"Unknown to exist until recently, these recordings from the late 60's, early 70's Cambodian rock scene from mad garage-band rave-ups to mystic go-go organ/fuzz guitar with exotic female singers. Extremely sensual and emotionally charged - you'll hear echoes of Jimi, Janis, Seeds, Them and San Francisco acid.
If you love 60's music, this is a must for your collection! Can you imagine a song like "Gloria" sung in Cambodian? Then try track 13. And if there was ever an international hit, it's track 2. There is no track listing on this CD. All the tracks are listed as A1, A2, A3 and so on. But thanks to Dengue Fever, I did find out that track 2 is called "I Am Sixteen." And track 9 is called "New Year's Eve."Buy this CD and you'll have 22 songs (70 mins) of pure enjoyment. I recommend Cambodian Rocks to anyone. Period!"
Incredible Rock and Roll
Jennie Edelen | Lexington, KY United States | 07/20/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I would kill for a track listing. I found this at the campus library and loved every second, but there's no track listings. I would love to be able to track down MORE music from these bands. They are absolutely incredible. They are highly recommended, incredibly nostalgic, but very new and fresh as well."
Fun hybrid cultural mutation
George T. Parsons | Nevada City, CA | 10/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"22 uncredited but mostly classic fusions of cultures. Cambodian bar bands mirroring and reinventing western pop and rock forms of the (60s/70s) day. More fun than any recordings should have a right to be and absolutely essential to all lovers of music from this time period, or rock & roll in general."
Khmers Saw America in a Broken Fun-House Mirror
BP | New York | 04/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is gr-reat! And it IS the original one. Many will complain of the lack of information- no names of artists or song-titles. For Khmers this may be important (if they don't already know them) or unimportant (if they do). For the average listener, the identity-mystery becomes part of what's cool about this record. There's no history lesson on this disk; it isn't a documentary production. Cambodia was at peace until its lives were upturned by American bombing. What this CD does for us is to show us that the American war next door was already making its presence felt in the lives, radios, ears, and minds of Cambodian youth. And not knowing a war yet, the kids loved American rock and roll. This record could not show the U.S. and its music in a more loving gaze. And vain American that I am, I'm fascinated by that love. The irony won't be lost in listening that the country was about to be destroyed, first by American soldiers under Washington's orders, then by the scared, maddened people of the country itself.
It's a shame that Parallel World's contribution (this CD) has been obscured by the adoption of the same CD title (Cambodian Rocks) by "Khmer Rocks, Inc.", who have also put out CDs of Cambodian pop under that title. They shouldn't have taken the title from this compilation. I highly recommend this to the curious."