Spirit

Spirit's 1968 debut mixes up a harder West Coast psychedelic sound with a variety of tempo changes and voyages out to the jazz frontier. The reins are pulled pretty tightly here, creating some freakish, long-haired rock that doesn't noodle on. "Uncle Jack" and "Fresh Garbage" are practically concise, while "Water Woman" is a great track about life under the sea.

This is a most uncommon album, one that defies some recent fashions. It's not a frontal
assault an the ear drums, and it's not a Return to Rock and Roll. These musicians use their
chops in the most imaginative way possible, yet they don't let the experimental tail wag the
rocking dog. They steer a middle course between Art Rock pretentions and Hard Rock
Philistinism. If Rock is to progress, and not fossilize, and still remain Rock, it is goi... More >