Search - Various Artists :: Green Crystal Ties 2: B.O. Garage Band Scene

Green Crystal Ties 2: B.O. Garage Band Scene
Various Artists
Green Crystal Ties 2: B.O. Garage Band Scene
Genres: Alternative Rock, Special Interest, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (18) - Disc #1


     
?

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Various Artists
Title: Green Crystal Ties 2: B.O. Garage Band Scene
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Collectables
Original Release Date: 3/17/1998
Re-Release Date: 4/7/1998
Genres: Alternative Rock, Special Interest, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: By Decade, 1960s, Psychedelic Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 090431072226
 

CD Reviews

Quite inconsistent
Hans Pfaall | Connecticut, USA | 01/19/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)

"Volume 2 of the Green Crystal Ties series is a wildly erratic collection with a few duds, and some nearly first rate efforts. The best material includes all six tracks from three groups - The Bluethings, The Basement Wall, and The Penthouse 5. Along with Barry and the Remains, The Bluethings are considered one of the finest unknown mid 60's bands. Their two tracks ('You Can't Say We Never Tried' and 'Pennies') are high quality mid 60's folk rock that showcase the talents of Val Stecklein, who wrote and sang the majority of the Bluethings original material. The Basement Wall reveal themselves as an enjoyable harder-rocking garage outfit. They were tight on 'Never Existed,' driving rock with tasteful vocal harmonies, and 'You,' a stomping, Farfisa led garage work out. The Penthouse 5's cuts couldn't have been more different, but they were both effective. 'You're Gonna Make Me' shares similarities with the Animals in use of the organ, and (especially) the Eric Burdon influenced vocals, ending on a bad trip sort of rave up. In contrast, 'You're Always Around' is a decent Mamas and Papas like folk rock offering. All three of the groups, though obscure, have their own cd releases, so this is not the only place the collector can find them. The Esquires and Sounds Unlimited are decent, ('Judgement Day' by the Esquires could be considered another highlight), but elsewhere there are some pretty lame tracks, including average to below average renditions of well-known songs. This is usually the most frustrating aspect of garage compilations. Curiously, the notes refer to the Barracudas version of 'Feel A Whole Lot Better' as ''a heavy progressive rendition.'' This is an inaccurate categorization in every respect, as the track is nothing more than a thin cover of the Byrds' classic. Frankly, it sounds like an adequate young cover band that doesn't have all the chords right. Although The Missing Links version of the Zombies 'You Make Me Feel Good' is terribly half-baked, its worth a good laugh, featuring sloppy playing, drunken and botched lead vocals, and some off-key harmonies. Depending on your threshold for this stuff, Volume 2 may or may not be worth it, since the best three groups have their own compilations available. Personally, I bought it as part of the whole ten volume set. If you are a major 60's collector though, the lesser though decent offerings (like, for example 'About You' by Sounds Unlimited) are worth it, because they usually have at least a couple of good ideas. But even those cuts are on other compilations."