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CD reviews

Blows Against the Empire

Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship - Blows Against the Empire Audio CD

A fair review of the Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship "Blows Against the Empire" 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 Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship reviews here, or go back to the Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship tabs.

Band: Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship
Title: Blows Against the Empire
Rating:

Release Date: 1997-07-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Mau Mau (Amerikon) 2: Baby Tree 3: Let's Go Together 4: Child Is Coming 5: Sunrise 6: Hijack 7: Home 8: Have You Seen the Stars Tonite 9: XM 10: Starship

Sometimes You Gotta get Away!
I have to love or hate the product, middle ground is boring. I have found it difficult to review anything that I am wishy-washy about. Look, I don't care for the anti-music concept of bands such as: The Sex Pistols, but I do understand where they are comin' from. With Paul Kantner's, fantastic recording from 1970 entitled: "Blows Against The Empire". . . . I am as biased as they come. . . . I love this album!

Paul Kantner, had a batch of songs that told the story of a bunch of hippies that build a starship and blast off for a better world, {DANGER! DANGER! Will Robinson!} somewhere, out there. What takes the nutty story up by more than a few notches is that Paul, has about about every musican from San Francisco, helping him on this project. Jerry Garcia, Micky Hart, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jack Cassady and some lady named Grace Slick all add wonderful parts to this big universe that Paul has created.

From, the folk music of; "The Baby Tree" to the space-weirdness of: "Hijack" the music is different from anything else you have heard. Garcia, lays down some of his finest guitar parts, ever found on a studio recording. Crosby, helps out with spot-on harmonies and songwriting skills. Cassady, the Bay Area's greatest bassist, adds another voice in there with his four-stringed monster.

With The songs: "Let's Go Together", "A Child Is Coming", "Have You Seen The Stars Tonite" & "Starship". . . . Paul's finest songs, are all right here on this disc.

This CD version of "Blows" includes 5 bonus tracks of alterate versions, demos and live version of: "Starship" as performed by The Jefferson Airplane, at The Fillmore West, in San Francisco. There are lot's of Cd's out there by other artists that capture what the SF musical experience is all about {and there are hundreds of them!} But, this one is not that widely known. . . . it might be the best of the best. I know that it is one of my Top-5, from that crazy time, in a wonderful place, that you earthlings called: San Francisco.

You don't need: "Rocket-Fuel" to enjoy this amazing CD.
Five Stars !!!.

A Logical Bridge Project
I think it was U-Hart; it might have been UConn New Britain, regardless, it was an effort that members of several SF bands put together with two stages and a combination of recorded and live music that went on for hours and hours and was just amazing (or boring as Jai-Lai without gambling, depending on your chemical interests). I first heard outtakes of this project at a college in Connecticut.
Within a week or so I'd laid hands on a copy of the album, and wore out three before the CD came out (earlier than it should have). It is one of those albums that is. . . well, really, really good. Yes, I did miss Jorma Kaukonen's guitar work, but Jack Casady's bass was (due to some technical improvement in recording technology) his best ever. Garcia's guitar work was refreshing and inspired. The piano work is among the best I've ever heard on a rock album. I did not miss drums at all, on those tracks where it's absent, and I think that is the single thing that puts this album into a special category.
Until this album came out rock albums without drums were as scarce as four door Thunderbirds. Turning Point by John Mayhall is one; I cannot think of another.
Of course, there is the aspect of 'concept', and this is one of those projects. But then every Airplane album was a sort of a concept. Or an experiment. Then there is the aspect of technology, where the Airplane made a point of highlighting how many channels of audio were available to their sound engineer (Pat Irecia (sp?) when it was recorded. But the CD I have was recorded at the lower level (-55b) whereas newer recordings are made at -45db. At the time, bands were tripping over each other trying to make concept albums. Since this one has an actual plot, the first song can be forgiven for its over the top political rhetoric. From that point on, this album takes flight as few other albums ever have. From 'The Baby Tree' onward, this is a genuinely original work of pure inspriation. Grace Slick's vocals are clear and, for once, rooted in realism.
I have a unique perspective on this album. My sister was a nurse at SF General (maternity, OR) when Grace Slick showed up very, very pregnant. I got a blow by blow description of the birth. My sister had no idea who 'the guy with the scarf' was, but he did leave some cool brownies behind.
Listen, and listen closely. Sure, time has moved on and this album is no more than a snapshot, but it's good reminder of what went on before.
.

The Rarest of Rarities
It truly catches the moment. This is the total youth angst album of 1970.
With Paul Kanter and members of Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick, Jack Casady, Joey Covington), The Grateful Dead (Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (David Crosby, Graham Nash), David Freiberg of Quicksilver Messenger Service and Harvey Brooks of Electric Flag how can you lose. This is a must have for 60s ~ 70s music collectors. .

Jefferson Starship's OFFICIAL debut

With musicians like David Crosby, Jerry Garcia, Grace Slick and Mickey Hart chipping in, Jefferson Starship's 1970 debut album is a classic. While yes, this is under the title of Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship, it is still a Jefferson Starship album, in my books, although this could have easily been released as a Jefferson Airplane album. Who hasn't heard 'Have You Seen The Stars Tonight'? It's a classic, and a nice, calm, relaxing love song.

Also here are 'Starship,' which is a seven minute science fiction rock epic, and 'X-M,' another cool song that's a great one.

The musicianship here is incredible, as is the cover art. It's very psychedelic, and the letters are written in a very cool font. The cover of the album is definitely a highlight here.

Overall, if you want to hear the OFFICIAL Jefferson Starship debut, buy 'Blows Against The Empire. ' It's a classic, and if you like Jefferson Airplane, you will appreciate this album just as much as the die-hard Jefferson Starship fan will.

Highly recommended for any Jefferson Airplane or Jefferson Starship fan. It's a classic.

ENJOY!!!.

A classic from the start
It has not lost a bit of its appreciable power. I had this as a tape when it first came out, when I was all of 15. As all the others mention, this is one of the grand "rock and roll" collaborations of the Era. Among the many fine tracks is "A Child Is Coming", which features a mesmerizing chant / duet between David Crosby and Grace Slick, punctuated by some of the finest and melodious of Gracia and other's guitar blending into feedback ecstasy. "Mau Mau (Amerikon)" at the start is one of the strongest rock protest songs I know, and really should be played out of a Vogon Constructor Ship at ear shattering level over Washington DC today. And every hour on the hour.

The remaster presents this jewel in fine audio. Everything is clear and and the very central Bass work is great. The extra tracks aren't needed as an enticement, the original version of the lyrics in "Let's Go Together" are already restored. And yes, that is Grace playing a fine piano, evoking Nicky Hopkins.

If you are a fan of the Airplane, the Dead, or the less sugary side of CSN (think Wooden Ships), you won't regret this at all. "Take only Babies who smile, smile, even triplets and twins if they'll smile. . . . ".

You can see a complete list of all Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship discography, or go back to the Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.