| "The Byrds' third album, 1966's Fifth Dimension, saw
them taking giant steps away from the jangly pop stylings and Dylan covers
of Mr Tambourine Man and on out into the sci-fi stratosphere. In a way,
the straight-ahead songwriting genius of Gene Clark had almost held them
back and his departure just before this album provided a real impetus for
upping the anchor and moving into new territory. Aside from Clark it was
the sound of guitarist Roger McGuinn's dizzyingly complex 12-string that
really defined The Byrds and it's all over Fifth Dimension. Eight Miles
High, originally written by Clark but fleshed out by McGuinn, is still widely
regarded as the first psychedelic rock song and the first raucous take,
from December 1965, predates The Beatles' Tomorrow Never Knows by five months.
In its current incarnation on Sundazed, Fifth Dimension now includes that
first take alongside the slightly tamer 1966 version, but there's not much
in it - either one would still easily qualify as the most creatively ambitious
single ever released. Although it does tend to overshadow the rest of the
album, Fifth Dimension is still a beautifully schizophrenic mix of traditional
folk like Wild Mountain Thyme and John Riley and some truly interstellar
avant-pop." |
|
Although Fifth Dimension was wildly uneven, its high points were as innovative
as any rock music being recorded in 1966. Immaculate folk-rock was still
present in their superb arrangements of the traditional songs "Wild
Mountain Thyme" and "John Riley." For the originals, they
devised some of the first and best psychedelic rock, often drawing from
the influence of Indian raga in the guitar arrangements. "Eight Miles
High," with its astral lyrics, pumping bass line, and fractured guitar
solo, was a Top 20 hit, and one of the greatest singles of the '60s. The
minor hit title track and the country-rock-tinged "Mr. Spaceman"
are among their best songs; "I See You" has great 12-string
psychedelic guitar solos; and "I Come and Stand at Every Door"
is an unusual and moving update of a traditional rock tune, with new lyrics
pleading for peace in the nuclear age. At the same time, the R&B instrumental
"Captain Soul" was a throwaway, "Hey Joe" not nearly
as good as the versions by the Leaves or Jimi Hendrix, and "What's
Happening?!?!" the earliest example of David Crosby's disagreeably
vapid hippie ethos. These weak spots keep Fifth Dimension from attaining
truly classic status. (by Richie Unterberger, AMG)
|
Plattentipp 
#290 Virgin/Colin Larkin(2000)
eins von 1001 Alben, die Ihr hören solltet, bevor das Leben vorbei ist! (2008) 
