Amazing Grace

You were either on the , or you were not. Those who did like 's 1998 reissue of the Chicago band's sole album -- and perhaps even some of those who did not -- should find the even more satisfying , which collects the various recordings made by the post- communal band , to be a welcome treat. From the time the original band was litigated out of existence until its reshuffling and re-emergence with the music found on this archival release, the members of discovered an even more liberating range of stylistic eclecticism ( certainly started them on the road in that regard) and a more pronounced sense of self-deprecation (for all the moments of aw-shucks insouciance on , there were corresponding stretches of solemn jamming during which the band took itself quite seriously indeed). has some of the same attributes and characteristics as , but in other ways it is a whole new gumbo of coalescing musical impulses. The early piano that opens up for instance, abruptly gives way during the chorus to a variety of swinging, laid-back hippie only endemic to the weird and uncategorizable post- '70s. Much of the rest of the album is saturated by this brand of loose & groove ( ), with 's voice at times recalling or the blue-eyed wail of . But there are also traces of ( ), , and particularly , especially during the extended cosmic jams, as well as festive rhythms and nods to ) and even some licks ( ). And it is not a little bit -- say, psychedelic? -- hearing a bunch of longhairs covering a song. Good songs (mostly), often excellent playing, it's worth the rediscovery. ~ Stanton Swihart