SMAK

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3,5 stars actually!

The first SMAK album from 1975 was a typical beginners' effort of the 1970s rock in ex- Yugoslavia. Lots of different ideas packed together into an album, usually badly produced and with weak concept, if any, of the band's direction. Given the band had already gained reputation during frequent live performances as a bunch of excellent musicians, here they tried to prove it, especially R. Mihajlovic as a guitar virtuoso. However, many of these solo moments on the album are rather boring and too extended, showcasing nothing but pure technical skills. On the other hand, there are two interesting moments. The opener "Perle" is a strong jazz/funk colored with percussions, electric piano and their trademark falsetto vocal, while the 19 minutes instrumental suite "Put od balona" gives a clear direction towards progressive/fusion territory, which they would more elaborate on the subsequent albums. Apart from Mihajlovic's guitar, overall album is dominated by L.Ristovski's Hammond organ and electric piano. This album is worth checking out if you are a devoted prog fan, especially if you are keen to explore ex-Yugo prog scene, but better SMAK works can be found on later albums.

A good debut from a heavy rock band that occasionally stepped into fusion, folk and symphonic.

A production leaves lot to be desired. The bass is muffled, the synth barely audible. The album - and band's career - starts with "Perle". Great, quite simple, catchy guitar riff. The bass guitar follows. Great percussion. And then vocals....

Boy, I can't digest those vocals. When I was a newbie to SMAK, I taught that band leader, guitarist Točak is singing. Okay, it's his band, it's his will...but then I realised they actually have a man hired only to use his throat. A man who is not busy very often since many tracks are long, or even instrumental. And when there's a singing, B. Aranđelović sing it badly. I mean, badly. High pitched, but forced vocal, washed out, tiny, stretched like a bubble gum. That was the timbre, the timbre is not the worst part of the vocal. No. It's the pronunciation. Do not worry because of the language barrier - I can't understand the lyrics neither. And I really doubt anyone from the band can. The vast majority of the singers in the seventies had great pronunciation, regardless of genre, where you can here every vowel and every oscillation of the throat. Those vocals were sometimes pathetic, sometimes tacky, sometimes great, but always cipherable. The rather-chew-or-murmur-than-say vocals happened later globally. However, Aranđelović fits into the later category.

When you finally digest the vocals (and the easiest way is not to pay attention to them anyway) you can focus on music which might be sometimes good, sometimes bad, but it's always energetic and sincere. "Perle" is realy toe-tapping", "Mračni mol" and "Biska 2" are full of great melodies and guitar riffs, Točak's trademarks. Check them out. The longest track on side A is "Blues u parku" ("Blues In The Park"), and it's of course, blues, just a little bit less boring than LED ZEPPELIN's "Since I've Been Loving You". Oh wait a second...you actually love that tune? Then you'll love this one too...it was executed equally ballsy. The drums are - why hiding it - identical.

Side B, one track: "Put od Balona". Whatever.

This track is GREAT.

At the moments.

Pity, it's not great all the time. Actually I like it a lot - people are complaining that it's too pretentious, but this was friggin' progressive rock band, and a good one at that. What do we have here: great, ehm, classical melodies on acoustic guitar, great melodies on electric piano, great use of the word "great" in my review; around 3:00 there's something that is most likely two-hand tapping on a guitar. On the acoustic guitar. If that's not true, I don't know what it is. Okay, big deal. After the very symphonic (in a meaning of a rock genre) beginning, the song continues into a heavy/fusion hell, with lots of showmanship - okay. Now we were convinced that both drummer, organist and bassist are all great musicians. Točak proved it on a side A. But who needed it? However, I actually like this kaleidoscope of virtuoso pathetics, at least most of the time. Jazz sections are a killer. It's beefy all the time.

You will like it if you like that kind of pretentiousness (the 70's one). Plus, you have to love both heavy prog and jazz-rock - and then this record will be very appealing to you. Give it a try, it's a good one. That was a debut: ideas all over the place, directions only here and there. Don't be afraid by the vocals; there are not much of them anyway.

Three-and-half rock-solid stars.

This is SMAK's debut from 1975 and we get a lot of bluesy guitar and a side long suite. This is a mixed bag for me really with two outstanding tracks while the rest is average at best. Their next two albums were outstanding though.

"Perle" is all about the guitar early on. Nice. Vocals and drums after a minute. Not a big fan of this. Keys end it. "Mracni Mol" is nice and heavy as the vocals join in. This is pretty good. "Blues U Parku" is a fantastic track and a top two for me. The guitar is just so impressive early on. When it stops the vocals and a beat take over and this contrast will continue throughout. The guitar is killer. "Biska" is an instrumental and my other top two. Great sounding guitar to start then it changes style. Organ after 2 minutes.

"Put Od Balona (Biska 20)" is the 19 minute closer. To be honest this song doesn't do much for me. Not a lot going on until the organ and drums become more prominant before 5 1/2 minutes. Guitar before 7 1/2 minutes. It lightens again before 13 minutes then the organ comes in with power. Guitar takes the lead then the organ again 16 minutes in. More guitar a minute later. The last part of this suite is much better.

So a good album that pales when compared to their next two.