Search - Paul Kantner, Grace Slick :: Sunfighter

Pick This One Up

Benjamin C. Leonard | South Bend, Indiana United States | 08/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fairly obscure album by Grace Slick and Paul Kantner that was done in the late Jefferson Airplane pre Starship period. The cover shows their daughter China being held up in the air. It is an album that is very refreshing. They bask in the glow of the birth of their daughter and it shows in the music. The songwriting is very strong although a little long winded lyrically. Vocally, Grace and Paul have never sounded better. Their harmonies at times soar and lift you up as you join in their celebration. I love this album. It doesn't rock as much as an Airplane album might, but it is certainly one of the strongest efforts Slick and Kantner ever put together."

A TREASURE FROM A POLITICALLY TURBULENT PERIOD

Scott T Mc Nally | ORLANDO, Fl USA | 07/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although some may find the lyrics seem tied to an era, this record really documents the social unrest of it's time. There's also a timeless quality to some of it.I can remember hearing this for the first time at the age of 15 and howling with laughter at "Silver Spoon". That was Grace's stab at some friends who were really bugging her to go vegetarian at the time. In her book, she states that one of them made a remark about not eating living things. She retorted with a question: "What do you think plants are?" as well as that bizarre little ditty that my firends and I would sing along with.Let's face it, even if some of this sounds tied to the times of 1971, look at the world around you. Pollution is still rampant and getting worse, thanks to big corporations moving into 3rd world countries, taking many of our jobs with them and poisoning the locals, because there are no pollution standards. A large portion of the world is still at war and people are starving, so are these issues really dated?Aside from all the commentary, the most compelling piece on this record is an ode to Grace and Paul's newborn daughter "China". Grace never sang with more soul and sheer conviction than on this piece. I still get goosebumps hearing it nearly 30 years on. It's good to see that she's survived all her substance problems and kept her sharp sense of humor intact after all she's been through. If you haven't read her book, by all means do!Musically speaking, it's one of the most adventurous things they ever did. The cast includes Papa John Creach, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jerry Garcia and The Edwin Hawkins singers lend a true gospel feel to the title song. I'll still be listening to this when i'm in my 70's. Highly recomended"

Sunfighter captures the revolutionary zeitgeist of 1971

R. Hutchinson | a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds | 06/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"SUNFIGHTER is a unique treasure, capturing the revolutionary zeitgeist of its time (1970/1971). "Diana" is a beautiful elegy for a member of the Weather Underground, written in the wake of the Kent State shootings:



"How do you feel as you cut down your children now, leaving them dying in the grass in the sun? How does it feel when you look at one another now? Tell me old man, tell me where will you run? Sing a song for the children going down, sing a song for Diana... Remember how we danced, remember how we sang, in Amerika, so many years ago...."



The Viet Cong are celebrated, among others, in "Holding Together" -- "I see the Empire is breaking down from the inside, and the underground ain't no place for hiding now -- it's a way to move..." Interwoven with political revolution is ecological radicalism, reflecting 1970's Earth Day, in songs including the title track and "Earth Mother." Whereas the acid influence in the previous year's BLOWS AGAINST THE EMPIRE seemed mainly to be an urge to transcend this reality, on SUNFIGHTER it is expressed as a joyous merging with the planet and with life. Musically, SUNFIGHTER is equal to BLOWS ("It's a cool wind that Blows Against the Empire"), and Kantner has as many or more fine songs here as on any Airplane album. Garcia is outstanding on several tracks, and Grace's piano is mesmerizing on "Holding Together." For those of us who were inspired by this music, it's great to have it on CD. And for younger listeners, it's a glimpse of another time and vision..."