Not so slick! (Manhole - Grace Slick)

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Manhole - Grace Slick
Date:	12/09/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plenty of variation, enjoyable if you like psychedelic stuff

Disadvantages: A bit too self-indulgent for my liking

I'm quite the fan of Grace Slick's voice on Jefferson Airplane and Starship tracks but was rather unfamiliar with her work as a solo artist, so didn't pass up the opportunity to listen to the album "Manhole" recently when offered the chance. Manhole is quite a different kettle of fish from either early Jefferson Airplane or Starship and is more similar to the albums predecessing it in 1971 and 72 - Bark and Long John Silver.

Consisting of 7 tracks, the majority quite progressive but relatively short with the exception of the title track which is the type of track that definitely draws different opinions - personally I find this track to be a good marker for the rest of the album, it seems overly arty and psychedelic and whilst it may have been groundbreaking at the time - it's a little bit too trippy for me. I've never been big in to the usage of a large orchestra and that's what happens here.

Slicks voice is a constant feature of the album and it seems to have less conviction than when it was used sparingly on Jefferson Airplane albums. In fact it actually comes as a bit of a relief when David Freiberg and Paul Kantner chirp in every now and again. Perhaps the one very enjoyable aspect of this album is that particularly on the first couple of listens, you never quite know what to expect, rocky guitar solos are interspersed with classical sections and slower hippy stuff.

The album didn't leave a big impression on me and won't be making it on to any of my regular playlists but if you do like psychedelic and somewhat self-indulgent tunes, then this could be for you.

1 Jay
2 Manhole
3 Come Again
4 Toucan
5 It's Only Music
6 Better Lying Down
7 Epic No 38

Summary: Not making it on to my playlists!