Genre: pop
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: rock
Company: Project 3
Catalog: PB
4002
Year: 1969
Country/State: New Jersey
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 5932
Price: $40.00
As you can tell by my other reviews, I've always been a big sunshine pop fan, including The Critters' earlier catalog.
By the time 1969's cleverly-titled "Critters" was released, the band had undergone yet another line-up shift. This time around original members Kenny Gorka and Jim Ryan were backed by new keyboardist Paul Glanz and new drummer Jeff Pelosi. Probably not a big surprise, musically the album marked a departure from the band's earlier sunshine-pop outings. Ryan was again responsible for writing the majority of material (Thor Jensen co-writing much of the album). There was also one group composition - the jazzy instrumental 'Harold'. Interestingly, this time out Ryan and company seemed determined to shake their commercial image. Mind you, material like '' and '' was still quite radio-friendly, but wasn't nearly as blatantly pop-oriented as their earlier releases. You weren't going to mistake them for King Crimson, but they weren't exactly a disposable bubblegum outfit. Naturally that left the band in a tenuous marketing position. Long time pop fans had wither moved on, or were simply turned off by the changes, whereas the band's existing image meant progressive and rock fans weren't going to give them a break.
- The album opened up with one of the set's weaker tunes - 'She Said She Loved Him'. A weird, strained tune that bounced between lysergic-tinged ballad, carnival busker soundtrack, pompous progressive moves, and vaudeville, this one was literally non-stop irritating. Simply a horrible way to start the album. rating: ** stars
- Kicked along by a fantastic Gorka bass pattern and some great Ryan jangle guitar, 'Colleen' sounded like something ripped from a 1966 album. Hard to adequately describe, but the song had that distinctive mid-1960s aura that I find mesmerizing. Way cool. rating: ** stars
- Any song that opens up with fuzz guitar is likely to get a nod from me and that's the case with 'The Teddy Bear Affair'. Yeah, the song structure was a bit busy, but the chorus was hyper commercial and Ryan's fuzz guitar lead was amazing. rating: **** stars
- In spite of the clunky title, 'I Want To Just Sit Right Here and Look At You' was the first side's most conventional and commercial track. That made it kind of dull, though that didn't stop the label from tapping it as a single. rating: ** stars
- You have to remember this album was released in 1969 when virtually everyone was trying to make some sort of social or political statement. As such, witness 'Wooden Soldiers', why should these guys have been any different? And like most of the competition this one hasn't aged all that way. I will say that the martial mid-section segment was actually kind of funny. rating: ** stars
- Side two found the band trying to underscore their 'heavy' credentials. I've certainly heard worse, but the keyboard propelled number came off as strained and forced, though the jam section picked up a bit of speed. Not a lot of fun on this one. rating: *** stars
- One of those hyper-sensitive ballads, 'Maiden of the Sea' was apparently intended as a 'big' statement. It wasn't. The musical track was kind of interesting, but nothing to make a real impact on your life. rating: ** stars
- 'King Street Flying Circus' found the band stepping back to mid-1960s styled pop-psych. It already sounded dated, but it was a fun kind of throwback. Nice extended, freak-out fuzz solo from Ryan. rating: *** stars
- Neither Ryan's vocal, nor the lyric did all that much for me, but kicked along by strumming ukuleles, 'Whistling & Rhyme' was one of the most psychedelic pieces on the album. rating: *** stars
- Unlike anything else on the album, the group-penned instrumental 'Harold' featured a likeable stab at adult contemporary jazz. Yeah, I know the genre didn't really exist in 1969, but so what. Relaxing and totally MOR ... rating: *** stars
Project 3 tapped the album for a single in the form of:
- 1969's 'I Just Want To Sit Right Here And Look At You' b/w 'She Said She Loved Him' (Project 3 catalog number 1363)
A mildly entertaining late inning release. I'd suggest you check out their earlier work before investing in this one.
For what it was worth, the back panel track listing was wrong. The proper song order is shown below.
"Critters" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) She Said She Loved Him (Jim Ryan) - 3:45
2.) Colleen (Jim Ryan) - 2:31
3.) The Teddy Bear Affair (Jim Ryan - Thor Jensen) - 2:56
4.) I Want To Just Sit Right Here and Look At You (Jim Ryan) - 2:36
5.) Wooden Soldiers (Jim Ryan - Thor Jensen) - 6:21
(side
2)
1.) Avon Iris (Jim Ryan - Thor Jensen) - 3:06
2.) Maiden of the Sea (Jim Ryan - Thor Jensen) - 3:45
3.) King Street Flying Circus (Jim Ryan) - 4:46
4.) Whistling & Rhyme (Jim Ryan - Thor Jensen) - 3:32
5.) Harold (instrumental) (Paul Glanz - Kenny Gorka - Jeff Pelosi - Jim Ryan)
- 2:31
And that spelled the end of The Critters.
- Ciccone became a member of The Four Seasons and enjoyed success as a songwriter.
- Darway went into academics with a position on the staff of Princeton University.
- Gorka went into management, eventually becoming the manager of New York's The Bitter End.