Search - America :: Hat Trick

America's "Pet Sounds"!

Brother John | The O.C. | 05/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not much to add to what has already been said. It's just quite amazing that they self-produced this gem. There is some delicious production here. Perhaps they didn't need George Martin to come in at all the following year.



Do not be too judgemental about "Muskrat Love" - just because C&T made it a mega-hit later on. Listen to it again with an open mind. It's a lovely arrangement too. I'm curious about its inclusion though. Did Warner's need to promote a potential radio hit? It's the only song not written by the boys, but they do make it 'theirs' (not unlike "Head and Heart" from the previous album).



It saddens me that this effort has not had the commercial success it deserved. There's not a bad tune on this record (just as their two previous albums). Later on, like during the declining years from 1976 and on their was quite a bit more "filler" material. But if you're a fan like me, you will explore some great songs from the forgotten later years.



My only recommendation is that this material gets remastered. The sound is overall fine and the ear adjusts to the close balance, but it needs just a hint of more air around the sound like wonderfully sounding "Homecoming" album - especially with all of this incredible production. Overall, Not bad at all for a simple guitar-based band. Not bad indeed!



(By the way, on a final note, I have burned car copies from the store bought CD's. Homecoming and Hat Trick fit nice and snuggily together on to one CD, as well as Holiday and Hearts - AND - Hideaway with Harbor. Give it a shot for yourself!)"

Desert songs

Carlos A. Marsh | pasadena, ca. | 03/29/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"in 1974 i was lying on a beach in rio de janeiro. missing the U.S.(america!), when on my little transistor came a song that blew my mind. it was RAINBOW SONG and to this day its still one of my all-time favorite songs. tom scott's saxophone at the end is truly amazing. it wails. upon arriving back to this wonderful country i bought the album, it was my first america album. although i quickly filled out my collection with their first two and subsequent more pop hooked albums this one stands as a special one. it captures the desert and a western loneliness in sequenced splendor. their MUSKRAT LOVE is the only one i can stomach and WINDWAVE is america at their most beatle-esque. in my opinion, their third was a charm."

"Melodious Evolution"

K. Flynn | Knoxville, TN USA | 11/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Taking the proverbial leep of faith, "America" steps out of their comfort zone to produce this third album with no inhibitions! "Hat Trick" is distinctively different from their debut album simply "America" or "Homecoming" yet is filled with lush overtures and sometimes complex arrangements like that of the title track. "Wind Wave" is very flowing and the string arrangements for this cut are stupendous. (Video of this cut is available on their web link.) "She's Gonna Let You Down" and "Rainbow Song" are also excellent!!! Do not be fooled by the critics. You can not compare this particular work to any of the previous or post 70's era!!! Give it a listen!!!"