Mystic Astrologic Crystal Band - Flowers Never Cry 1967

A third-tier late-'60s L.A. psychedelic outfit, the Mystic Astrologic Crystal Band were not as weird as their name indicated. They were, more to the point, as trendy as their name led one to believe, recording common-denominator psychedelic pop for the GNP label that emulated much of the form, but delivered little in the way of lasting content. Steve Hoffman wrote all of the group's material, which largely consisted of passable emulations of the Association, the Seeds, and much of the L.A. psychedelic pop that fell between these extremes. Their sound is so anonymous, in fact, that one suspects they were only playing psychedelic music because it was fashionable -- if it were 12 years later, they may have opted to wear skinny ties and sound like the Knack instead. Perhaps that's too harsh an assessment, but there's not much to put your back against on their albums, despite their status as collector's items. 

CD reissue of two albums' worth of material that the group cut for the GNP label in the late '60s. Stressing the lighter, sunnier side of the L.A. psychedelic sound (with occasional Seedsish bits), it's well-produced, and full of the requisite bright harmonies and occasional spacy effects. But there's so little that grabs your attention that it sometimes sounds like one of those anonymous bands that recorded soundtrack material for late-'60s hippie exploitation films. allmusic.com

 

01.Factory Endeavor 2:30
02.Early Dawn 2:05
03.Antagonizing Friend 2:27
04.Barnyard Philosophy 2:06
05.Flowers Never Cry 2:18
06.Geometry Alley 2:29
07.October Sunshine 2:00
08.La Vent 3:04
09.Publicly Inclined (To Blow Her Mind) 2:42
10.Yesterday's Girl 2:40
11.The M.A.C.B. Theme 2:17
12.Sunbeams and Rainbows 2:55
13.I Think I'll Just Lie Here and Die 2:22
14.Gaberdene Square 3:32
15.Ah Ha Ha Ha 2:33
16.Krystalize 2:35
17.Today 1:58
18.Yellow Room 2:45
19.Authors 3:20
20.It's Strange 2:40
21.Only Time 2:46
22.Oatmeal Quicksand 1:01

The Mystic Astrologic Crystal Band :
Steve Hoffman - Vocals, Sitar, Bass, Keyboards
John Leighton - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
John Moreland - Lead Guitar
Bob Phillips - Drums, Percussion
Ron Roman - Vocals, Percussion

 

Flac + Complete Scans 367 Mb

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