Customer Reviews

Electric Warrior

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is my favorite album of 1971 and one of my all-time favorite albums--period. So I'm not ashamed to say that this marks the fourth time I've bought ELECTRIC WARRIOR. The first time, of course, was on vinyl when it was first released. I then upgraded to CD in the nineties. Then I bought A&M's 30th anniversary edition, but it's Rhino's re-release that got everything right.

You get remastered versions of the eleven songs on the original album, plus a number of extras: All of the non-album UK/US singles and B-sides that were released in 1971, a previously unissued acoustic version of "Planet Queen," a nearly 20-minute interview with Marc Bolan, the cardboard digi-pak maintains the look of the original release (lyrics of all songs--including the bonus tracks, a 9 x 14 poster, the drawings on the album sleeve, even the original Reprise logo on the CD).

All in all, this is the definitive version of a classic album. If you haven't upgraded to CD yet, this is the one you've been waiting for. ESSENTIAL

Time has been kind to Marc Bolan. No rocket scientist, Marc always just assumed his boppy elfin schtick set to the simplest of boogie beats would be accepted by one and all as the works of a genius. Initially adored mainly by 12 year old girls in England, his music has grown in stature over the years as tastes changed leaving him high and dry as the sole purveyer of a perculiar (in all senses of the word) style of rock that has over time proved remarkably difficult to reproduce. Electric Warrior is to Bolan what Ziggy Stardust was to Bowie (his friend at the time). Electric Warrior cuts loose from Bolans previous hippie ramblings, best realised on "Beard of Stars", and powered by superb production, and the judicious use of real musicians, the album boogies its three chord wonders into an entirely new domain that retains its unique charms to this day. Not deep, not complex, not even all that sensible, Electric Warrior nevertheless works and provides a telling reminder that 'pop' music is a rush that dosn't have to make sense it just has to make you feel good. Very good.

Marc Bolan was on the verge of superstardom worldwide, and Electric Warrior almost made it big here, but was never able to obtain the American success he wanted. Sure, Bang a Gong was great, but there are so many more treasures in the T.Rex catalog. I still believe that Warner Bros.didn't release the right choices for singles, but that's just my opinion. The sound quality of this reissue surpasses the import remaster on A&M last year. And this time, the wonderful "Mambo Sun" is not shortened annoyingly like the reissue. The bonus material are all classics and the packaging is superb, also much better than the import version. Included is the cool inner picture of Marc sitting in the chair as a poster!! Well done, Rhino/Reprise. Now release the brown 1971 "T.Rex" album with bonus tracks i.e. Deep Summer and I will be a truly happy man!

This is one reissue that is definitely worth your money. The remastering makes this classic album punchier and even more delectable. In case you don't know, Electric Warrior is a blast. It's one of those rare albums that sounds like a band having a party in the studio. There is nothing deep about this music. It's just uplifting, sexy, rocking grooves that make you shake your ***.

I'm no T. Rex/Marc Bolan expert. But compared to the few other T. Rex albums I've bought, this one is their most nuanced and varied. This was the record that Bolan was hoping would break them in America (as mentioned in the bonus interview). When that didn't happen, he sank into obscurity and eventual self-parody. Never again would T Rex sound as fresh and exciting as they do on Electric Warrior.

Anyway, this is one of the crucial rock albums of the 1970s and probably THE quintessential glam rock album. Sure, Bowie's Ziggy Stardust was a higher-concept affair, but it is also much more dated. The Rhino remaster freshens up this already timeless album.

In my opinion, T.Rex is one of the most underated bands of all time. I also belive this is one of the greatest rock n' roll albums of all time. Next to Bowie's Ziggy Stardust, this is the most difinitive album of the Glam Rock era. Every song is great, and the extras make the album even better. Marc Bolan was a true musical genious, and one of the great forgotten artists. I would recomend this to any fan of old school rock.

HOGEY OUT!

This album captured a defining moment in rock and musical history, and made 1971 all the more 'cosmic', as well as honestly creating a genre imitated by many other bands whether consciously or unconsciously. It remains a sad reminder to his loyal fans of what a wonderful gift of music this man contributed to the world. His music is like a warm fragrant summer breeze that makes you happy to be alive.....and also reminds you how frail and precious life can be. It is his first venture into a 'full' rock band and rock album, yet still retains the spiritual feel and lyrical content of his previous albums, to a degree. It probably is his best album from a critic's and the average listening public's point of view; Commercially his best album in the States, while scoring a top ten hit with 'Bang A Gong'. 'Cosmic Dancer' is a revelation, 'Bang A Gong' is his signature song and a terrific rocker that is subtle and explosive at the same time, 'Jeepster' is Marc Bolan doing 50's rock and roll with fuzz and is so cool!'Planet Queen' could have been a huge hit I'm sure...'Life's A Gas' has such a classic hook and a winner as well as sad too...'Monolith' is so 'pre' 'Dark Side Of The Moon' sounding, and actually is as good as anything on that album (Floyd is awesome though).'Girl' reminds me of John Lennon, and even more of a style Bowie would take on, and is a beautiful song.'Rip Off' is like something off from a Stones album from that time period, yet all Bolan!'The Motivator' is a catchy song with a good driving force, 'Mambo Sun' is the great opener and mood setter for the album,'Lean Woman Blues' is a great "happy" blues song, and almost a live, written on the spot kind of song!
To sum it up, get this album- it's classic and takes you to another plane of consciousness if you let it!

I just received Electric Warrior and what can I say? I was blown away! I knew who Marc Bolan and T.Rex were growing up in the 70's but didn't know much about them beyond Get It On and a few other songs. I did have a crush on Marc! Anyway, I always wondered what happened to them. I did some research and became very interested. Based on the many reviews I read here I decided to start with Electric Warrior. What a fantastic disc! There's not a bad song in the bunch and the bonus material is wonderful. How Raw Ramp didn't make it onto the original album is a mystery to me. Mambo Sun, Cosmic Dancer, Planet Queen and Life's a Gas are some of my other favorites. How anyone can call this Glam is beyond me. It's really funky electric boogie and many of his early music influences can be heard here. Marc Bolan was a true Superstar. His charisma and love of life really shine thru. It's fun and infectious and you can't help but dance! I only wish I had looked into T.Rex back in the 70's. I really missed out on some great music. I'll have to catch up now. I'm so glad I bought this disc. I can't wait to get Slider!

I bought this CD never hearing anything from T Rex exept for "Bang A Gong".Theirs no need to talk about certain songs because this CD is from top to bottom a awsome record."The Slider" gets all of the press and it to is exellant,but this one is more solid.
The remastered sound is top rate plus you get a bonus disc for hard core fans.Now there re-releasing other T Rex classics.I just bought "The Slider" and plan on buying more.

when i first heard bang a gong on the radio i must have been seven years old. i remember trying to keep my feet still,it was impossible.i never thought must about the band after that. i figured they were just another johnny hates jazz or taco. in another words i beleived they created sonic geniusness once, and since it was so brilliant it could not be duplicated. i have never been so wrong in my life.T.REX in my opinion is the second best band after the beatles. marc bolan can make simple riffs and simple lyrics sound like an atomic glam-bomb exploding in your brain. if you like bowie, n.y.dolls, the ramones, or any artist that plays simple yet effective rock and roll buy this now. if you don't like it than you should listen to kennyG and good charlotte, because you have no musical taste.

I bought no less than 5 versions of this album on CD and FINALLY the definitive version is here. This version puts all previous attempts to shame. If you bought the 30th anniversary version that came out recently sell it and get this. None of the flaws have been repeated here. This version has complete ORIGINAL ARTWORK plus many beautiful PHOTOS, LYRICS, a POSTER plus ALL the SINGLES and B-SIDES from that period. It sounds amazing and the packaging is a collector's dream. The only thing wrong with this edition is the fact that I had to wait so long for it. THANK YOU RHINO!