RSSConsumer Guide by Review Date: 1972-08-01
1972-08-01
Ronee Blakley: Ronee Blakley (Elektra, 1972) I was attracted by the lyric sheet, a rare recommendation, only to find my two favorites ("Fred Hampton" and "Cock o' the Walk") destroyed by inappropriate music. The sound is clean as country water, gurgle gurgle, but not as tasty. I'm rooting, but meanwhile I'll stick with Joni Mitchell. C
Electric Light Orchestra: The Electric Light Orchestra (United Artists, 1972) This is really Roy Wood's ever-restless Move exploring its obsession with celli, French horns, and such, so if deliberately ugly chamber music in rock time is your thing, go to it. I pass. C+
Tom Fogerty: Tom Fogerty (Fantasy, 1972) This is not incompetent, but it is exceptionally unoriginal--even a pretension or two would be welcome. Good thing identity crises weren't so fashionable in the days of David and Ricky Nelson. D
Graham Nash/David Crosby: Graham Nash/David Crosby (Atlantic, 1972) Those captivated by their personae doubtless hear human beings singing these songs, but all I can make out is two stars trapped in their own mannerisms, filtering material through a style. Even Nash's "Black Notes" and "Strangers Room," good melodies that look fine on the lyric sheet, sound completely flat. C-