Search - Blues Project :: Planned

This is really Seatrain--not Blues Project

The Green Man | Stone Bank, WI United States | 07/03/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"In 1967, All Kooper left to form Blood Sweat and Tear, briging Steve Katz with him. Danny Kalb dropped out of sight. So, only rhythm section Andy Kulberg (bass & flute) and Roy Blumenfeld (drums) were left to fulfill the Blues Project's contractual obligation. The new band they formed was Seatrain. This album is really the first Seatrain album. It sounds almost nothing like the Blues Project. Rumor was that the band recorded a bunch of songs that they didn't care for to fill this album, and then went to Capitol and recorded what they wanted to represent Seatrain. A couple of the songs on "Planned Obsolesence" are worthy of your time listening, but most are just forgettable. The lead-off track "If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody" is a radical remake of an early '60's minor top 40 hit that gets your attention. But after that, only a reworking of the old minstrel song "Turtle Dove" is really interesting. The album ended originally with a 12 1/2 minute attempt to recreate the magic of the Blues Project's masterpiece "Flute Thing," but that attempt (called "Dakota Recollection") is an aimless, melodyless instrumental jam session built around Andy's invention, the electrified flute. The CD includes one bonus track "Gentle Dreams," which was a long forgotten non-album single made in the last days of the original Blues Project after Al Kooper left. Fortunately, you can get this bonus track on the superb Blues Project "Anthology." Those who own "Anthology" will notice that no tracks from "Planned Obsolesence" are included in that 2 CD set. That omission in itself should tell anyone that "Planned Obsolesence" isn't really worth your money. If you want to hear Seatrain, you will find much better material available on the various albums recorded under their real name."

We've all walked now, and are free

D. R Hayes | Clermont, FL. United States | 08/13/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I would like to explore this some more someday, but it sounds actually not bad at all. "If You Got To Make A Fool Of Somebody" is the most commercial sounding song ever cranked out by these guys. "Frank and Curt" is a wonderful rocker filled with some angst it sounds like. "Turtledove" has a soundscapes feel to it, and "Calypso" is feeling like caribbean music. Most of the group left by this time, and looking to start thier new adventures. This was what was left over, and is alot better sounding than the last Monkees album."