The Album Review Club - Week #195 (page 1310) - A New World Record - ELO

Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus



Couldn’t really get into this one, it sounded very much of its time.
Quite liked the odd song like Mr Skin, but on the whole it’s not something I’d listen to again or a band I’d want to explore further and it was a few tracks too long.



5/10
 
The 18 or 19 dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, quite a challenging album, this. The timing didn't help, but even so I struggled with the chops and changes in mood and sometimes style.

I think it is always hard nominating a (what I presume is a lesser known) album from an era that sounds so much of that era, because it ultimately ends up compared against other more known works of that time, and that was a bit of a trap I fell into. Is it a bit of the rolling stones, is it a bit of rick wakeman, is there funk thrown in etc, and before you know it, you are paying more attention to things you already know than listening to the album itself.

Once I imagined it more as a concept of multiple dreams of all sorts (whether or not that is its intention), I found it less confusing.

Beyond that, the songs all seem to start really well. Some tail off, some pivot before they tail off, and a few maintain it. Nature's way was the stand-out for me. Space child a weird intermission but on its own an interesting song. Street worm had a fun groove to it.

This is one of those, overall, it is not really for me. Not so much in style and era which can often be the case when I say that, but more as a whole album and experience itself. There is however some obvious strong performance and skill there. And one or two tunes I did quite enjoy. I'd say a 6 feels fair.
 
Twelve Dreams of Dr.Sardonicus – Spirit

I wondered what John Locke was doing before he pitched up in Lost; now we know – his was playing keyboards in Spirit.

The album kicks off with “Prelude – Nothin’ to Hide”, which has some pleasing layers, but the guitar chords scream “early 70s” (which it obviously was) and there’s something that I don’t like about that sound. It’s better at the end with the keyboard stabs and fuzz guitar buzzing over the top.

“Nature’s Way” – has a good ambience created by the acoustic intro and then the electric joins in, and the song builds into a satisfying late 60s/early 70s sound, whilst “Animal Zoo” is a nice upbeat track with some chunky bass. Along with “Mr. Skin”, with its propulsive keyboards, and the compressed piano sound on “Street Worm”, these are the best tracks on the album.

Its is a bit of a mixed bag: some really groovy tracks, odd short songs but then some tired sounding electric guitars popping up all over the place. However, the overall effect is a pleasing melange of sound, and once again, something a little out of the ordinary that made for a good listen. Worth a 7/10.
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
Thought: Maybe we should move to an every two week schedule for the summer?
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denislawsbackheel said:
It would relieve the pressure on me…!
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Mancitydoogle said:
I agree that’s a good idea, it seems we have a lot less participants during the holiday season.
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It's an interesting idea and funnily enough, the next two nominators are Denis and Doogle, so if they think it is a good idea then maybe we should trial it. The numbers have certainly fallen off a cliff for the last few weeks.

If we are doing this, I'll leave the current album review running until next week and then move to the two-week schedule starting on 19th July. We'll move back into once-a-week mode on 13th September (which is the week after I return from holiday and this is round about the end of summer).

19/07/2023 denislawsbackheel
02/08/2023 Mancitydoogle
16/08/2023 threespires
30/08/2023 GoatersLeftShin
13/09/2023 Gaudion M
20/09/2023 BimboBob

Of course, people can voice opposition if they feel they will be missing out!
 
RobMCFC said:
It's an interesting idea and funnily enough, the next two nominators are Denis and Doogle, so if they think it is a good idea then maybe we should trial it. The numbers have certainly fallen off a cliff for the last few weeks.

If we are doing this, I'll leave the current album review running until next week and then move to the two-week schedule starting on 19th July. We'll move back into once-a-week mode on 13th September (which is the week after I return from holiday and this is round about the end of summer).

19/07/2023 denislawsbackheel
02/08/2023 Mancitydoogle
16/08/2023 threespires
30/08/2023 GoatersLeftShin
13/09/2023 Gaudion M
20/09/2023 BimboBob

Of course, people can voice opposition if they feel they will be missing out!
Click to expand...

Yes please Roberto
 
Apologies for missing the last couple of weeks - I did play the on holiday card! Only had a couple of days to give this one a whirl. I’ve heard some Spirit stuff over the years and found it quite pleasant. Listening to a whole album wasn’t such a pleasing experience if I’m being honest. It was a bit of a slog as it is (to me) quite disjointed. Not a complete disaster and there’s some stuff that I quite enjoyed - not sure how much play time it will get moving forward though. 5/10 - if I’m not too late!!
 
Mancitydoogle said:
I agree that’s a good idea, it seems we have a lot less participants during the holiday season.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure. Maybe moving to two weeks would dilute it more. At least at one week there is a relatively quick turnover of albums. I’ll be honest that recently if I know i don’t like an album I just leave it rather than put in a poor score.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
I’m not sure. Maybe moving to two weeks would dilute it more. At least at one week there is a relatively quick turnover of albums. I’ll be honest that recently if I know i don’t like an album I just leave it rather than put in a poor score.
Click to expand...
That's not in the spirit - you have to vote and mull over both good and bad albums!

Coatigan said:
The extras are just different versions as far as I could see.

Who is on next.
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Nobody.

We are moving to a two-week turnaround in the summer. Things seem to be moving at a glacial pace these last few weeks, and quite a few people have said that we should adopt the two-week approach - well more people than objected anyway.
 
Really liked this album.Fresh Garbage the only Spirit song I had heard before this.
An album of it's time that is still sounding good to me.
The only track I did not like was Space Child with the rest all good.
Natures Way,Animal Zoo,Mr Skin,Street Worm,Morning Will Come and Rougher Road my favourites.
For some reason I got a Who vibe on some tracks.Anybody else with the vocals and backing singers or is it just me.8/10.
 
RobMCFC said:
Nobody.

We are moving to a two-week turnaround in the summer. Things seem to be moving at a glacial pace these last few weeks, and quite a few people have said that we should adopt the two-week approach - well more people than objected anyway.
Click to expand...

I object.

That's 2-1 to sticking with one week.

A bit short notice that.
 
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