Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Change" will make you realize Bolan didn't "lose it", March 14, 2000
Zinc Alloy would probably be considered the point where most T.Rex fans quit listening. In all fairness to that album, there were some excellent songs, but many were spoiled by overproduction."Change" rectifies that by showing a hard rocking side missing on the "Zinc Alloy" album. The song "Superbad" shows Bolan rocking harder than usual, with a killer Bolanic wah-wah sound that begs to be cranked up!Also, "Liquid Gang" takes on a hard funky edge that gives T.Rex a powerful sound.Two two versions of "Painless Pursusion..." show Marc's lyrical prowess, and thought provoking realizations of how his life changed with success. In some ways,I believe "Tanx" and this album show Marc Bolan at his peak. If you've never heard "Zinc Alloy" or wrote that album off, you should take a listen to "Change" Marc Bolan's music and lyrics are a part of my being. This album won't disappoint any T.Rex fans.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Venus Loon is worth the price of admission, March 7, 2008
Just hearing this version of Venus Loon is alone worth the price of admission. The production value and mix are far superior to the original "Zinc Alloy" which sounds hollow and sterile compared to this release. I would rate the original Zinc Alloy about 2 1/2 maybe 3 stars, but I give this version a 5 because you can finally HEAR what is going on within these songs.
This disc is made up of a) remastered and/or alternate takes of the originals; b) acoustic demos; and c) singles from this era that were previously scattered among various greatest hits, singles and rarities releases in previous decades, most of them being imports at the time. Those of us that have spent $50 or more gathering up the old gems can now get the best of them right here on this disc.
Even if, like me, you marginally enjoyed Zinc Alloy in its day, give this one a listen, it's well worth hearing these songs again with the work that has been done here. It's as if they restored Zinc Alloy with the studio sound of 1972/1973 Slider/Tanx-era T. Rex - the bass, kick drum and bongos have returned to the foreground (probably the way it sounded live in the first place) and the glorious backing vocals fill the lush space vacated by the diminished or extracted strings.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
A CREAMED CAGE, January 20, 2004
I would have enjoyed this album much more if perhaps it was listed as a soundtrack to a rock opera. It could have been the best rock opera soundtrack since "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" but no film is available for such a thrill. The raw sound of "Zinc Alloy" does not do T. Rex much justice. It is ironic how Tony Visconti's name appears in the production credits, but in the "T. Rextasy" box-set (Relativity label), he claims "Tanx" as his last works w/ the band. Was he that ashamed with this album that he wouldn't even provide himself with credit? Visconti is one of the best producers of all time. For, he produced the miraculous T.Rex albums before this. Visconti is proof that good production is not a sin, it is a formula. He had the chemistry right since "My People Were Fair..." as well as making Bowie what he is today. But, "Zinc Alloy..." is nothing but a utter distraction from the T.Rex legend. In fact, some T.Rex loyalists agree that the self-titled "T.Rex" album was indeed the ending to the legacy. I beg to differ, for, my 2 on 1 cassette version of "Electric Warrior/Slider" is what cursed me with T.Rex mania! I haven't lost interest since! But, when I first heard "Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tommorow" I nearly cried. I felt as if I was being taken on a voyage on the Muppet Show with the featured guest, Marc Bolan. The bongos seemed to be completely missing and I was outraged by the over-powered background vocals. It was like disco-mania happened way too soon. Aside from the shrieking background vocals (Gloria Jones?), "Explosive Mouth" and "Change" are exceptions. But, the strength of the previous albums is nowhere to be found. During the 72 explosion of T.Rex mania, Marc Bolan had his share of negative critism from the media. Like many musicians, this crippled the legend. A BBC disc-jockey did a continous airplay of T.Rex songs and concluded the show with how much the tunes all sounded the same. Not only did this break Bolan's well-held ego, but it would eventually destroy him! This gem is reflectant of the new Bolan sound and is by no means the death of a legacy. The bonus tracks included here enrich a reissue of a reissue by all means!
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See all 24 tracks on this disc
by T. Rex 
