CROWN OF CREATION

Jefferson Airplane are one of those timeless late 60's psychedelic acts, along with The Doors, Kinks, The Beatles etc. That paved the way for the true progressive music we all love. These bands played a huge part in the evolution in music, to something deeper than the average skiffle band.

The Airplane were the fronting influence and display of the 60's Haight-Ashbury hippie scene. Wouldn't we all love to go back and visit that place.. I'm sure you'd get stoned out of your mind walking around the block. They had the trademark psychedelic sound, the treble heavy screaming guitars, simple but excellent bass playing, and the suggestive and whimsical lyrics. "Crown of Creation" released in 1968 is probably their best album.

Stand outs in the band would have to be Jack Casady, his bass playing remains excellent throughout the album. Grace Slick is incredible here too, her sometimes aggressive vocal style and clever lyrics are a real strong point to the band. Five guitarists are present on this recording, but it doesn't really show it. The solos are pretty short and sweet but not all that spectacular. The vocals are split about half and half between Slick and the male vocals. I wish Slick would have been a little more prominent, since the male vocalist is pretty average.

On tracks like "Lather" or "Triad" there are those great suggestive lyrics that I mentioned earlier. Lather is about one of the members of the band who had just turned 30, and they joked that when you hit that age you are basically dead, which comes through pretty clearly in the lyrics. "Triad" is about the concept of a love triangle, and Slick suggests that they could go on as a threesome. "Star Track" and "The House At Pooneil Corners" are two of the more instrumentally based ones, the album is full of great riffs and melodies.

The mastering quality is about above average for 1968, and highly improved upon with the MFSL remaster. I also have the BMG Heritage consumer remaster, which is great for it's bonus tracks and extended booklet."Saga of Sydney Spacepig" is a highlight.

One of the must haves if you start getting into the classic psychedelic era of the late sixties. A landmark.