Various Artists “The Best Of The Boston
Sound” (Varese Sarabande Records 2001)

For a brief moment there, it looked as if
Boston was set to overthrow San Francisco’s patchouli paradise and become the
psychedelic capital of the world. To be sure, the historic New England city
boasted a bustling music community, but a lot of the trumpet blowing was pure
hype, orchestrated by the press. Although the region failed to produce acts as
visible and successful as its West Coast counterpart, plenty of great bands emerged
from the scene, and “The Best Of The Boston Sound” provides a sampling of
several of the more noteworthy musings of the era.

A haunting choral pop finish, complemented
by the trippy tenor of a sitar, steers the show on “Off With The Old” by
Chamaelon Church, which featured future actor Chevy Chase, and the Ultimate
Spinach’s “(Ballad Of) The Hip Death Goddess” floats and flows with spooky
spacey instrumentation and seductively witchy vocals. Sparkling with beauty and
bliss, the Lost’s “Violet Gown” is steeped in a blue-eyed soul vein similar to
that of the Young Rascals, while Beacon Street Union’s “The Clown Died In
Marvin Gardens” ripples and crackles to an atmospheric edge charted of roving
tempos and mesmerizing maneuvers.

The Rockin’ Ramrods check in with “Bright
Lit Blue Skies,” a pleasingly poppy piece teeming with sharp harmonies and
clicking rhythms, the Listening’s “You’re Not There” favors a hard rock pitch,
marked by a tight jam, and “Can’t Find The Time” from Orpheus shimmers and
glimmers with soft and breezy furnishings. Eden’s Children’s “Goodbye Girl” is
dotted with jazz arrangements, Front Page Review’s “Silver Children” carries a
moody and meditative feel, Earth Opera’s “Home To You” twangs and clangs to a
catchy country fried beat, and then there’s Ill Wind’s dazzling version of
“High Flying Bird” that soars with emotion to the backdrop of an electrifying
acid-addled folk rock performance.

Aside from containing a clutch of cool
songs, “The Best Of The Boston Sound” further paints a nice picture of how rich
and diversified music was in the late sixties. Genre-hopping was the name of
the game and experimentation was applauded. Supplying a broad scope of styles,
ranging from radio-friendly pop to progressive rock, “The Best Of The Boston
Sound” offers something for everyone. A well put together package it is.

Review made by Beverly Paterson / 2013

© Copyright
http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com / 2013