Love Psychedelico – This Is Love Psychedelico — music review — early!
Artist: Love Psychedelico
Genre: Blues, Folk, j-rock, Japan
Release Date: April 29th, 2008
I’ve been trying to figure out a way to handle this review in a non-fanboy sort of fashion, and I realized I can’t. I love Love Psychedelico. They’re one of my favorite bands. In fact, they’re one of the few bands that have prompted me to purchase multiple albums in these days of rotten popular music and lossy MP3s. And, keep in mind these are import CDs (Yes, I dig Love Psychedelico that much.) Needless to say, when I received a chance to review Love Psychedelico’s North American debut CD, This Is Love Psychedelico, I jumped at it.
Note: Be sure to read my review of Love Psychedelico’s Early Times.
Essentially a greatest hits collection of Love Psychedelico’s earlier releases, This is Love Psychedelico is accordingly strong from start to finish, and an awesome treat for American newcomers. The majority of the tracks on this CD I’ve already covered in my review of Early Times ( the Love Psychedelico Best-of album — not to be confused with Greatest Hits, their first CD), but there are a good number of tracks taken from Love Psychedelic Orchestra and Greatest Hits that weren’t on Early Times. These include the awesome ‘These Days’, a rolling folksy rock song (and one of my new favorites), and ‘Unchained’, a funky little ditty that I rarely skip through. Curiously absent, however, are some of my favorite songs from Love Psychedelico III, including ‘Grapefruits’ and ‘Mind Across the Universe’, and Love Psychedelic Orchestra’s standout track, ‘Life Goes On’. Still, the CD contains ‘A Day for You’ (not to be confused with the equally pleasant song from Babe), the infectious campfire call and response song, and personal top ten favorite.
All in all, This Is Love Psychedelico is a very good CD, and a perfect introduction for forthcoming American fans. In reviewing this cd, one thing that has struck me about Love Psychedelico is that their songs never really get old. Other artists I tend to listen to and grow tired of, but with Love Psychedelico, even today, after having heard the songs on this album countless times through, I still found myself compelled to listen to the individual tracks in their entirety. I can’t recommend them enough. Be sure to check them out when their album releases, April 29th, 2008. In the meantime, you can listen to a few of their songs at Love Psychedelico’s official site.
Special Note for SF Residents
Love Psychedelico will be giving a free performance at the Apple Store, located at One Stockton St., this Saturday, 5/17, from 4:00 – 5:00pm. See you there!
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