MESSIN' [AKA: GET YOUR ROCKS OFF]

One of a couple of albums from the Earth Band that I found really frustrating. There are some great prog moments on tracks like Messin', Buddah and Black and Blue, but the rest (apart from perhaps Cloudy Eyes) are completely forgettable.

Messin' is a satisfying epic with machine noises and baboon chatter sound effects, and a strong ecological message. While Back and Blue has a strong bluesy style beat, the lyrics conjuring up images of convict life on a chain gang in Australia. There is a great instrumental middle section in this song.

This album laid the seeds for their more successful albums (both artistically and commercially) that would come later. Its not the place to start if you want to get acquainted with the Earth Band's 70s recordings.