Search - Moby Grape :: 20 Granite Creek

Underrated

11/28/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The usual skinny that rock scribes impart in regard to this album is that when the Grape got back together to record it, "THE MAGIC WAS GONE." Well, 'taint true, folks. This may not be the absolute best of Moby Grape's albums, but it's got power and punch to burn. Bob Mosely shines bright and rocks out here with "Gypsy Wedding" and "Road To The Sun," while both Peter Lewis and Don Stevenson pull off some weird mystical stuff with "Horse out In The Rain" and "About Time." The band is in tight form pretty much all the way through; the one real letdown is Skip Spence's only tune, "Chinese Song," a formless sprawl that sounds like a more polished outtake from his solo album, OAR, except not as good. But anyone who liked the first Moby Grape album or MOBY GRAPE '69 shouldn't have any qualms about getting this album; it's no disgrace and it's just fine."

Good Ol' Grape Jam...Between My Toes

leeleedee | Lexington, KentuckyCincinnati | 10/27/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's a crime that the Moby Grape catalog isn't more readily available, in decent editions, in this country. I bought my copy of "20 Granite Creek" and it's one of those lousy San Francisco Sound reissues...no liner notes, shoddy graphics. As fellow seekers know, Columbia/Legacy put out the fine "Vintage" back in the early '90s; it contains all of the first LP, assorted singles, alternate takes/mixes. A great document, and out of print! Amazing. I suppose it has something to do with legal disputes over who owns the name? Anyway, it is truly reprehensible that the folks who own San Francisco Sounds records don't do a better job; I thought they were, like, all enlightened out there. "20 Granite Creek" is a good album, and I guess the essential Moby Grape collection would include the first four Columbia LPs (even "Truly Fine Citizen" has its moments--title track is actually one of their best songs ever), and this one. I love "Goin' Down to Texas," which clocks in around two minutes--also one of their best songs. Moby Grape was a major rock and roll group, one of the very best ever, and when you see what a great job Columbia has done with the Byrds, you have to wonder where the justice is in this world."

The 'comeback' LP for the Moby Grape....

AudioObscurica | United States | 09/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When this LP appeared in 1971 it seemed as if the Grape had been gone for a while, when actually it was just a year and a half previous ("Truly Fine Citizen" - with Miller,Lews & Stevenson with sessionists). This underrated album was recorded in a band house put together by David Rubinson, producer of the first 3 LPs. The house, of course resided in Scotts Valley,CA. The band polished up for some great tunes like "Gypsy Wedding", "Baby I'm the Kind of Man You Can Trust","Horse in the Rain". Also "About Time" is a great Stevenson track. Sadly, Spence's only contribution (he doesn't sing and his guitar work is buried in the mix for most of the album) is "Chinese Song". Skip playing koto for nearly 6 minutes is a little hard to understand but if it was coming from a group like The Kaleidoscope it would fit in better, nonetheless it is a rather expiremental piece and shows what a versatile band they were. It is a great record, short lived reunion as the band parted in less than a couple of months. Of course, the album didn't sell (#177 in the US) and is out of print (on this Line label, there is a dreaded Matthew Katz reissue, don't buy it). Find an LP."