilver. The jams seem more focused and have a few out-there sections that I really enjoyed. They also seem to have more of a sense of humor.
So, judging a book by its cover, you'd think this would be a chill country record, right? Nope! It's a total trip, a full on, acid fueled, San Fran psychedelic rock explosion from the late 60s. Recorded live, the whole first side is a 25 minute jam session based on a Bo Diddley song. They go all in, exploring every single detail, asking "Who", "When", "Where", "How", and "Which"... but never "Why"? It's amazing guitar work with awesome feedback and a super tight beat. Whether you dig extended instrumentals or not will determine if you love it or hate it. The second side has a mellow "Mona" cover, but then it kicks back in with heavy tracks like "Maiden Of The Cancer Moon" and the awesome "Calvary". It's a wild, experimental ride that's a cool piece of history, even if the last song is kind of a bust.
I had no preconceptions about this record - all I remembered about Quicksilver was that they were somehow connected to the Airplane. When I saw it, I thought “ok, another 60s album, I’ll probably give it a 3.” But instead…. Remember when I whined about The Beau Brummels being called “psychedelic”? THIS is what I mean by psychedelic music. Endless unfocused weird noodly jams that cause you to sit staring at the floral sofa upholstery for a half hour and whisper to yourself “Are those flowers alive?” Kind of a mushy live recording, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Is this a cheeky self aware version of The Doors? Wow, this sounds great on the headphones. Never heard of this before, but I dig it. I'd like to re visit this.
What a jam! This slaps.
Loose, exploratory and atmospheric, but purposeful. Another gem of a new discovery from this project.
3.5/4
I liked the music generally, quite experimental, but that's to be expected from a live-recorded album. I ended up zoning out at points, but it does strike me as a great performance to have watched live. You know you're in for some wacky music when a song exceeds the 10 minute mark.
Interesting
I really liked this. Proper psychedelic music with a very authentic feel and even The Doors vibes. Not perfect by any means, but it clicks. Need to find more Quicksilver MS alumbs!
7/10
a little too long for what it is but its was enjoyable for the majority of the run
This is a great album to listen to while doing something. I listened to it while doing budget stuff at work. Then later I was cooking and played it again. I enjoyed it a ton. So much so this is an edit and I've added it to my library and listened a few other times. It's not going to be everyones cup of tea but I like it.
Ещё одно открытие в этом списке. По обложке и году ожидал скучное однообразное кантри. По факту оказался неплохой погружающий в прослушивание психоделик. При этом еще это и живое выступление. Обязательно послушать еще раз.
This was pretty sweet. I got a very vivid image of some small desert town tripping on acid
Probably one of the few jam-band albums I can listen to all the way through. Not bad, overall. I thought it had a good flow. Some really interesting techniques used, too, especially for a live show. Definitely a background sort of album, not one to focus on for too long. No favorite track this time, because it's really all one song.
60s guitar rock, with a lot of guitar solos and good intrumentals Favorite track: who do you love other picks: when you love, which do you love, mona, calvary
I had to listen to this a couple of times but I think I enjoyed it. Psychedelic, and bit experimental, and varied. I still can't remember all that much apart from some jamming and weirdness even after a few listens, but it's something I could listen to again with pleasure.
First time listening to QMS, really liked this quite a bit
weird and captivating mixture of styles mostly psychedelic rock with folk influences. enjoyed it a lot but it's hard to put in words...
It's fun Will I listen to again: 50%
first listen i dig it
Underrated
The Who Do You Love suite was awesome. Was most of that improvised? It felt improvisational. The second half was solid too, Calvary was cinematic and psychedelic. Although, I have a feeling they meant Cavalry as it lends itself more to the theme of the album title but I’m not sure.
The doors?
Mostly liked it. Some parts of felt like it went off the rails.
really enjoyed this album, flowed really nicely and it was a nice grope to it, loved the old rock vibe to it, great listen
honestly, idk what other people were on about, this is great. nice little jam
A most enjoyable ride
I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. Good long-form hippie guitar noodling. 7.8
Pretty good
Solid stuff happening here
This was like one giant “who do you love?” jam and it was a journey! The rest I could take or leave, but that huge multi-part thing was great.
Very much a 60's album. The entire first half of the album is pretty much one song, and the second half isn't all that different. Like contemporaries, they use this as a springboard to turn it into some hellish and endless psychedelic jam. Screeching guitars and this almost tribal atmosphere to it for pretty much the entire record. It's not an album I always want to listen to, but when it hits it really hits.
cool shyt
Summer Of Love! Sex, Drugs, Rock'n'Roll! Zeitdokument. Nicht mehr, aber auch nicht weniger.
This was a pretty solid album.
This was more complex and intriguing than I expected. Nothing crazy or mind-blowing but a step above still. In general for music I think there must have been something magical in the air in the late sixties-mid 70s
I don't believe I've ever heard of this artist before. This seems like the kind of band I'd like to sit in on a jam with. I quite enjoyed this, and I think I'll add this to my collection.
this was a nice psychedelic surprise
Aurais eu 4/5 si la pièce qui les a inspiré (Who Do You Love) avait été leur composition. 3,5/5
4 stars - liked a lot! Makes me feel productive!
The short title track almost cost them a star, but this jam band’s 27 minute variations on “Who Do You Love” brings it back up. The audience participation at one point makes for a special moment in music.
Pretty good! If I'm feeling psychedelic and Allmans or Dead just aren't cutting it, these guys would be my next go to.
mooi album met een superjam als eerste kant...
A very experimental live psychedelic rock album with a surprising amount of jazz influences. I reached some sort of flow state while listening to the whole thing and will be listening to it again. Banger in my opinion.
Love this sort of psych rock jam thing, so this is a nice surprise. Some great guitar leads and playing off each other. Drums quite Krautrock like, and a nice dancing/walking bass. What’s not too like, it’s nice to hear some musicians just enjoying themselves around the theme of songs and not feeling too restricted. Very jazz like. Genuinely don’t understand the hate in a lot of the reviews of this. But to end on, while I respect another reviewers opinion that Henry from Neighbours did a superior version of Mona, I do disagree, but will concede it is a close call.
Much respect for making a suite out of a little bo diddley number. I tried to check them out in my Tom Verlaine phase, and did not necessarily see the connection, but it's pretty clear now, with spotify enhanced availability. Cool guitar, and I suspect woefully underrated by the chuckleheads here.
more unknown bands... this one is very quiet, even when they go crazy with their performances it's never too loud, making it hit easier on the ears when you're playing it through the record player's speakers. many tracks are about love. who, what, where, when, why, how... about the concept of love. this album started off typical, but as the record continued to play it slowly went from cool sleazy trippy rock to dudes playing dissonant riffs in a wet cave. very peculiar, groovy and murky, this album is... that weird limbo that ended off the '60s in terms of rock and roll.
Really odd album. Sounds pretty good but it’s so weird.
4.20 / 5 Oh boy, the critics weren't nice to this album. Judging by the fact that many pointed out the psych rock direction, I figured that it might be worth listening to. So hwg. First thing to notice is that "Happy Trails" has some interesting proto-desert rock vibes to it which is quite enjoyable. Many listeners probably don't like it cuz they link this kind of music to Vietnam or some shit, idk but I think it's cool. It reminds me heavily of Somali Yacht Club, Naxatras, Samsara Blues Experiment and other Psych/Desert/Stoner Rock bands. I honestly enjoy this stuff.
Weird and groovy psychedelic rock from the 60s. Apparently recorded live for the most part. Impressive. 7/10
Epic jams!
Another classic rock band I've known of for ages, but have never listened to. Now I wish I had a chance to see them live. Might have been a bit better with a few more originals, but the 25+ minute "Who Do You Love" jam wasn't exactly your typical cover.
Un poco de psicodelia y un poco de rock 🩷
Erg leuk
This is like a 6/10 San Fran hippie jam album but then "Cavalry" hits and for one track it becomes a Godspeed You! Black Emperor album 30 years too early. The musicianship on this is special in a way I find difficult to describe. It's obviously not Zappa or Hendrix, but it's something so creative and charming. I usually hate hippie jam bands, but I've really fallen for this kitschy fuckin album.
I haven't been the biggest fan of the psychedelic rock on this list so far, but this really impressed me. I liked how it didn't sound just "jammy", it had a lot of variety in speed, structure and vocals. The tracks that really stood out were Cavalry and Happy Trails as the closer(s). A unique combo i was a fan of. Also the lead singer died from complications of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency which is in my family. Some areas in the first half could have been a bit more engaging but all around i liked it. 3.7/5 -> 4/5
Very much my vibe, happy to discover this!
Amazing album. Looking at the date, name and album cover you'd expect some obscure country album but this is something truly different. It's very experimental of course but you could release this today and no one would say it's outdated. Compared to the more mild music of that time this stands tall and manages to surprise with every song.
Great album cover artwork. Strong jamming throughout. Overall, a fun record that feels like The Rolling Stones had a baby with The Allman Brothers. Some tracks do not offer much depth, but others, like “Who Do You Love – Pt. 2,” really shine as perfect, loose, jam-driven songs. It is an enjoyable listen from start to finish, even if it does not break new ground. Solid fun. 8/10.
4/5
At the equator that separates song and jam sits Happy Trails. And as befits an equatorial climate, it’s a hot and sticky sort of record; teeming with a diversity of brightly feathered and dangerously-toothed wildlife; prone to the most dramatic, most rancorous thunderstorms. Across 10 jams – and that’s what they feel like; though don’t be fooled, nothing here is happening by accident – Quicksilver produce a heady atmosphere that’s all encompassing. It’s best moments can feel like they stretch over days – the sliding strings and droned feedback of “Where you love” that give way to a tribal feeling call and response of claps – or can blip into and out of reality in the scarcest of seconds (an arpeggio in “Mona” demands to have a whole album written around it but then just … disappears). Happy Trails offers precisely the right conditions for a grower of a record. And by the time “Calvary” is done with me, I’m sold. It’s that feeling of total freedom that follows turning on a big warm tube amp and plugging your guitar in, extended across an entire ecosystem of sound. Wonderful.
The first half of the album is an awesome cover of Who Do You Love, the guitar is ridiculous. They’re a little psychedelic but don’t stray too far from good music, certainly plan on listening to it again.
This morning's conversation with my husband: Him: "What's your album for the day?" Me: "Happy Trails by Quicksilver Messenger Service. It gets a 2.81 rating." Him: "Never heard of it. What genre?" Me: "Rock. Psychedelic Rock." Him: "Oh. Then you'll like it." 22 years of marriage and the man knows me. I did, in fact, like it. Not sure why, but it was decent music to have on while working. Much, much better than the Taylor Swift I suffered through yesterday. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
It’s hard to fathom, I’ve never heard this before.
A 30 min jam on Who Do You Love, a song I don't particularly care for that they somehow pull off. I'm a fan of Quicksilver Messenger Service but haven't actually heard this album and it's a great jammy masterpiece, classic San Francisco acid rock. It does drag a little near the end but overall a pretty great album, would give a 4.5 if I could.
Super funky guitar, a bit western feeling, but does well to keep it out of country music territory. Reminiscent of 70s rock
1/1001 First impression: Good jams, easy to listen. Good for: Car rides, campfires, background music. Loved it for a first album on my journey and similiarities with Phish. Final impression: Do not let the album cover fool you, not a country album. Jam band with very few lyrics. I enjoyed it with my similar interest in Phish and the Grateful Dead.
Does meander, but that's kind of the point, and it's still interesting music.
The Who Do You Love medley is pretty great. Pretty fun all in.
Great album. Solid. Mostly instrumental rock ryhthyms with great bridges to connect all songs.
Surprisingly enjoyable. Not super different from most late 60's psychedelic music, but I liked it none the less
A good album from a forgotten time, raunchy riffs and solos. Modern music might have faster tempos and more polished production but it doesn’t have the energy and feeling that a lot of theses older albums have. It felt as though the band were playing live to the listener. No homogenising just raw talent and passion.
Den kunne jeg faktisk godt lidt - der var nogle ret gode sange iblandt og det var meget lig noget spilmusik
Jazzig Rockig. Live. Nicht so zusammengedrückt, dynamisch, Es läuft im Hintergrund und plötzlich ist es ganz anders als Zunder Zeitpunkt als man zuletzt zugehört hat.
Some genuine jams on here. The kind where your train of thought rolls past the music and then a guitar chord brings you back into focus like “oh you’re still here” feeling. Hell yeah (3.5/5)
Obviously, not to everyone's taste. This pushes the limits of what I can take, too. But in the end, this is a classic jam band at their peak. Not as great as the Dead, but still I love it.
Psychedelic rocker. Glad to hear it for first time. More like this!
Even after five minutes into ¨Happy Trails¨ by the Quicksilver Messenger Service, I still don’t know what I’m listening to. It’s kinda bluesy, kinda rootsy, a jam session with no vocals and a quaint, Western-inspired cover. I was expecting Roy Rogers and I’ve gotten who knows what. Is it wonderful? So far, yes. I don’t know if this was a jam on the spot or if they sort of wrote the songs first, but sometimes it’s fun to just hear musicians play. They’re really going for it, and that chemistry of people in a room being good at what they do together just can’t be beat. Of course, by the time we get to the riot sounds at the end of ¨Where You Love,¨ the song has just gone on for far too long. There are long songs that keep you into it, like ¨Desolation Row¨ or ¨Marquee Moon,¨ and then ones that just seem to go nowhere. Vocals finally come in on ¨Who Do You Love Pt. 2¨ and it sounds like one of The Doors’ more meandering songs, bluesy in a white person blues sort of way. Is it bad? Not always. ¨Mona¨ continues this Doors déjà vu, thankfully without the lame keys or Jim Morrison’s sometimes overwrought lyrics. A real ride, this album. Best songs: ¨Who Do You Love Pt. 2,¨ ¨Mona¨
Okay this might be the first album so far that's actually something completely unknown to me, and also something I want to acquire and listen to repeatedly. This is some sick late west coast 60's acid rock. Kinda reminds of me of The Doors and Jefferson Airplane. And it's not an ersatz derivative of those sounds at all. The cover art and album title totally threw me off. I want to drop a tab and freak out to this shit
Nice jam line record. Pretty cool!
Easy to follow crowd pleasing jam
I prefer their debut album by quite a bit, though critics generally say that it doesn’t capture these essence. Happy Trails is interesting but to me lacks variety and is a more intelligent release. The band had a lineup of significant talent and is always worth a spin.
I wrote my bachelor thesis about western movies and this one would have been great for listening to it while writing. but I am already done. 4 stars nonetheless.
Bo Diddley meets psychedelia. The whole album is a banger.
Really smooth and interesting. Note in future for background jams
I really enjoyed this. I thought it was gonna be some big iron western ballad type album based on the cover, couldn’t be further from that! Loved the vibe.
This was for me. Long passages of music, experimental instrumentals I would buy this best tunes: who do you love (part 1); when you love, where you love, which do you love, who do you love (part 2), mona, calvary
Just an hour long 60s jam session.
Mostly instrumental rock, but pretty good instrumental rock. Why didn't they do "What Do You Love" or "Why Do You Love?"
This had some good droning guitar sounds. I like the album cover.
Incredible album cover, pretty good jam band album. It sounded like if the Doors were like "let's do The End for an album". Will need a relisten before finalizing the opinion, but it is somewhere between a 3 and 4. Since I enjoyed it the first time, I'll throw it a 4.
Nothing groundbreaking here, but I enjoyed this album start to finish. The sort of blues-rock sound feels very late 90s. Getting strong My Morning Jacket vibes here, and that's great.
I don't really know when this album ended, but it was interesting to me. It was a bit laggy at some points, but I appreciated the playfulness of it that you could feel from the band.
Some good straight-forward bluesy rock. Put this on and just chill with it.
3.5/5
Good
Another great live(ish) jam. Some interesting ideas woven into it.
Acid rock in it's prime, what a magical time for the genre. This one crossed over to a Grateful Dead vibe for me. Familiar with the band and have a few albums, but I had not heard this one and I'm glad I listened to it. Definitely gonna seek this one out!
I think there are 40 words in the whole album and just sick ass guitar shredding lol - good but I felt like it was a Woodstock shred fest
if this list has taught me anything its how much i love wanky double digit minute length noodling
Western tinged rambly folk rock
"Happy Trails" is the second album by American band Quicksilver Messenger Service. Psychedelic rock and acid rock are the Wiki-listed genres. You betcha. Most of this album is dedicated to Bo Diddley covers and was recorded from two performances at the Fillmore East and the Fillmore West. The bandmembers included John Cipollina (guitar, vocals), Gary Duncan (guitar, vocals), David Freiberg (bass, vocals, piano) and Greg Elmore (drums, vocals, piano, percussion). The album had positive reviews and, commercially, reached #27 on the US pop album charts. The whole first side is dedicated to the band's "Who Do You Love Suite" with six different parts. The first part is the band cover of the Diddley song "Who Do You Love." A long guitar note leads to the Bo Diddley beat and guitar. Guitarists' Cipollina and Duncan give this a very loose feel. The song slows down for the second part which features guitarist Gary Duncan who gives a pretty stunning jazz/rock solo. This part really reminded me of the second half the Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?" Parts three through five highlight a percussion/drums solo , a Cipollina guitar solo and a bass solo respectively. The last song has the Bo Diddley rhythm with guitarist Cipollina and Duncan improvising with their guitars and vocals. On the side two, they continue with another Bo Diddley cover in "Mona." A percussion beat and layered guitars. More improvising and they bring in the wah wah guitar sound. This sounds a lot like the Grateful Dead. The song "Calvary" is called an acid flamenco and rightfully so. Four minutes of guitar noodling leads to the drums and bass eventually coming in to start the party. The guitars change to a Spanish flair. There's bells. There's a long droning sound period and finally a fade out. Woah! This album is trippy, jammy and psychedelic. All these musicians are very technically sound. The guitars are the highlight: the jams, the solos, the interplay, the droning and the feedback. On negative side, there's a bit of aimless noodling if that annoys you. Overall, this is a timepiece of the psychedelic era which I still enjoyed. So, if you're a psychedelic music or jam band fan, this will be right in your wheelhouse.
Worth trudging through all the muck on here to discover diamonds like this. Never heard of these guys before, but I’ll definitely check them out after this. Just misses out on a 5 as it didn’t need to be 50 minutes and some of the solos were a little too long and wandering, but overall a great listen
This has some really good bits. It also has some long and unnecessary bits.
Some interesting Jammy elements, but overall a bit lacking in depth.
Very creative even compared to their contemporaries. It's hard to find a band that doesn't sound basic in that San Francisco music scene. As experimental as psychedelic rock is, it's undeniable that this band stands out.
I have never heard of this group, so let’s see what is what. Yeah ok. I like it. YouTube music has this released in 1988, but it also say 1969 and from the first track it feels timeless. Sounds a lot like the doors. The 60s sound really come out later but this sounds like a late 70s kind of jam. Really enjoyed this!
Initial thoughts: Very nice. Exactly the kind of thing I'm into: psychedelic jam band action. Reminds me a lot of the Grateful Dead and has the same strengths. I especially love how the first side seems like a single recording. But Jesus Christ do the more meandery bits, Where Do You Love and parts of Cavalry bring it down. I did a bit of reading on it, and I understand now that side one is actually a rendition of a Bo Diddley composition. So, side one is best judged as a whole, and as a whole it's good. Going to give this 4 stars for the time being.
so good. and what a beautiful finale! love finding these 60s albums from this site
Perhaps a bit generous on this, but I was pleasantly surprised with this album from a band I've never heard of, with minimal Spotify traction. No huge hits, but a lot of the instrumental work was pretty impressive.
I like this, but is it essential? Not really. Grateful Dead have better psych jams than this... as does Iron Butterfly, and their exquisite 16 min psych jam also on this list. Still though, I do quite enjoy this album. 8.6 ★★★★
I didn't love it, but it was interesting and not at all what I expected from the album cover. Glad to have heard it. 3.5
What I expected: boring country pastiche What I got: some kind of wild psych-adjacent adventure— I dig it
The veil between jazz and country is thinned by a bunch of guitars off their minds on LSD. Easy 4 stars.
82% Best: Who Do You Love Suite; Mona Must-Hear? Sure
Quicksilver Messenger Service's ode to rock-n-roll, i.e., Bo Diddley, is one of the great (live) guitar records of all time, rivaling The Allman Brothers' At Fillmore East. The six-movement suite of Diddley's 'Who Do You Love' affirms the improvisational potential of rock music, but it also testifies to its meat-and-potato edge. Extending a 2:18 classic to 25:22 is risky business, and could easily devolve into messy self-indulgence, but this never does, fortified by an unwavering commitment to Bo's rhythmic signature. This is continued on 'Mona,' another Diddley staple, while the final three tracks are a gorgeous tumble into what Emily Dickinson dubbed 'the letting go.' For music this austere, there's also uplift and relief. Happy trails, indeed.
3.8/good riffs, pretty good blues rock. wonder if Hendrix got inspired by this
Read up on this one. Very good once you do.
J’ai beaucoup aimé ! Du rock un peu expérimental/psychedelique, de la bonne guitare, ça fait plaiz. À réécouter
I get the feeling I’m not supposed to like this based on other peoples’ reactions, but oh well! 4/5
Rating: 4/5 Short Review: This is what happens when you give cowboys LSD and hand them guitars instead of horses. It’s a jam band rodeo—sometimes thrilling, sometimes like you wandered into a 25-minute soundcheck. But weirdly, you’re into it. Favorite Track: “Who Do You Love – Suite” It’s 25 minutes long, meanders like your uncle after one beer, and still somehow keeps you grooving. It’s the auditory equivalent of a cactus blooming in real-time. Consistency With Me: 6.3/10 I like a little structure, you know? Something with boundaries. This album? It left its shoes in the desert and started philosophizing about dust. I respect it, but I don’t trust it with directions or dinner reservations.
Jam band founders! Bluesy and loose
The standout here is the 13-minute western-infused psych rock instrumental "Calvary" near the end of the album. Really unique sound and I think it absolutely rips. I'm less enthusiastic about most the rest of the album - wouldn't say I don't enjoy it but it's more of a "fine background music" type of deal. There's an awful lot of guitar noodling.
cool old school surfy type shit with a healthy dose of experimental noise rock. loved it.
New to me, really enjoyed
Wasn’t sure what to expect here, but this was better. Really enjoyed.
I enjoyed this but then again I like early country and blues tinged psychedelic rock, and I particularly like high quality live recordings of that material from this era.
Quite liked it. Heavy on guitar solos. Liked the jammin' session/live vibe of the album, the psychedelic sound and the Bo Diddley lovefest on the first part of the album.
Album art completely threw me. This is exactly the type of surprise I was looking for from the generator. I had never heard of Quicksilver Messenger Service and glad I now have. Great record. Shocked to learn it was live. Could be seen as self-indulgent jam session though. 3.5/5. Adjusting up to a 4.
Serenely shredding Instantly iconic tunes That conjure power
O dziwo bardzo mi się spodobało. Nie na tyle, aby dodać do ulubionych, ale takie psychodeliczne instrumentalia mają w sobie coś magicznego. Nigdy nie będę prawdziwą fanką takiej muzyki, ale czasami, dla oczyszczenia kubków smakowych czemu nie? 7/10
Brilliant for 3/4 of the album but it really started to drag towards the end. Such a pity, shave 10 minutes off of this and it would’ve been in my overall Top 10
Pretty rad album. A bit psychedelic with a nice cohesive flow.
Cool stuff! The jamming gets a bit much, but enjoyable album just the same.
Haha, very clever with the song titles in the first half of this. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I would say this exceeded expectations. Landing on a 3.5 stars and willing to bump up to a 4.
Based on the cover I was expecting this to be another piece of shit 60s folk album with flutes and unicorns and whatnot. Instead I find myself gripped by a full side-length live rendition of Who Do You Love that absolutely slays. While it doesn't have the highest energy I've ever heard this song evoke, it is a wonderfully jammy and well-recorded (for the time) live rendition. On top of that, the vocals are far better than they need to be. This was great start to finish and I'll definitely be back again in the morning. High 4 / 5.
Just a straight up good time listening to this album. The Who, when, where, how, which, who sequence was so good to kick it off which was awesome way to do a cover. The guitar was quite awesome throughout the whole album and I feel like it was the perfect length for what it was. This is a very solid 4
Track names for the first side are pretty funny. Who Do You Love is definitely a song I've known (at least that one part you hear in movies) but never would've been able to tell you who it's by. Jk it doesn't even get to that point. Must be saving it for Pt. 2. That entire suite was sick. I expected a little more country from the album cover and am getting some serious jamming. Kinda surprised at the global rating on this one cuz that was a rippin album.
4/5
Good.
A happy blend of psychedelia, straight from the 60s. Just the way I like it, long, rambling, but filled with talent. 4.5/5
Normally, I hate this kind of music. But so far, it’s alright. Bitch is tearing it up on When You Love. It’s nice that the songs flow straight into each other. Feels like an unbroken musical experience. Where You Love, How You Love and Which Do You Love are interesting and experimental. I should not be enjoying a psychedelic jam band, but I think that’s what’s happening here. It helps that it’s mostly really well-played instrumental music. Words would not be helpful here. Better that they let the music do the talking. Makes absolute sense when you learn that the full six song suite was based on Bo Diddley’s original 1956 Who Do You Love. Pretty brilliant reinterpretation. Should hate, cannot find cause.
4 stars
Really enjoyed the guitar riffs and solos going on here.
QMS are another lot who I have heard of but never bothered to research them. Who do you Love is a song just about everyone should be familiar with but if you had asked me yesterday I wouldn’t have been able to tell you who sang it. As a Progger a 25 minute live version of this really did wet my appetite. I was not disappointed. A lot of fellow 1001’s complain that live albums should not be on this list. In this instance I do have some sympathy for this. Without visuals some of the guitar work which was going on stage does require a lot of the imagination. The audience reaction tells me that whatever was going on was really good and appreciative. So maybe the performance was that exceptional it really does deserve a place on this list? I certainly think so. A very good album and one which will make me look at QMS’s back catalogue. 4/5 1/3/25
Side 1 is an absolute knockout.. Releasing this as their second album took real courage. While Side 2 has its moments, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights, making for a solid but less remarkable finish.
Who would have thought that a lot can be wrung out of one song? Bo Diddley becomes the muse of Quicksilver Messenger Service as they blast the Fillmores East and West with psychedelic indebted blues appropriate for the time period and Happy Trails, the album that was the result, sees them stamp their place amongst all the other emergent jam bands sprouting from the ground of the late 60s. The other songs on here are worth checking out as well, with Mona (another Bo Diddley composition) and the thirteen minute epic Calvary being of most interest. Favorites: Who Do You Love? (Parts 1 & 2), Where You Love, Mona, Calvary.
Really cool psych rockish album!
Entire A side of who do you love - hell ya Recorded at filmore east and west
My jamband ass would have loved to see this live.
This was quite good. Hadn't heard of the band before, have added them to my library, and will definitely be listening again 4
Groovy
This music sounds like what I imagine taking acid in the 60s felt like. Terrific album.
Good
good job with the "Who Do You Love Suite"
This is a damn good guitar album.
I’m honestly surprised this album gets as much criticism and as many low ratings as it does. It’s essentially a free-form jam session, all improvised, with a strong bluesy, psychedelic vibe. For what it is, it captures that raw, unfiltered energy perfectly.
damn first song be banging
Fav: When You Love Least Fav: Calvary I especially loved the bits that sounded like being transported into psychedelic Silent Hill
Al parecer me encantan las jams de rock psicodélico. Total del álbum: 76
Reminds me of Doors
Ça faisait longtemps qu'un album de rock psychédélique des 60s ne m'avait pas autant accroché, surtout en plus que c'est un album qui comporte vraiment beaucoup de solos de guitare. Ce n'est pas un album que j'ai trouvé impecable du début à la fin, mais il a su me garder accroché tout au long. J'avais vraiment l'impression de m'imaginer être à cette époque. Définitivement à réécouter (probablement avec un gros indica). 7.5/10
Very mellow jam-band vibes. A little like some Dead that I enjoy. 4.5
It’s a good album. May be one of my favorites to listen to when working, since the flow is smooth and the singers are not absolutely terrible.
минимализм, но приятный
Lots of cool noises. Got kind of boring at the end though. Just too long.
A less manic The Doors. Still has some great guitar.
Good laye 60s rock
A very pleasant prog/psychadelic experience across two Bo Diddly medleys. It certainly made my grocery shopping a much nicer experience
I enjoyed this, and think it would get better on repeat listens.
Kind of a trip if you can stick with it.
I've heard of the band name Quicksilver Messenger Service before, and for some reason I always thought it was a 90s indie band. Maybe I was thinking of the Quicksilver clothing brand from the 90s LOL. In any case, I feel like this kind of music could fit in with some of the indie noise rock Sonic Youth type distortion-heavy stuff I heard on college radio in the 90’s. Sprawling, freeform soundscapes, abstract psychedelic jazz, with a little riffing on Bo Diddly as well. It was an interesting listen. But I'm left wondering one thing: WHY you love.
Really liked this album.
Cool album. I will always enjoy psychedelic, blues rock from this era. First half of the album is a cool long-form live version of "Who Do You Love." It's just generally some solid music to vibe to with interesting arragements. ****
Live albums seem to be real hit and miss on this project, Van Morrison’s live album was particularly dreadful and unnecessary. Happy Trails is a good example of a live album that showcases a band’s strengths. Yea, it’s Jammy and perhaps meanders but that’s the beauty of live music, it’s a time to give new life and length to the studio tracks. The hazy blues with psych undertones makes for an enjoyable listen. I understand it’s not going to be for everyone and that’s cool but I really liked this. 4 stars
Cacophonous psychedelic jam band and I mean this as a compliment
i was somehow exactly in the right mood for this (read: feverish, woozy, taking a bath) 3.5
Very typical late 60's sound, much like other bands of the era, Cream, Hendrix etc. Enjoy how each song leads seamlessly into the next one, almost like a 50 minute guitar solo. Slight lull on the song How You Love and the penultimate Cavalry prevents it being a 5
When i read the description of this record I was dreading listening to it. I mean a 20+ minutes rendition of Who Do You Love by Bo Diddley-pass! However, I really dug it.
Groovy and a little heavy.
Desert-dusted psychedelic suites that flow surprisingly well.
i really enjoyed this one! i dig a live performance and was able to just vibe to this music. i had it on while prepping/cooking dinner and it was a good environment for it.
I don't mind this at all... 3.6+ Yes it's a little boring in parts, but I overall dig the extended jams here. Kind of like Doors but without the organ stuff. Pretty solid dynamic range on this one! Mona to Maiden of the Cancer Moon is probably the best part.
Good stuff. Could totally listen again.
Sheeeww doggy what a fine album! I done burned a hole in my boot dancing to this'ne.
I'm kind of picky about my late 60s Bay Area psychedelia but this is solid.
Not exactly my thing but it’s a great representation of its era and the “set and setting” of 1960s San Francisco.
Never heard of these guys before. It was good stuff.
4 lovely stars.
I have been a QMS fan for well over 50 years. I especially loved their version of Pride of Man.
Makes sense they came up in the psychedelic San Francisco scene. You can hear the Grateful Dead in their guitar work. There’s even a note of the California surfer sound. Normally, I hate this kind of music. But so far, it’s alright. Bitch is tearing it up on When You Love. It’s nice that the songs flow straight into each other. Feels like an unbroken musical experience. Where You Love, How You Love and Which Do You Love are interesting and experimental. I should not be enjoying a psychedelic jam band, but I think that’s what’s happening here. It helps that it’s mostly really well-played instrumental music. Words would not be helpful here. Better that they let the music do the talking. Makes absolute sense when you learn that the full six song suite was based on Bo Diddley’s original 1956 Who Do You Love. Pretty brilliant reinterpretation. Should hate, cannot find cause.
I was already intimately familiar with this album. I really like it a lot because I like this genre and time period (late 60s psychedelic blues rock) and am generally a fan of live albums. I really like the extended jams. That said, the vast majority of this album (entire Who Do You Love suite and Mona) is an extended take on the Bo Diddley beat. If you like that, it's great. Unrelated to this album, but I went looking for more live Quicksilver Messenger Service from this era, and there is quite a lot of it out there, but Happy Trails is the best of the bunch.
A big regret of mine is that I didn't see Kyuss when they were playing at the festival I was at. Didn't know, didn't bother, probably [unclear mumbling]. With that, for context, Quicksilver Messenger Service gets a 4½ out of 5 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘷𝘺, 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵!s.
Gotta love. Led Zeppelin!
So jammy.
The naming of the tracks on this album is absolutely inspirational
Pretty good album, really nice guitar riffs and solos. Refreshing sound, even of the record is more than 50.year old.
Man, if Bo Diddley had made money off of all his songs that bands have covered even of just Who Do You Love, he would have died as rich as he should have. I do love this concept album though- even if the whole first side is a cover. It's cool that they spliced it together from live shows at the Fillmore East and West. It makes wonder why a jam band like Grateful Dead rose of of the SF psychedelic scene to become it's own brand, when a band like Quicksilver Messenger Service, arguably just as talented if not more so than the Dead, sort of faded into relative obscurity (except from Deadheads who pride themselves on loving bands just like the Dead who aren't the dead -- looking at you, Todd Gascon!) Anyway, I liked it for the concept and because the musicians are good. 4 stars.
This is such a great prog / psychedelic album. QSR sounds like elements of the Doors and very early Springsteen. Live albums tend to be tough to get through, but Happy Trails, a blend of two concerts at the two Fillmore's is reminiscent of early Jam bands and makes for a joyful ride. 4/5.
This was a fun, trippy, classic rock album. Loved the live/improvisational feel. Would have loved to have seen this guys live in their hey day
Serious Grateful Dead vibes. Flows wonderfully and is some of the most fun to listen to early psychedelic rock I've heard.
Classic instrumental rock. Slow and shreddy. I can like that!
Awesome concept album. Ahead of it's time!
My first time listening to this one, I really liked it. Acid rock with jazzy undertones. Quite jammy
A 45 minute jam session capped off by a country classic. Overall I enjoyed it.
meh No words!!!! I hate guitars!!!!!
Excellent guitar work.
This is an interesting and eclectic album. It's kind of straight ahead experimental 60s rock, a harbinger of the progressive rock movement, a contemporary "jam band," and so much more. This is a terrific album in its genre and Calvary is one of the greatest guitar songs I have ever heard.
Having never heard of this artist before, I was surprisingly pleased with the album. I'm not sure what to call this genre, but it felt like stoner rock with hints of folk, jazz improv, and other elements. Some hints of Pink Floyd type vibes. I loved all the guitar sounds, distortion, reverb, mixed in with clean acoustic sounds. I enjoyed listening.
Es isch halt sehr akustisch (mit usnahm vo zwei drei songs). Da muess nid unbedingt schlecht sie aber für mich isches nid so würklich überzügend. Es isch jetzt nid bad? Aso irgendwie scho groovy? Würd mich jetzt nid störe würds laufe. Idk 4/5? Weiss doch au nid
First few tracks, I was impressed with the instrumental work. Fully bought in at 4 stars
Absolutely rips
Original Jam Band! Liked it a lot, haven’t heard it in a long time!
Gets totally heavy, and nods toward plodding at time – in other words, it's not exactly quicksilver in feel, despite some jam bandy predilections. Does rock with legit bluesy psychedelic feel without moving fully into dinosaur territory, though certainly it's proximate.
It all starts with having fun. After listening to so many highly produced albums, this one comes across as organic. There is a sense that this is made to be performed live and never the same way twice. Although not the best lyrics or the most amazing music ever, this album holds up well and I enjoy listening to it. It is refreshing when bands broke out of the singles mold and started to make long songs and concept albums. Art freeing itself from the confines of making money.
Pure 60's psychedelic rock, very reminiscent of The Dead during the same period. Quicksilver was one of the original jam bands and this record provides a quality view into that genre of music. I happen to like it a lot -- it's definitely not for everybody. Very creative and interesting improvisation from all the musicians (esp. the guitarist). In this regard it's closer to a jazz sensibility than traditional 3-minute rock songs. Hadn't heard this album before, though I knew about QMS -- it won't be in the regular rotation but it might be a change of pace occasionally
That was way cooler than the name implied.
It was ok. Awesome guitar.
Monstrous version (25:50) of Bo Diddleys 57' Who Do You Love on side A, side B announced as Rock 'n' Roll (not at all) but verrry well made psychodelic rock. The epic length is modern in this time - compare with Deep Purple's 1972 live album Made in Japan (shortest track 6:52). I like this album, especially seen in the context of time.
•Not owned: Streaming •Nice jammy psyche rock .The handling of blues reminds me of the the Who's Live at Leeds (released the following year). Accessible psychedelia always tells me the band is stoned and having a great time—also evident with opening the second track with "This next one is rock and roll"... coming off a 20 minute burner of an opening track. • 4/5
This was pretty good! I especially liked the "Who Do You Love" suite.
Rock psicodélico. Está bien. Un 4.
THis was almost a bit psychedelic, I enjoyed it
This was far better than expected, as while I knew guitar noodling was a major part of this, I actually didn't find it to be too aimless that often. In fact, I'm super impressed this is a live album, as you could hardly tell with the thought put into some of what they did, and the theming on the first half of the album is cool. It does get a bit boring at times, especially when they decide to do more ambient noise stuff that goes on for seemingly days, and I'm not a huge fan of the singer's voice, but I still enjoyed this enough to get it up to that positive rating.
4/5. I have never heard of this band before but I really enjoyed this album! I have a feeling George Thorogood’s Who Do You Love came from this band
Really different but I enjoyed it a lot. My only issue is that some of the highs were a little loud and sharp.. I wonder if there is a remastered version? Never heard anything like this though
Very interesting. I like it
Rock psicodélico. Está bien. Un 4.
#30 of working through the 1001 Albums list Honestly I didn't think I would like this album, based on the cover alone. I also didn't think I was into Psychedelic Rock or Acid Rock but as soon as that first song kicked in, I knew I was going to be in for a good time. This is not necessarily my style, but I appreciate the style and I am trying to be more open to different styles. I was grooving along to this album and I didn't realise that the songs were blending into each other, that was beautifully done. It does make it hard to pick out standouts, but at least I know this is an album listen, not just a few songs. This has a real prog rock vibe to it, which I think I loved, I really do enjoy the experimental and I think this would be a good album to listen to while high. Standouts: Who Do You Love, Pt. 1, Who Do You Love, Pt. 2, Mona
nihuya не понятно, но очень интересно
мне интересно что пацаны скажут))) у меня много эмоций от этого альбома
Ляяяяя, а куда оно плывёт... Слушайте, ну вообще прикольно; я хотел даже местами это в прог-рок записать, ну хорошие соляки выдаёт гитарист - ну прям тема! Но в какой-то момент панорама (кажется, на How You Love) меня чуть не довела до тошноты. Я не говорю, что это плохо, я думаю, это скорее особенности моего организма... туды-сюды так быстро ходило, что как будто вестибулярку отключили нахуй. Сюита убийственна, можно было бы на ней альбом и заканчивать.
Virtuosic.
Very nice psych rock guitar
Never heard of this one. Really solid album dang. The first half was really great, i love albums where they only make sense to listen from beginning to end.
Nice album... Something my old guitar teacher would have probably liked. Interesting sonically as well
Quality jam album.
A jolly good live album of a band that I hadn't heard of before. They really combine the louder and quieter parts very well and end with a country-like song - the end of an acid dream. The only thing I wished for: More highlights, less meandering in the middle tracks.
Awesome classic psychedelic vibes!
Good album
Ik had nog nooit van de beste heren gehoord, maar het is lekkere onvervalste bluesrock. Soms iets te weinig liedje en iets teveel improvisatie, waar ik zoals wellicht bekend van vind dat bands daar soms teveel in doorslaan. Misschien ben ik daar eerder bij de Allman brothers iets te streng geweest, dus zal ik dit gewoon een fijne en vrolijke 4 sterren geven. Want van een goede pot bluesy gitaar kunnen we nooit genoeg krijgen.
was actually fun!
little bit led zeppeliny at times, quite different to what i usually listen to but very enjoyable
Achei que fosse mais musica de cowbory corno mas parece mais um Deep Purple!
Better than I was expecting it to be, based on the reviews. Unlikely to make it into rotation though.
I don't always love long long wandering rock, but it must have been the day because I liked this fine. It went well with a long long wandering walk.
Somewhere in the last 30 years I became that guy that can happily listen to something like this because I wouldn't have had the patience years ago. Don’t know how that happened but I don’t mind that it did. Some of my friends today will likely be dismayed by my favorite song pick. I really was surprised how into this I was. Closing with "Happy Trails" was a great touch! The perfect transition back into real life after a groovy listen.
4.25
Very good.
super pour marché à l'ombre quand il fait chaud
Not bad but not perfect, side one is just really nice though
I really liked this album so much more than expected.
Enjoyable classic rock music.. right up my alley.
Every so often there comes an album where the music does more of the talking than the vocals do. This is one of those. It is not for lack of singing, but for what little lyrics are presented on this album, the music makes up for in giving those few words gravitas and meaning. This is hard to do either direction, but QMS dare it be said delivers so nicely here. This is not a well-balanced album in that sense, there are moments where a verse or at least a bridge would be a welcomed break in the groove, but overall no regrets are to be had here. While not exactly experimental in which the music feels aimless, it does have a trip-trance-like ebb and flow where the journey does not feel blind, as though the music is the resolve and that is where the strength of this album lies in comparison to other psychedelic offerings. Each key change, or change in melody is a resolve, the music feels complete in that sense. While some experimental or psychedelic music puts an emphasis on being lost, where QMS delivers better is best summed up by Tolkein's Gandalf, where not all who wander are lost. The 12-minute track "Calvary" is a decent example of this. If using one's imagination they could build an anthology story in their own mind of what each section could be about, and build a fitting end to each. The album is simply satisfying.
This album cover really made me think this would be a country soundtrack or something so I was pleasantly surprised by the club style psych rock I was met with. The first half being split up seemed a little pointless to me but if that's the way they wanted to present it, I think it's a cool idea. Overall - 8.1
Vaguely remember the group's name but never heard their music. Liked it.
I kinda dig this album. The guitar-work in particular is awesome.