Search - T. Rex :: Tanx

3RD PLACE IN BOLAN'S CANON!

VOICE OF VICTORIA | VICTORIA AUSTRALIA | 08/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bad news first the original album does not contain a great stand alone track. So no lost Get It Ons, Hot Loves or Baby Strange's can be found. Nearest for me is Shock Rock which starts out brilliantly is going well then hits the solo and er..ends. Bolan seems to have missed an opportunity to really nail a classic here. Top shelf Rex CAN be found in the extras 20th Century Boy and Solid Gold Easy Action both fit the requirements of a top single.

As far as a listening experience as a whole though, it is an enjoyable work. I really liked almost all the tracks and none jarred. This is not true of the next album Zinc Alloy which is pretty good and very different in its rhythms and backing vocals but has a couple of clangers to my ears.

Tanx is often touted as the start of a decline for Bolan. It was probably not the fault of the album that T.Rex's fortunes began to dip but the saturation of Bolan in the marketplace in the previous couple of years with his own releases competing against his back catalogue which was being released to cash in by his previous label.

Another factor was the 'tell-poppy with Bolan's own bullsh@# making him a target journalists wanted to cut down. I'm the Groover, I move like cat, I understand the wind, My whip is lashing etc..album covers with only your own picture on them even though you're in a band. Bolan sometimes compared his success to the Beatles. I know Ringo did but it's probably not wise to do it yourself. Also relative failure in the U.S. may have brought a sense of "well if they don't like him there what did we ever see in him?". Other bands to suffer the same fate included Slade and great Australian bands Daddy Cool and Skyhooks. Also glam rock was a fad with a use by date and when it declined it painted the talented people like Bolan and Slade with the same brush as less talented people (Alvin Stardust)as it bit the dust.

Back to the topic.. This is a really good album but you need to get the extra tracks. If you are new to Bolan get Slider and Electric Warrior (in any order) then TANX. Then take your next steps into Bolan and T.Rex carefully!"

Bolan Boogie Goodness

Lee Saunders | Mexico City | 04/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoyed Electric Warrior or The Slider, or both, get this album. I was a recent convert to the glory that is T. Rex. On first listen, i wrote this album off, like most people have/did, as strange, out-of-character, cheesy space pop, or something like that.



Upon a couple more listens, it has ascended to be one of my favorite albums of all time. Really an incredible album. "Born to Boogie" and "The Street and Babe Shadow" really give me that chill like only the screaming soloing Bolan can.



Get this album post haste. It's a must-have for rock music lovers and songwriters alike. Good luck penning one as simply beautiful as "Broken Hearted Blues"."