Following the early to mid 60's Beatnik movement in the United States, a large following and musical scene was happening in San Fransico, California. The scene was hevay influenced, and was more about fun and originatlity than anything else. At the movements forfront was the extrodinary Grateful Dead. A band who pioneered the use of LSD, and Acid, but rarely spoke of it in their music. Basically the first mate of the movement was Jefferson Airplane. Jefferson Airplane, perhaps got the use of LSD and Acid out to the mainstream, well not exactly the mianstream, but to the movements followers. Their music was extremely Psychedelic, more so than any other group in my opinion. And extremely trippy.
Jefferson Airplane's sophmore album
Surrealistic Pillow, would be their greatest and most influencial. The band would add singer Grace Slick, and drop former drummer and band leader Skip Spence, and replace him with Jazz drummer Spencer Dryden. Skip would go on to join Moby Grape (Fantastic Psychedelic band).
Surrealistic Pillow gave off two fabulous and well known songs to this day. Those two are obviously "Somebody to Love" and the LSD and
Alice in Wonderland influenced "White Rabbit". Though the album contains many other great songs, those are the highlights, and I'm sure everyone has heard them atleast once in their life.
She has Funny Cars
Here is a fabulous jam, that is very catchy. The song includes fabulous Jazz like drumming, and some great guitar playing. From this song on, you can probably tell the recordings are bad, but you must remember that the album was recorded in 1967, that was long time ago, especially for technology. The drumming alone gives this song a good rating. 4/5
Somebody to Love
Definatley the stand out track in my opinion, and probably in many others'. The song has some great mystique to it, that is mostly shown through the vocals. That Grace of course song. The tracks in my opinion, are always better when Grace sings. She has an incredable powerful voice. Just say she's somparable to Janis Joplin, except her voice is a lot less Bluesy and not as ruff edged. I do really like the strait up bass lines, and the jagged guitar solo, that is actually done fabulously. 5/5
My Best Friend
This is a track based on great vocal harmonies. The in unison vocals sound like early Herman's Hermits, or early Who vocals. It is a catchy track, not much more to it. Just based around simple playing and some vocal. The song does pick up it's pace almost near two minutes, but does slow back down. Interesting song. 4/5
Today
Here's a nice slow played track. Very hard to explain. I particulary like the lyrics, they are very love based and strait up. The drums jump in nicely at around two minutes in, and so do the backing vocals. The guitaring is pretty good, but the recording does take it away from it, because it does make it rather hard to hear. Not much more to say. 3.5/5
Comin' Back to Me
This track, like many others from Jefferson Airplane, has some great finger picking on the guitar. Grace does some slow recorder work, which I guess adds to the track. Kind of reminds me of a Jethro Tull song, but of course earlier. So, in a way, this band is slightly progressive. Which I would agree with. Thr track is quite slow, but beautiful in way3.9/5
3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds
Luckily, here's an nice agressive, and upbeat song to take the album out of the slow slow slump it was in. The song is heavily Psychedelic, not as much because the organ, but because of the pounding rough guitar playing. Which can make a song Psychedelic just as easy as a heavily played organ. The lyrics are quite odd, and interesting. Which of course just adds to the Psychedelic feel. And to end the song, a great guitar solo is played and faded away with the rest of the track . Great song, definatley a 5/5.
D.C.B.A. - 25
The love this song, except for the title, it's quite stupid and hard to remember. Not a good idea if they were looking for a hit. The song includes some fabulous guitar playing, and a great solo. That perfectly matches up with the rythm of the song. The vocals are pretty good, but nothing special compared to other tracks on the album. 4/5
How do you Feel
This track is greatly rythmic, and quite catchy, yet very annoying at times. The vocal, mixed with the constant strumming of the acoustic guitar, and recorder gove a very irrating sound. The music is great, just mixed with the vocals, it's bad. Definatley not one of the my favorite tracks, the lead guitar playing is very good though. But it is hard to hear, being that the vocals and other instruments over shadow it. 2/5
Embryonic Journey
Here is some fantastic acoustic guitar playing, and a great recording. This track alone gives a good name for the guitarists. I can only describe it as chaotic, but beautiful, like Steve Howe's playing, but more aggresive. Without a doubt, a standout track one on fabulous acoustic instrumental. Every guitar player should give this track a listen. 5/5
White Rabbit
This track is definatley, one of Jefferson Airplane's greatest tracks, and without a doubt a definitive track of the 1960's and the San Fransico movement. The song is about LSD and Acid use, and about
Alice in Wonderland, which is of course supposed to be about the usage of drugs. Grace sings this number, and does one hell of a job. The track was supposebly a lot longer, before being recorded, because they expected a hit out of hit. The song goes through severla tempo changes, and of course tells a great story with great playing and lyrics. 5/5
Plastic Fantastic Lover
"Plastic Fantastic Lover" has a great groove, within the playing and the vocals. Definatley Psychedelic, and fabulously arranged. Everything adds in great, and is easily heard. I love the bass lines, and how the vocals are sang. Almost rapped in a way. Extremely catchy, and it has great vocals. It can rarely get better than this number. And of course there is a great guitar solo, that fades away with the rest of the song. 5/5
