Search - Leaf Hound :: Growers of Mushroom

Authentic 1971 Chug

El Kabong | 08/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't know if the stoner/retro-heavy bands trying to recapture early-70s riffs 'n' spliffs qualifies as the 'next big thing' these days or not, but if you like that sort of squawk, Leaf Hound - an authentic 1971 slab o' granite - is mandatory listening. Five ugly, hairy, red-eyed Picts, standing in a field of psilocybin, glare at you from the cover, looking for elves and sprites to beat unconscious. Not only did Leaf Hound come from (and return to) nowhere, they were barely here at all: this, their only album, was recorded in eleven grueling hours (shades of BLACK SABBATH, recorded in six!) The resulting cd combines early Sabbath waltzing-brontosaurus tempos with banshee-wail blues chug a la Zeppelin's first two longplayers. And truthfully, GROWERS OF MUSHROOM ain't bad at all. Frontman Pete French (later of Atomic Rooster & Randy Pie) nails the sweat-soaked grittiness of Plant without the peacock feathers; his rock-solid wailing vox really deliver, especially on 'Drowned My Life In Fear'. In fact, Leaf Hound might surprise you as a very credible working-class Zep, though the guitars of Mick Halls & Derek Brooks veer closer to Iommi than Page throughout. Wish I could rhapsodize about the legato work and soaring twin leads, but there aren't any. Leaf Hound just want to bludgeon you, lift your wallet and go drinking: there are worse ways to take a pummelling. 'Freelance Fiend', 'Sawdust Caesar', 'Stray' and the other original tracks (plus two bonus) are crisp, to the point, and devoid of the eccentricities a title like GROWERS OF MUSHROOM would indicate, but despite what seems like a lotta potential negatives, this was, for me, a highly satisfying trip into the Time Tunnel. Meat and potatoes hard rock like it used to be."

Leaf Hound - 'Growers Of Mushrooms' (See For Miles)

Mike Reed | USA | 07/25/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released in 1971. This was the band's only album they had ever put out. Basically just good old school early '70's British hard rock. Tracks I was most impressed with were "Freelance Friend", "Sad Road To The Sea" (great vocals), "With A Minute To Go" and their previously hard-to-come-by B-side single "It's Going To Get Better". Personnel: Pete French-vocals, Mick Halls & Derek Brooks-guitars, Stuart Brooks-bass and Keith George Young-drums. Just might appeal to some fans of Cactus, Atomic Rooster, Free and Savoy Brown. Check it out.

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A Lost Classic

Mike Reed | 02/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is killer! Seriously, this is one of the true lost classics of the 70s. If it does sound derivative at times, at least it's derivative of all the right bands. If you're a fan of Zeppelin, the Faces, or Free, you will find yourself mightily impressed by the strength of this album and be left to wonder why in the hell you haven't heard it before now. Viva Leafhound!"