The Soup Dragon's only commercially successful release, Lovegod was a definitive album of a short-lived but blissful movement in alternative dance that began in the late '80s and ended in the early '90s. Lead with fellow S... more »cotsmen Primal Scream and other proto-trip-hop bands like the Happy Mondays, the Charlatans U.K., the Stone Roses, and the Farm, the scene revolved around community--masses joined in various forms of often chemically enhanced euphoric states, dancing till breakfast and beyond. Like Primal Scream's Screamadelica, this album follows a path clearly cut by the Rolling Stones. Their hazy, blues-on-Ecstasy psychedelic grooves fueled the club-going shoe gazers swaying in place for what could have been forever, while at the same time uplifted souls (and soles) with money-maker shakers like "Backwards Dog" and a cover of the Stones' "I'm Free." Because of its combination of timeless rock influences and its preturntablism dance sensibility, Lovegod has aged well, losing little of its capacity for elation. --Beth Massa« less
The Soup Dragon's only commercially successful release, Lovegod was a definitive album of a short-lived but blissful movement in alternative dance that began in the late '80s and ended in the early '90s. Lead with fellow Scotsmen Primal Scream and other proto-trip-hop bands like the Happy Mondays, the Charlatans U.K., the Stone Roses, and the Farm, the scene revolved around community--masses joined in various forms of often chemically enhanced euphoric states, dancing till breakfast and beyond. Like Primal Scream's Screamadelica, this album follows a path clearly cut by the Rolling Stones. Their hazy, blues-on-Ecstasy psychedelic grooves fueled the club-going shoe gazers swaying in place for what could have been forever, while at the same time uplifted souls (and soles) with money-maker shakers like "Backwards Dog" and a cover of the Stones' "I'm Free." Because of its combination of timeless rock influences and its preturntablism dance sensibility, Lovegod has aged well, losing little of its capacity for elation. --Beth Massa
"Not sure where the two negative reviews come from other than that the other songs on this album are not straight imitations of I'm Free. Every single one of these songs is superb, to the point where you can't believe so many great songs might go on one album. It amazes me that they never hit any greater popularity in the US than their well-known single, and I urge you to pick it up (bargain bin if you're lucky, despite what one reviewer wrote) and give it a full listen. It's brilliant."
Great early 90's alternative album.
H3@+h | VT | 09/02/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Nobody I know has ever heard of the "Soup Dragons", but I'm sure glad I did. This is really fun to listen to, and holds up well after 13 years. One of those bands you would see late night on MTV, before grunge took over. They really do have that "Madchester" sound, and are similar to "Happy Mondays", "Jesus Jones", and "Charlatans UK". Though I think they're Scottish. Anyway, it's trippy, very catchy, and you can dance to it if you want. Me, I just crank "I'm Free", and hit the road."
Love every song. Reminisent of the WHO to me.
H3@+h | 06/15/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Powerful dance beats, with inntelligent lylics. I think it's very retro sounding of the days of blues fusion rock as in rolling stones, the Who,Hendrex,classic rock and roll at it's modern best."
Lovegood
Harry Pujols | New York City | 09/26/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Beth Massa review is dead-on when it comes to this album and the brief music scene it was part of. For long I cherished this time when you could dance to rock music. But, thank god, it's all coming back. What was then Primal Scream, The Stone Roses, The Farm, EMF, Happy Mondays, Jesus Jones, Inspiral Carpets and the Charlatans UK is now Kasabian, The Killers, The Dandy Warhols, Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Hard-Fi and Kaiser Chiefs. If you like any of those bands and that brief period of Baggy music, gone too soon before grunge took over, you should give this album a try. The cover of I'm free -I dare to say- is better than the Stones original. Too bad this album is not available for download because that song alone is worth having."
Good listening with a psychedelic edge.
Margaret Lang | Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA | 03/12/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm no expert on this band's history. I basically wanted their version of "I'm Free" to upload. Everything else is decent. It keeps you moving with a back to the 60's (that really happened in the 70's) beat, and my 14 yo kids like it."