BARK

Along with The Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane were one of the leading San Francisco bands trying to forge a unique sound and an individual personality out of their music - by the Airplane's 1971 album 'Bark', we can see the band going through the motions, drug problems and various personel changes playing a main part of this. 'BARK' happens to be a quite eclectic run of songs - being stoned doesn't neccesarily mean a sure-fire sure direction of where to go.........(though many have tried...............). Originally, the record was released with this circular 'JA' logo on a paper grocery bag (with some cool sketches of band members by Grace on the back), along with a lyrics fold out that also features an insane, nonsensical poem of 'The paper bag and what you can do with it'. The actual LP cover depicts a paper parcel with the head of a denture wearing fish poking out at the corner.............really strange ideas here. With that, this album offers many surprises and interesting turns within regular 'pop/rock' formats... We have some very unique Bass Guitar sounds from virtuoso Jack Casady (forget Squire, Jones, Sinclair...........this bass-monster is different) ,actually, Jack's bass may be all we have to differentiate this album from the 'norm', but it makes for some very unusual tracks here. Listen out for the trippy Chamberlin (an instrument later developed into the Mellotron that we all know and love) workout that's 'Never Argue With A German If You're Tired or European Song' - fantastic stuff, or perhaps the bass feedback drenched / piano piece 'Crazy Miranda', sung by a gorgeous Grace Slick..... The track 'Thunk' is pretty much acapella - all voice and no instruments (apart from some piano chords at the intro)....'Wild Turkey' is a jammy tune more in-keeping with off-shoot 'Hot Tuna' than the older Airplane material, but very good, with Papa John Creach's 'funky fiddle'. Actually, this album is a weird enough mix of different approaches that it's worthy of a weak 4 stars from a 'Prog' perspective. Maybe a bit passe, but quite interesting nevertheless.