Animalisms

During their first two years of recording, had never quite succeeded when it came to recording LPs -- good as some of the songs on their first two albums, done for , had been, there was this sense that single were what this band was really about. Then, newly signed to English , they delivered , a truly transcendent collection of a dozen songs, mostly superb covers interspersed with some good originals, principally by and . was never singing better and the group had developed a bold, tight sound that seemed to lift his soul shouting to ever higher levels of passion and conviction. all rate among the best work the band ever did, passionate, gorgeous, and exciting down to the last note, with at the peak of his career; and though a relatively minor song here, was their best cover to date, highlighted by 's flashy piano (doing some arpeggios) and 's boldest guitar work yet, combining the lead and rhythm parts in a hard chopping, twanging virtuoso performance. Ironically, the album (which was issued in America two months later in somewhat altered form, as ) appeared just as the group was about to enter its final phase of existence -- they'd switched drummers from to during the period in which these tracks were recorded, and would soon decide to dissolve the lineup. ~ Bruce Eder