The United States of America

This was a fun re-listen

The United States of America
On the one hand I like the experimentalism of this and its early forays into electronic sounds, on the other hand it didn’t particularly grab me as a whole musical experience, which is often the case with psychedelia of this vintage - the whimsicality doesn't always age well, despite how progressive and exciting it must have been and how influential it might have been subsequently.

The opening track is the exactly the kind of track I don’t enjoy, psychedelia plus circus music is not my favourite combo, and a fair few tracks do pass by in a bit of a nondescript blur. But Hard Coming Love is good for the most part, a nice bass sound and groove and I like her vocals. Cloud Song has a decent dreamlike atmosphere. I’m aware of I Wouldn't Leave My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar from a psychedelia compilation I nicked off my parents, but it’s not necessarily my favourite of the genre. Coming Down is probably my favourite track, some great bass and a nice contrast between the music and her vocals, and in parts it sounds a bit like those early 2000s Nouvelle Vague albums. The closing suite is another of those types of songs I’m not keen on, especially as I don’t like the male vocals as much as the female vocals, and there is a bit too much circus clown stuff happening.

A bit of a mixed bag, and even if I didn’t enjoy it all, it is at least an interesting album with a few nice highlights and a degree of charm to it, and it probably sits a little above some other albums in this field. I’d probably give it another listen in the right mood, so I think it sneaks a 3.
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Playlist submission: Coming Down

Interesting and eclectic.

Almost gave it two stars for its experimentation and pioneering use of synths but my God is this awful.

Beautiful proto-prog.

Not the worst psychedelic music out there, however track 1 really wants to play all of the circus sounds at once.

Better than Coldplay

Was that samplings?

Really annoying music. Sounds like some college students got their hands on their parents equipment and pressed "record" without any practice.

Good and bad in equal measure but also bonkers in places.

esse eh o tipo de coisa que eu esperava encontrar na lista hein. psicodelia do fim dos anos 60 sem guitarra nenhuma, só sons elétricos e um baixão fretless!!!

lembra um pouco velvet underground, mas fazer o quê. achei top demais. possivelmente ficarei obcecado por uns dias!!

Wild psychedelia with... checks notes... a calliope! Some slide-whistle shows up here and there too. I don't know what the fuck this is but I'm not hating on it.

I kind of wish it was weirder, like this album really could have benefited from some Frank Zappa vocals. I think it’s a thing where the whole is greater than the sum of its part, but a lot of the parts fucking suck. The drummer is just bad. I can’t tell if his drums just sound bad or if he’s not technically skilled.

Also Garden of Earthly Delight is such a great example of a shitty ass 1960s song. Like it’s the best song on the album, but SOMEONE went to art school and needs to flex their nerd knowledge. Ergot, lemonous, choleric, and carrion are all words that don’t need to be in the same song you dork.

Anyway, this is fine. Every now and then they do something I enjoy.

1.7

Avant garde psychedelic music with some slight jazz influences is certainly a mash up. Can't say I'm a fan. Psychedelic music is already a genre I'm not crazy about, but the sloppy avant garde angle isn't helping. Mostly its fine when it's just treading in a mostly psychedelic area, otherwise its a tougher listen. Songs like I Wouldn't Trade My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar, and The American Metaphysical Circus are not great. Stuff like Hard Coming Love and Cloud Song are decent enough. I will say, when it doesn't sound like a clown trying to make psychedelic music, the vibes are some of the most interesting in psychedelic music (Where Is Yesterday).

This record being an hour long is tough though. Not really my thing overall.

Kokeellinen ja aikaansa edellä, vaikkakin ei ihan itselle nappaa. Hieman turhan pitkä myös.

A PROPER psychedelic freakout

So, my wife said this sounds like the music that plays when a clown comes round to murder you and we were both like "Rock on, baby!".

Absolute garbage. As someone in the comments said: "this is the music that is playing when a clown comes to murder you". Truly painful to listen to. These pricks couldn't make music to save their life ...

Favorite songs: Stranded in Time

Least favorite songs: The American Metaphysical Circus, Hard Coming Love, Cloud Song, The Garden of Earthly Delights, The American Way of Love, Osamu's Birthday, No Love to Give, Tailor Man, Coming Down...and others.....I lost interest. It's all garbage...

1/5

This is a joke. Right?