ALBUM REVIEW By SAM SCARPELLI
2014 JUNE 26
This album is a unique artistic statement not only for the band but also in comparison to other musical efforts of the time. During its release the music world had already had its psychedelic heyday with sweeping concept albums of the 1960s, including Spirit's iconic masterpiece "12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus." Fans of that album might be surprised to learn that the band reached back out to its engineer for "Future Games" which explains its similarity in terms of production, especially skits between songs, dialog and sound effects. The album succeeds in fusing a number of unlikely elements into a cohesive and memorable statement.
Followers of the band are quick to hear the influences Randy California's time in Hawaii had on the music and general vision of the band. "Future Games" interestingly enough has the alternate title "A Magical Kahauna Dream" which is a more direct fit for the overall concept, being an even mix of antique Hawaiian music, CB radio trucker talk, and audio clips from Star Trek among other textures and soundscapes. Somehow they were able to fit all these differently shaped puzzle pieces together to make an even better picture.
I'm a big fan of this album from start to finish. The level of creativity involved in its production is really impressive, and while the music is always shifting it always brings you back to familiar places. There are definitely some classic Spirit moments on this album that any fan of the band would appreciate, including soaring guitar solos, epic drum rolls and general tongue in cheek humor ("Do the freakout frog!"). It is a real treat for those already invested in the main concepts. An interesting tangent of the album occurs at the end of each side with two heart wrenching elegies to World War II, particularly the tragedy of the Jewish people. It is a poignant and darkly beautiful statement at the end of an often profoundly silly album, and really demonstrates the strength of Randy's songwriting...
Followers of the band are quick to hear the influences Randy California's time in Hawaii had on the music and general vision of the band. "Future Games" interestingly enough has the alternate title "A Magical Kahauna Dream" which is a more direct fit for the overall concept, being an even mix of antique Hawaiian music, CB radio trucker talk, and audio clips from Star Trek among other textures and soundscapes. Somehow they were able to fit all these differently shaped puzzle pieces together to make an even better picture.
I'm a big fan of this album from start to finish. The level of creativity involved in its production is really impressive, and while the music is always shifting it always brings you back to familiar places. There are definitely some classic Spirit moments on this album that any fan of the band would appreciate, including soaring guitar solos, epic drum rolls and general tongue in cheek humor ("Do the freakout frog!"). It is a real treat for those already invested in the main concepts. An interesting tangent of the album occurs at the end of each side with two heart wrenching elegies to World War II, particularly the tragedy of the Jewish people. It is a poignant and darkly beautiful statement at the end of an often profoundly silly album, and really demonstrates the strength of Randy's songwriting...
RANDY CALIFORNIA Guitar,Vocals, Bass ED CASSIDY Drums, Percussion, Vocals JOE KOTLEBA Synthesizer BLAIR MOONEY Recording Engineer DAVID BRIGGS Producer |
01. CB Talk
02. Stars Are Love
03. Kahauna Dream
04. Buried In My Brain
05. Bionic Unit
06. So Happy Now
07. All Along The Watchtower
08. Would You Believe
09. Jack Bond Speaks
10. Star Trek Dreaming 11. Interlude XM 12. China Doll 13. Hawaiian Times 14. Gorn Attack 15. Interlude 2001 16. Detroit City 17. Freakout Frog 18. The Romulan Experience 19. Monkey See Monkey Do 20. Mt. Olympus 21. The Journey of Nomad 22. Ending |