Search - Haunted :: Haunted

This is a fine collection of The Haunted's music.

S. MacGregor | Zion, Illinois, USA | 10/18/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Haunted was a good mid-1960s Montreal rock band with a straight-forward guitar-rock sound. Their music was mostly original, but there were some fun covers, too. They covered everyone from The Tams ("Untie Me") to The Rolling Stones ("Out of Time"), The Music Machine (performing "Talk Talk" in French and retitling it "Porquoi" - French for "Why"), and Love "A Message to Pretty," to name four of them. A few of their best original tunes are the classic "1-2-5," "Eight O'Clock This Morning," and "Run Down Every Street." There's not really a bad song on the CD, though you may long for feedback during "Vapeur Mauve" - their French version of "Purple Haze." I wish there were more Haunted recordings. These guys could've been big if they'd had international distribution of their records at the time, but as it was they were limited to the Canadian market, and the U.S. missed out. Now we can get this CD, though, and finally hear them."

A full album

Mark R. | Danvers, MA United States | 03/22/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When unearthing these obscure bands, lost for 30 plus years (except to a fanatical cult), you have to wonder if a full album is necessary for some of these groups. Take a groups like the Sonics, Remains, We The People; these groups were strong track after track. No filler. No additives. No lame ass covers..I can't say the same for the Haunted. No problem - "1-2-5" is a classic, a must have. But it's appeared on other compilations. A French version of "Purple Haze".....nope, don't need it. I am not a big Jimi fan and never like half hour guitar solos. I get bored easily. But "Purple Haze" was a bit beyond the reach of these boys. It simply comes off as "that" band of classmates who played on Saturday nights in the cafeteria your high school. They simply didn't have the material to put together a powerful album. And look, I don't have problems with an LP loaded with covers. Take the Litter's first LP, pretty much a tour de force from beginning to end. The later material definitely moves in the psychedelic strain, and that's where I get off. For the fan of Canadian 60's bands, it's a must have. For someone who has only heard "1-2-5", it's your call, you may be a bit disappointed."

Stellar 1966 Montreal garage rock

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 07/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As champions of the English-language side of the Montreal garage rock scene, The Haunted managed to get a few international releases even though they never toured outside of their home country or saw any international chart action. This 1995 compilation's 22 tracks collect the band's sole album and all of their singles, included are both versions (the original 45 and subsequent LP take) of their garage rock classic, "1-2-5." I actually prefer the better recorded LP version, though the original has a raw energy that can't be denied.



The influence of the Rolling Stones is evident throughout, but particularly on covers of Joe South's "Untie Me" and the Stones' original "Out of Time." The Yardbirds impact can be heard on the original "Horror Show," and other blues-based fuzz-guitar-organ-and-harmonica rockers, including a good cover of The Little Boy Blues' "I Can Only Give You Everything." The band makes good on Bo Diddley's "Mona" (sounding more like The Strangeloves than Diddley), but by the time of the group's last single ("Land of Make Believe" b/w "An Act of Leisure") the garage sound had been converted into Cream/Hendrix-styled ballroom acid rock. Their French-language covers of "Talk Talk" and "Purple Haze" are a good laugh.



Sound quality is generally excellent, with a minimum of vinyl crackle and pops; the only real disappointment is a digital dropout at the 1-minute mark of "I Can Only Give You Everything." The liner notes from Ralph Alfonso sketch the band's history, and interview quotes from the band's original lead singer, Bob Burgess, give an inside view. Discographical information (labels, matrix numbers, dates) is mostly absent."