Bloodrock - Usa
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Free Music Notes for Usa
Free Music Review: Another Amazing Adventure...
Hit: 5 Stars
I remember the first time I listened to USA as a teenager, scratching my head over the subtle yet undeniable departure from the fierce bludgeoning of their first three albums. I liked it just the same, but didn't really appreciate its beauty until many years later. From that perspective, USA stands as the successful culmination of Bloodrock's first incarnation and as a harbinger of their transition from proto-metal to progressive/jazz rock. Given their perceived status as a poor man's Grand Funk (an unfair and perplexing notion considering the complexity of some of their songs was something GFR could only dream of), Bloodrock responded with an album that demonstrated what a little pressure and a lot of determination and skill could produce. The song writing continued to improve, and, with some additional material from the Ham brothers and John Nitzinger, laid the foundation for a collaborative effort that gleamed with energy and depth.
Two favorites of mine, Hangman's Dance and Magic Man, illustrate the sometimes confusing dichotomy of their work. The former is a heavy handed tune that embodies what most people remember them for. The latter is an understated masterpiece that takes the listener on an exquisite mystical journey. It also serves as a vehicle for some of Steve Hill's most hauntingly beautiful keyboard work and an incredible guitar solo by Lee Pickens that still gives me shivers when I hear it. As the final album with Jim Rutledge and Lee Pickens, USA brings the first chapter of Bloodrock's story to a close in fine style, and gives an overdue middle finger to critics who never really got what they were about or gave them proper credit for what they did.
Free Music Review: Long awaited treat for fans of a band far ahead of it's time
Hit: 5 Stars
Bloodrock was undone early on by winning the battle and then losing the war: it's gross out megahit "D.O.A" sold billions in 1971, but labeled the band as ghouls...which they were not...an aggressive vocal and guitar punch was backed up by what was, essentially a jazz rhythm section that introduced 5/8 time and 7th and 9th chords into rock material...Although their songs had a decidedly dark mood and even bordered on grotesque...this was a thinking man's band...not for cartoon satanists going ga ga over Black Sabbath... "Live" was the last offering from the six man original lineup. Kicking off with the hard rock confidence of "Castle Of Thoughts" it also foreshadowed Pink Floyd with "Breach Of Lease" and well..generally rock out in a more sophisticated way than an Alice Cooper crazed generation was ready for. The band, having evolved into a mellower jazz pop incarnation, folded up the tent for good in 1973 after 7 albums on Capitol.Bloodrock were musical eggheads who confronted their audience with some scary new ideas and were determined to make them think after the dancing was over...and commercially it didn't fly...but I couldn't wait to see "Live" on C.D...this is the best unknown, mismarketed band of the 1970's
One of my favorite l.p.'s of all time !
Free Music Review: Their Best Album - by my favorite band
Hit: 5 Stars
From the first note of the first track - It's a Sad World - to the final organ notes of Magic Man - utterly captivating. I've worn out the vinyl. Side one continues on with Don't Eat The Children - way before its time, or perhaps during its time - 1972. Promises: music is softer, but lyrics go hard. Crazy is, to me, just another dance tune, but then it fades into the lead, drums, and organ of Hangman's Dance - the one Bloodrock tune I cannot play on my guitar, and I've tried (and tried). It sounds so simple. "I don't have so much to say. You don't listen anyway."
Side two is even better:starting with - boom - American Burn - hard lyrics, hard rock, amazing. Jaw still drops when I hear it. Rock & Roll Candy Man is a fast little fun song that'll have the ladies dancing. Then - shift - Abracadaver - "I'm in heaven, and you're in hell" - to "it's not the thing you want if it's filled with pain" - some of the other lyrics are uneven, but the music absolutely kick-ass.
Finale: Magic Man - nobody I know was talking magic - spells and such - as other than kids' fare back in 1972. This one, I place up there with "Lucky Man", by Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and the album up with King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King". Just writing this review, I can hear the whole album, note-for-note.
Free Music Review: An All-Time 'Cult Fav' Finally on Disc!!
Hit: 5 Stars
For anyone that missed this band in the 70's,and most DEFINATELY for those looking for 70's rock that they may have been too young to appreciate way back then ( such as Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Grand Funk R.R.,and other giants of that time). This is my personal fav of the four 'original line-up' albums. Bloodrock was heavy,yet intricate musically-with great guitar/keyboard solo interplay in every song structure,making for some really cool (and ,obviously-VERY memorable) rock n' roll! And if all you remember about them is the lyrically morbid 'D.O.A.' then you truely missed out on a fantastic band! Although Bloodrock never achieved the commercial heights of other hard rockers of their day,they were absolutely on par & even way better than alot of the stuff that came out at the time! Unfortunately, I missed out on their tour opening for Grand Funk ( of which I was A HUGE fan). All my comrads that went to the show say that Bloodrock blew G.F. AWAY-and for those who recall the Funk's awesome live shows, this was no mean feat!! Get this & their 3 earlier releases ( 1,2, & 3,respectively) if you dig 70's hard rock-you won't be disappointed,trust me. Historically,a GREAT band finally issued on disc! ENJOY!!Free Music Review: Un-freakin' believable rock from the 70's. Nothing compares to it !
Hit: 5 Stars
Bloodrock's first four records received regular, almost daily, play in my bedroom in the early 70's. My girlfriend came to hate them, because she liked "happy" music. When I worked in FM radio, I wedged them in every time I thought the PD was asleep. Forget the gory hit single "D.O.A", these mofos could rock ! These guys are really jazz musicians; you can hear the incredible swing in their rhythms and drummer Rick Cobb knew how to throw offbeat fills in that made their songs really fun and gave them incredible groove. Indeed, their songs were darker than anything Sabbath or Blue Oyster Cult were dishing out, because you had the sense that they knew what they were talking about. But their clever writing style, relentless sonic punch; crisp, well timed guitar solos and genuinely spooky lyrics made this band one of a kind. How I wish musicians were half as ambitious, now.