THE BEE GEES - 1st (Atco, 1967)

I thought I'd shake things up a bit by posting an album that has quickly become a Spring/Summer favorite of mine. 1st, the Bee Gees' 3rd studio album, is an incredibly strong example of the band's early psychedelic songwriting and stands out as an incredible pop album.

Let's get the obvious out of the way first. The album is an unabashed response to the Beatles' Revolver, which was released one year previous. 1st includes some rather clear comparisons (see the Bee Gees' "In My Own Time" versus the Beatles' "Taxman") as well as some more stylistic nods through instrumentation (see "Red Chair, Fade Away" and "Cucumber Castle"). Even the artwork on 1st was designed by Klaus Voormann, who was responsible for Revolver's iconic cover.

This is not to say, however, that 1st should be cast aside as some sort of inferior mimic. While all the previously mentioned songs share some resemblances to a certain famous foursome, are all fantastic songs on their own accord. At the time of its initial release, the album yielded three top 20 U.S. singles ("To Love Somebody", "New York Mining Disaster 1941" and the fantastic "Holiday"). Additionally, the album does not stagger in its style, which gives it a fresh feel throughout. From the near-criminal catchiness of "I Close My Eyes" to the quirky baroque/chamber rock of "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You" and all the others in between, 1st is an absolutely stunning record overall, perfect for the current season.

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GUIDED CRADLE - YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE (Yellow Dog, 2007)

I would think/hope that any band referring to themselves as "evil barbaric orc crust" would give one pause. More specifically, Guided Cradle play an absolutely unrelenting brand of crust/d-beat hardcore with a tasteful nod toward mid-80's thrash metal as well. "You Will Not Survive", their 2nd album, sees the band further delving into their Tolkienesque brand of mysticism while by no means limiting themselves within the confines of some sort of fantasy microgenre.

Tracks such as "Beast of Burden" and "Cities On Fire" are a great showcase of the band at their best. The track "Hold The Line" exemplifies their willingness to expand beyond their more noted (and perhaps safe?) influences. The track specifically incorporates guitar work more akin to NWOBHM/thrash than typical crust/d-beat. Such dynamism is tasteful and doesn't come across as forced in any way. With an overall much heavier sound than their self-titled debut album, "You Will Not Survive" adequately paints a fitting scene of bleak desolation, just like any self-respecting orc would want.

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