Search - Groundhogs :: Solid

Available Again!!!

JOHN SPOKUS | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND United States | 02/14/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As soon as I saw this had been re-released I made sure I snatched up a copy to replace the CD-R that someone had recorded for me off of a very scratchy LP. Solid is not as immediately accessible as some of their earlier albums and it took me a little longer to fully appreciate it. It wasn't until I heard a BBC concert recording where they played a lot of this material that I truly was able to get into it. Tony McPhee was getting into more studio overdubbing, effects and keyboards at this point,taking the band (in the studio) further away from their basic power trio sound. The outcome is just below their best material. "Light My Light" became a live staple for all eternity."Free From All Alarm" with it's transition from it's bluesey acoustic beginning to all out electric rock is my favorite track. The biggest overall criticism is that McPhee used way too may effects, especially on the vocals during that last few tracks on the disc, which is why hearing these tunes in a live setting free from studio trickery is preferrable. Still not bad."