Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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Argent

  • Argent [Epic, 1970] B
  • The Argent Anthology: A Collection of Greatest Hits [Epic, 1976] C+

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Argent [Epic, 1970]
"Dance in the Smoke" is to "Time of the Season" as "Time of the Season" was to "She's Not There," extending ex-Zombie keyboardist-vocalist-composer Rod Argent's pop breathiness another quantum away from cuteness and toward incantation. Add ex-Unit 4 + 2 guitarist-composer Russ Ballard's ceremonial "Liar," and the whole first side works as a catchy mystical ritual with the worries of the world going up in flame at the climax. On side two, however, they reappear. B

The Argent Anthology: A Collection of Greatest Hits [Epic, 1976]
Only on "Hold Your Head Up" did they ever get back to the gentle intensity that made their debut half a delight. With Rod Argent seeing Keith Emerson in the mirror and Russ Ballard contributing such FM fodder as "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," this is a more graphic document of what happened to the '60s than you want to hear. C+