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America - Hat Trick Audio CD

A fair review of the America "Hat Trick" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all America reviews here, or go back to the America tabs.

America Band: America
Title: Hat Trick
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-04-26
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Muskrat Love 2: Wind Wave 3: She’s Gonna Let You Down 4: Rainbow Song 5: Submarine Ladies 6: It’s Life 7: Hat Trick 8: Molten Love 9: Green Monkey 10: Willow Tree Lullaby 11: Goodbye

Rediscovered Classic


For those of us young enough to ignore critics, we simply enjoyed the music. You know those records that you heard when you were too young to place who the band was, but you remember the songs fondly and once you hear them again there's a memory shockwave that hits you? For some of us, Hat Trick was one of those.

Now for specifics: the album comes off a bit more polished than America's previous two efforts, and as their third album it is evident they started to hit a stride. The original three are all here on this one, no breakup had occurred yet.

Some don't like their version of Muskrat Love -- I much prefer theirs over the 'hit' version that came later from C&T. If you've never owned this record, there are classic songs here that you haven't heard on the radio, songs that America still plays in concert because they're that good. This is a classic album from a time when albums, not singles, were the way a band made their art.


Best of three
Yet I find this album extremely enjoyable. I usually listen to an entirely different type of music than the kind these musicians make. This is especially odd because the title track is the oft ridiculed "Muskrat Love". But this song's supposed sentimentality doesn't bother me and blends in with the overall eclectic quality of the album.

Within a pop spectrum there is a little bit of everything on this album, including melancholy love songs, a bit of progressive rock, and the expected ballads. I bought this album for our anniversary and my wife and I both enjoyed it immensely. Definitely the best album of the band's first three.


In spite of "Muskat Love"....
Hat Trick provides a continuous flow from one song to the other on side one of the original album and immediately picks up again with "Hat Trick". In spite of "Muskrat Love" this is a great album. It is an inventive, melodic, mood-flowing creation that is a joy to listen to. For what it's worth, I even think "Muskrat Love" works in context of the album's entirety!.


An overlooked album
The album was produced by America and rivals their later work with George Martin. A solid album that may have been sterotyped by its first single, Muskrat Love. It was their third album (hence the name "Hat Trick") and was actually a bit of a let down after their first two albums (America and Homecoming) had been huge hits. This album was a moderate hit in the US in 1973 peaking at 28 on the album charts. This album was their most ambitous effort to date. They run the gammit on this one, from harder rock (Green Monkey), to soft pop (She's Going To Let You Down), to folk rock (Windwave) and everything in between (Hat Trick). They make more use of strings than on their any of their previous work. If you are an America fan this album is a must.
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You can see a complete list of all America discography, or go back to the America tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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