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Moby Grape
$16.99 CD
Wow
$16.99 CD
Grape Jam
$16.99 CD
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MOBY GRAPE
Moby Grape w/ Bonus Tracks
(Sundazed)
 "Hey Grandma"
MOBY GRAPE
Wow w/ Bonus Tracks
(Sundazed)
MOBY GRAPE
Grape Jam w/ Bonus Tracks
(Sundazed)
"Never"
Though they're now regarded as one of the finest examples of late 1960s San Franciscan psychedelic rock, Moby Grape's heyday was marred by equal parts record label over-hype and mismanagement, as well as a fair amount of controversy gained from the quintet's supposed enthusiasm for underage ladies. Some forty years after the release of their self-titled debut, however, it's hard to view the band as anything but exemplars, true paragons of breezy left coast rock that pulled pop gems out of beautiful folk, psych, and occasional country touches. Boasting the talents of five great songwriters, the group managed to uncork a couple of great albums before extended legal hassles and personal strife sucked the life out of them.
Moby Grape came together in 1966, uniting the talents of former Jefferson Airplane drummer Skip Spence (who returned to guitar for this group), Frantics' guitarist and drummer Jerry Miller and Don Stevenson, Cornells' guitarist Peter Lewis, and bassist Bob Mosley. Cohering tight and fast, the five cranked out the whole of Moby Grape (reissued here with a handful of bonus tracks) in a matter of weeks, in the process birthing one of the finest psychedelic rock artifacts of theirs or any other era. Leading off the taut boogie of "Hey Grandma," Moby Grape reeled off a short and sharp debut, pulling in the reigns on any more lysergic tendencies in favor of a set of tight rockers that covered deep hooks with the band's undeniable instrumental prowess. Pretty much every track here is a winner, be it the chiming folk melodies of "8:05," the furious stomp of "Omaha," or the driving, vocal harmony-laced "Fall on You" (all of which, bizarrely, were released simultaneously as singles). Undoubtedly the band's finest moment, Moby Grape easily captured the wild possibility and unkempt creativity of not one, but five solid songwriting talents.
A critical and commercial flop at the time of release, Moby Grape's 1968 double-LP set Wow/Grape Jam (reissued here as separate discs) added a few wrinkles to the band's brilliant formula, introducing more ornate studio touches and denser songs to their repertoire. While following up Moby Grape was no easy task, the first half of the band's sophomore effort makes a valiant effort, producing some quality tunes in its own right. Laced with slick horn charts, "Can't Be So Bad" matches stately interludes with a fierce boogie in a manner that basically anticipates Little Feat, while "Murder in My Heart for the Judge" takes a long, hard pull at rollicking blues figures. Better still are the group's forays back into folk rock, as they emerge with the gorgeously spacey "He" and the aching balladry of "Bitter Wind."
Aided in parts by Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, the back half of Moby Grape's double LP effort was the somewhat misunderstood Grape Jam. Forgoing the band's usual brevity in favor of some lengthy instrumental excursions, this piece of wax definitely confused its share of people. Weird, though, as these admittedly indulgent pieces still have some choice bits, be it in the somber blues of opener "Never" or the powerful guitar and minimal piano combo of "Boysenberry Jam." Closing out with the bizarre "The Lake," complete with bizarrely effected backing vocals and tripped out studio flourishes, Grape Jam reminded folks that Moby Grape's five members were all solid musicians in addition to excellent pop craftsmen. Though the group would slowly collapse over the next couple of years (with Spence, of course, going on to record the excellent Oar before checking out), Moby Grape's first couple of years still bequeathed on a listening public a batch of great records that hardly seem to have aged since they were first laid to tape. [MC] |
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