Part One - The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

This is the second release by The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. I've heard of these guys before but I never really took the time to check them out. Recently (In like 2014) I thought I'd give this cover of Help, I'm A Rock a spin on the ole computer. Needless to say that inspired this entire review and I honestly need someone to know what if feel for the album. I'm not just basing it off a single cover, but that was the inspiration.

1. Shifting Sands: Opening the album we get a track that isn't half bad. I mean it isn't amazing, but it isn't bothering me. This is a pretty decent opening, and you know if you like psychedelic rock I'm sure you'd dig this. My favorite part is the guitar tone, though the sort of waltz feeling beat is pretty nice too.
2. I Won't Hurt You: This is the first track that appeared on the earlier Vol. One from 1966. This opens with a sort of heart beat and a guitar. I mean I get the whole idea of counter rhythms but I think this beat is too loud and over powers everything else in the beginning.I get this is sort of a nice short little number, or transition, but this isn't impressing me. Also when you get to the actual vocals and lyrics......... Well, let's hope the next track is better.
3. 1906: To be honest, at this point, I kind of know where this is going. This isn't horrible, it just isn't impressing me. I feel like this might as well be a loop of it's self.
4. Help, I'm A Rock: This is the real reason I started this review. Why, well this is such an underwhelming cover of this fah-nominal Zappa track of the classic Freak Out!. They didn't do this song any justice and it's, to be as nice as possible, probably the worst Mothers cover I've ever heard in my life. To be honest, I'd try to cover this cover up. :(
5. Will You Walk With Me: Let's just hope the rest of this album does a good job of not letting me revisit the prior track. Opening rather promising, it's not until the vocals come in and to be honest I could see this being a pastiche attempt at making this flower power sound baroque pop on an album like Spinal Tap or something like that. It's pleasent to listen to, but much like some of the new Coldplay record, I won't remember it once it's over.
6. Transparent Day: Oh what a happy tune, this ins't half bad but the vocals are so boring.
7. Leilya: The beginning isn't that great, but that acoustic section that fades in and is over the track is nice. But this isn't anything special. I wish that would have lasted longer.
8. Here's Where You Belong: Another song that is just Okay.
9. If You Want This Love: This track also appeared on 1966's Vol. One. Suprise, this is just okay. To be honest this sounds like it could be a re-write of Love Potion No. 9. And that solo is too short to be awesome.
10. 'Scuse Me, Miss Rose: This ain't half bad in the beginning. It has some promise. To be completely honest, get a different singer, and this would be a keeper.
11. High Goin': That as a decent closer, I was gald when I heard it.

Overall I have to give this album a 5/10. I mean this is pychedelic rock/pop. What do you expect, it isn't anything mind blowing or breathe taking. I'll never revisit this, and really don't care either. I think the best part is the thing that looks like a girl as Bowie on the Hunky Dory cover in that picture. The only difference is she's cute.

Their Satanic Majesty's Request - The Rolling Stones

#4: I have my problems with The Rolling Stones. For one, I think a lot of their songs are too similar. I do think there are some good songs/albums, but I don't think they are amazing. Along with all their praised albums, 1968's Beggars Banquet, 1969's Let It Bleed, 1971's Sticky Fingers, 1972's Exile on Main Street (which I'm if-ee on). I think this should be among those. This is really the only time, though they basically copied Pepper, they really left the realm of blues. For God's sake, listen to Sing This All Together (See What Happens), there is no argument that this is the weirdest song in their catalogue. EVER!!!! That's part of why I like this album so much, and the good songs too. One last fact, this is the first LP, to my knowledge, that Nicky Hopkin's was on that was by the Stones.

1. Sing This All Together: This song. This one. The horns in the beginning of this song grab my attention. Then the singing, it actually sounds.... wait for it..... GOOD!. By good I mean actually pretty. This is such a fun song. I could see this being their All You Need Is Love. There is some experimentation that goes on in the "solo". I think it's actually really interesting. And I love how the horns bring the song into focus again. This isn't as good as some of the others, but it's still a good intro to the album. Also, this proves experimentation could work. 
2. Citadel: This song isn't the best song on this. But it actually kind of does remind me of some of their olderstuff. Until the chorus. Which I think it intresting. I don't really know what to say about this track. It's kind of, for the most part, more of a normal song.
3. In Another Land: The harmonies in this song. The can make me have an eargasm. They are beautiful. Instead of the usual, "ugly" and "bluesy" backing vocals, this is actually "harmony" vocals. They could bring a tear to any man, with a sense of decency, eyes. The harpsichord in the beginning of the song is just, I can't believe The Stones pulled this off. My hat goes off to Bill Wyanman. I love the vocal distortion echo the did during the verses. I think the snore at the end is pretty funny.
4. 2000 Man: This kind of reminds me of the next album. The more country feeling to it. It also kind of reminds me of a more upbeat version of Dead Flowers or a demo version of the song 39 by Queen. I also like how it changes. It's almost more of a composition rather then a blues/counrty song by Mick and Keith. I also like the little organ fill towards the end.
5. Sing This All Together (See What Happens): This is All You  Need Is Love 9. If you don't know what  I mean, Revolution 1 was a normal song Revolution 9 was complete musique-concrete. This is a total experimental track. If you guys like there guys at their normal tomfoolery, then you'll hate this song. I don't think I've ever heard another song remotely close to this one by this band. Now, for most people, they would say that the Stones experimented and it didn't work. They could say this track is a key example. I really like this track, but if you're one of those "artsy" people who "Knows what their talking about", then most every other song on this is normal. I don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't ever heard this before. But remember, it's different than any other song by these guys PERIOD!
6. She's A Rainbow: I don't understand if you don't like this song. It's super catchy and so fun to sing. This song can make you get pumped up and just run around. Ole' John Paul Jones, you know of Zeppelin, did string arrangement for this song. This was before he was in Zeppelin though. I also think it's kind of cool that there is talking in the beginning, then the piano plays. The strings in this song could almost make you cry. The "toy piano" sounds, beautiful.
7. The Lantern: This is a pretty cool sing. I really like the way the chorus is played along with the voice. It sounds pretty cool. This is a solid song, not together wise, but good/decent wise.
8. Gomper: This almost sounds like an indian song. Actually you could say that this is the weirdest song by the Stones. It's pretty much just noise. With bongos and desert sounds and just drone. I almost wish there weren't any vocals though. The keys are awesome sounding.
9. 2000 Light Years From Home: They really like the number 2000. The beginning of this song is kind of "scary". Like I think they are using cluster notes. This song has a lot going on. I don't really think a normal Stones fan could comprehend. I'm just kidding B-Dowg.
10. On With The Show: This is supposed to be the closer to the album. Supposedly this was inspired by Absolutely Free's last track America Goes Home & Drinks. Which you can kind of tell it's similar to that track. This is a really good way to end. The microphone effect on the voice reminds me of Magical Mystery Tour. Like they are on a bus that takes you around and you see this "show". The music going on in the background has beautiful strings and almost makes you wanna cry to it. The voice effect also reminds me a little of Uncle Albert.

Overall I have to give this, extremely underrated, Rolling Stones album a 7.8/10. This is the only album that was produced by them alone. Because their producer left because he was fed up with their drug problems. So, I guess something, beside Pepper, comes good out of drugs. You could almost argue that they, though they didn't (I know they didn't I read about it), were composing songs rather than jamming  They weren't going, "Lets do this fast, play this album in Open G". They did rush this at the ending for the release date, but still. They almost just made an mature album, leaving their normal style. They did make some changes on the next few release, but still. This is the most different, and in a good way. The next review will be of another favorite of mine. This album came out in 2010. I know, up to this point, the albums have been pre-1980. But well, I want to mix things up. I might also have two more post 2000 album's too. But this is a pretty psychedelic album. They just released a new single on Record Store Day, and their new album should be released sometime this year.

Surrealistic Pillow - Jefferson Airplane

This is the sophmore album by psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane. I love this album cover. I think it's cooler in person seeing it on vinyl. Obviously the beautiful Grace Slicks is on the cover. I think that this is a good. And from what I've already heard, this is a good album. I haven't heard the whole thing, but what I have, I think is pretty solid.

1. She Has Funny Cars: I am kind of wondering if this song title was conceived from a "trip". This is a slow song. Not like slow slow, more like a trippy song. It actually reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel 1966 album Sound of Silence. The fact seems more trying with just about everything going on in the song. Minus the psych vibe.
2. Somebody to Love: This is probably, most likely, their best known song. I really like this song and think that it's pretty catchy. I like the way it sounds on vinyl than on that damn Forrest Gump soundtrack. I don't know how old this is, there isn't a bar code on the cover, but it's probably at least 30 years old. It sounds damn good. I think that the solo sounds really sick and a lot better with the vinyl crackles.
3. My Best Friend: This seems like any old 60's "summer of love" love song. I don't think this is that special. Like Herman and The Hermits or Simon & Garfunkel. I do like like Simon & Garfunkel though. I don't get anything special from this song.
4. Today: The beginning of this song reminds me of the beginning of the 1971 song Bargin off the classic Who's Next album by one of my favorites The Who. But the it goes into more of a harmony voice. One of the vocalist really sounds like Paul Simon. Idk. It's got a mellow folky feeling to it.
5. Comin' Back To Me: This is the longest song on the album and has an intro that could be somewhat compared to Stairway. The fact that there is an acoustic guitar arpeggios and a recorder. That the beginning of that sing. The one thing is that It also reminds me of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album. This is a mellow song that I think you have to be in the mood for.
6. 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds: This is what I needed to keep my interest. The album was kind of putting me to sleep before this. This has more of an up beat feeling that the last sing in side 1. This is a good way to start side 2. It has a psychedelic feeling I've been dying to hear from this bitch. I think if you like psychedelic music you'll like this song.
7. D.C.B.A. - 25: The bass in the beginning brought my hopes up, but then the song came in. I don't know why but I don't care for this that much.
8. How Do You Feel: This beginning reminded me if The Stones for some reason. It only lasted so long. But now that's over and I can't pay much attention.
9. Embryonic Journey: This could be a Simon & Garfunkel cover almost. I do like that it's instrumental. A good break from everyone's voice. I only like Grace's voice.
10. White Rabbit: The last song was a good interlude to this song. I like how it's kind of a break and then it comes back to this song. I love this song. This is a good song. I like how there are Alice in Wonderland references. I really think this sounds cool and so does the singer.
11. Plastic Fantastic Lover: this song is ok but. Here is the thing. Damn, Grace please sing lead. Please... PLEASE!

Overall I have to give this a 6.4/10. It's got it's moments, some more quiet than others. I did not expect this much quietness to it. I think that it was ok, but wished for more moments like Somebody to Love or White Rabbit. If I was younger and more close minded musically then I'd be in love with these songs. I'm not even that old. But thats how I feel now. Even the beautiful Grace couldn't make me love this album.