Search - True West :: Hollywood Holiday Revisited

Television Meets Psych Rock Meets Spaghetti Western

Brian J. Greene | Durham, NC | 06/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Each of the Paisley Underground bands seemed to have their own little slant on the sounds of the movement, which was about bringing guitar-driven, psychedelic music back to the fore in the synth-heavy 80s. True West's bent was a little hard to figure. There were the duelling guitar wizards, Tolman and McGrath, who sounded more like Verlaine and Lloyd than any 1960s guitarists. There was the feeling of the old West, not just in the band's name but in their sound and feel - something that put you in mind of tan chinos, shoe boots with spurs, shots of rye at the local saloon, and lots of dirt. Then there was the psychedelic thing - the cover of Pink Floyd's "Lucifer Sam," the sometimes trippy lyrics, the spiralling guitar lines . . . In the liner notes to this compilation of True West's best material, it is suggested that they hit their peak on the full-length album, Drifters. But that album, despite its excellent opening track, "Look Around," pales in comparison to the EP, Hollywood Holiday. The eight songs on the EP represented all of the best elements of True West - the songs seem fresh, they keep you guessing what might come next, each one has its own little angle on the whole picture the band was presenting then. The album, meanwhile, gets tired after the third or fourth track, and feels like a labor from there. And the three tracks produced by Tom Verlaine thrown on at the end are notweworthy for historical reference, but otherwise pretty unremarkable. If you were into the Paisley Underground thing when it was happening, or if you just like guitar-heavy psychedelic rock, you will absolutely want to pick up this CD. Just be prepared to hear a combination of inspired gems and sludge."

Great 80's psychedelic

D. Wilson | 06/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own both the original EP and LP on vinyl, the EP is more feedback laden, the LP was, I don't know, more laid back, but w/good dual guitar songs. Both EP and LP appear to be on this CD, so enjoy!"