THESE THINGS TOO

For some reasons, it appears that the PBS lost out Lane Lederer, leaving main songwriter and singer Tom Rapp as the sole original member with Harley on the way out, but still present here, while appearing, is Tom's wife on background vocals. The album probably refers to the jazz standard Things We Like, but the album is a step backwards to Balaklava and being sandwiched on the other side by the fantastic Use Of Ashes is not helping either The group also had changed label, leaving the experimental jazz ESP label for the major international Reprise (Hendrix, Neil Young etc.) and it would remain so until the end of PBS.

While I said the album is a step backwards to both Balaklava and UOA, it is more pure short folk rock song based in the Dylan/Byrds type (as with their first ONU), but appears a few country flavour (which never sits well with me) like the awful If You Don't Want To, but it's never overpowering. Like there is a few Pearls into every Swine album, TTT has its share of superb tracks like the impressive Sail Away (great instrumentation including brass and a harp) the plaintive Look Into Her Eyes, the intriguing Man Il The Tree, but the rare electric (and beautiful When I Was A Child (Tom gets help from his wife Elizabeth in the vocal department) with its superb arrangements and the closing title track, which almost announces the following Use Of Ashes.

Strange little ditties like the opening Footnote or Green And Blue as well as the sung-in-French Mon amour are bringing a touch pf "throw it all in one basket", especially with the two weird Frog In The Window: there are two of these tracks on the album, the first being . and the second being some semi Cajun/Hillbilly

Wayne Harley would leave PBS, leaving Tom Rapp as the sole driver of the group, which at first won't be a bad thingAlthough not quite as mind-blowing (but imperfect) Balaklava, or as astounding as UOA, TTT is still worth an hearing and might fust enthral you enough to own it.