Search - Sweat & Tears Blood :: New Blood

The best BS&T album

brownil | wimberley, tx USA | 08/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best BS&T album, in a musical sense, although certainly the least known and appreciated. The earlier Al Kooper albums certainly pushed the boundaries of rock and jazz, and produced some really memorable songs. Taken as a whole, however, the Kooper-era albums sound dated and self-absorbed. In contrast, all of the Clayton-Thomas albums were blatant attempts to throw a bunch of potential pop hits at the wall, and see how many would stick. 'Spinning Wheel' actually gives me flatulence, so if you prefer the 'pop' era of BS&T, this is not the album for you.

Instead, 'New Blood' was the ultimate realization of the band's musical vision: not just a horn section but a horn BAND, one that stands at the opposite end of the balance beam from 'Chicago', on the jazzy/funky end of the scale rather than rock. During one of his pissy stages (he wanted 50%), Clayton-Thomas left the band and was replaced with vocalist Jerry Fisher. Fisher as a singer blows away any of Clayton-Thomas's work, but is a far-superior component of a unified musical structure. (After this, BS&T seemed more like Clayton-Thomas's back-up band). 'New Blood' is the only album on which you can hear the BAND.

Every cut on this album is a real treat, but only one made the 'Best of' compilation ('So Long Dixie'). Most of you BS&T fans have the compilation album, so go back and listen to that track, and if you like it, find a new world where BS&T made the music, not the Billboard critics."

Likely the best BS&T ever...

Worfgzr | 01/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While I love music, I don't get into the shinnanegans that go on behind the scenes. I don't know, or care, that band members are prima donnas, or are publicly ignored and don't care who comes or goes. I don't care how music is defined; labeling it jazz, country, rock, or bohemian chamber funk means little to me. All I care about is good music. What defines 'good music' to me is anything that is fresh, inventive, and sticks to your ribs.



I liked the popular stuff that Blood, Sweat, & Tears created early on; Spinning Wheel, God Bless the Child, and Lucrecia McEvil all were hits in my book and I still enjoy them today. But what has to be my absolute favorite album of all time has to be New Blood. I don't mean my favorite B,S&T album, I mean of ANY album.



While each tune on New Blood can stand on its own, it is the whole album and how each tune fits that makes this bit of B,S&T magic shine.



Starting off with a funky, humorous 'Down in the Flood', you hear guitar, horn and harmonica work that is unsurpassed, and you know you if the rest of the album is this good you've got something real.



'Touch Me' did just that with powerful vocals and anthem-like horns, then some jazzy-funky introspection with 'Alone' is a treat for anyone who likes good solo preformances.



"Velvet' seems like an odd duck in the lineup, this ballard about a horse is down-tempo and has a haunting quality that almost seems out of place in the album, but it does work as a setup for 'I Can't Move No Mountains', which is up tempo with flashy horns and jazzy rythyms.



'Over the Hill' resets the mood with humor and funk, and 'So Long Dixie' gets things moving again with strong vocals.



The crown jewels of the New Blood, however, is the final two cuts; 'Snow Queen' and 'Maiden Voyage'.



Both tracks offers up some of the finest instrumentals ever.



I'm sure there are those who won't find 'New Blood' to thier liking, but if you appreciate 'good music' New Blood does not disappoint."