3:47 E.S.T. [AKA: KLAATU]

I find the story of Klaatu and 3:47 EST to be an interesting indulgence. I feel like more people know of the story of this band more than the actual band's music. For those who may not know, a reviewer by the name of Steve Smith picked this album up and wished to review it, but noticed similar, almost scarily alike elements with this album's music and late era Beatles music, comparing it to Sgt Peppers and Magical Mystery Tour. Thus, rumors spread like crazy, and so raised this album to some notable popularity. I call this event Klaatu Mania, similar to the hype The Beatles gained in the early 60s, and thus it made Klaatu quite the small but notable Canadian pop rock trio in the history of rock, though after Hope their album sales, image, and fame started to go down immensely after people realized this band wasn't John, Paul, Ringo, and George doing another little band together, which honestly is quite disappointing since the first two Klaatu albums are some really nice music to get into, though I do prefer 3:47 EST more.

While I won't say the sound of the album is one on one with The Beatles, I can definitely see the parallels through the mixture of sunshine pop, psych pop, and a relative more art rock nature the album composes that has similar veins to that of Beatles albums from Revolver through Let It Be. I think, if we take Beatles out of the equation, this truly is one of those albums that alone just bleeds happiness and sunshine though any speaker. Like many sunshine pop groups of The Beach Boys, Sagittarius, and later on in the 21st century with the prog rock band of Moon Safari, Klaatu's 3:47 EST is this overwhelmingly charming and happy experience that each song masters in their own unique and fun way, from the overjoyous Calling Occupants, to the fun grooves and tribulations of Doctor Marvello. I think this album not only does a wonderful job and showcases the band's sunny styles, but only proves that even without the Beatles comparisons they are quite the band to have around for some very nice and sunny pop music.

I think the only true issue I have with this album is that I feel like the first side is filled with amazing, grade A songs like Calling Occupants and Anus of Uranus, while the second side probably only has one really stand out track of Doctor Marvello, but even then you can tell that song is basically a B side at the end of the day. I feel like this album would benefit heavily if these songs on the second side of the record had the same amount of craft and devotion as the first side's songs. Not saying these are bad tracks, I just do not get the same drive as I do with the first side's songs.

An album with quite the story, and one I think should definitely be looked into. While I do not think it is a full blown masterpiece, I can tell you this is an album worth having in your collection just for the story of it alone. Even then, I still think it is a good album musically that adding it to your collection won't hurt one bit. We need a little more sunshine in our days, and I think this album is a serviceable product of that need.