Search - Chocolate Watchband :: One Step Beyond

Last act of a desparate band? You Decide

D. R Hayes | Clermont, FL. United States | 07/13/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album was a throw together as the band's lead singer David Aguliar left after "The Inner Mystique". The band's producer Ed Cobb had enough too, and so with guitarist Mark Loomis taking on the lead vocals this is what it produced. It's showing that the group is leaving the roots of the blues, and psychedelia behind, and going into more hard rock ala Steppenwolf. Songs like "Fireface", and "Devil's Motorcycle" are evident that the group is going for a harder sound, and other songs like "Flowers" show that psychedelia hasn't been ruled out, but it's also branching into a folk, and country rock sound, and then "I Don't Need No Doctor" shows that they want thier psychedelic sound more tougher. "Sitting There Standing" I thought was done like in thier early days, but here it is on album #3, and "Loose Lips Synch Ships" sounds like circa 1966, so what's the story here? Well this was about as unorganized as "The White Album" according to the critics. I feel that it was a pretty well effort put together, but unfortunatly this was the last we would hear from the group until 2000. I may actually buy this as it's still a creative force forged in a time where there was chaos."

Freaks are for kids, not for silly rabitts.

Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 11/24/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This was the last album by the Chocolate Watchband. It doesn't really sound anything like their previous records. Lead singer (and Mick Jagger soundalike) Dave Aguilar had left the band, and the group abandoned their garage rock sound for a "heavier" sound. Their short (7 songs) final album was decent, but not nearly as good as their previous stuff. The fact that only one song off of this album was included on their "greatest hits" CD says a lot. The best songs are probably "Uncle Morris" and "Devil's Motorcycle". The CD adds four bonus tracks, from the group's "classic" period. There are two great songs from the movie Riot on Sunset Strip. And there are both side of the rare single the group released under the name "The Hogs". "Blue's Theme" is a cover of the instrumental hit by Davie Allan and the Arrows, and "Loose Lip Sync Ship" is a bizarre Zappa-esque throwaway (which some people mistakenly assumed was actually produced by Frank Zappa). This is the weakest of the three Watchband albums, but the bonus tracks here definitely improve it."

Chocolate Watchband - 'One Step Beyond' (Sundazed)

Mike Reed | USA | 07/31/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released in 1969 as the band's third and final effort.Missing is vocalist David Aguiler,not exactly sure as to who's the singer on 'One Step...',but it's a decent album.Not as good as 'Inner Mystique'(see my review)but okay.Some of the better tracks here are "Uncle Morris",your standard garage rocker "How Ya Been",the Humble Pie penned "I Don't Need No Doctor","And She's Lonely" and "Don't Need Your Lovin'".Remember,they ALL can't be classics."