Customer Reviews

Growers of Mushrooms

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a 40 yr. old African American who listens to everything from classical to neo-soul, Let me say that this rare stoner is one of the better obscure releases that I have ever had the pleasure to absorb. Tripped out rhythm and lyricism, psychedelic arrangements and soul-searing guitar licks make this one a great find for those searching for hard hippie/stoner styled rock.

Upon listening for the first time, I was blown away by the bands ability. I don't like to make comparisons, But this group reminds me a lot of Led Zepplin (vocals) and Black Sabbath (arrangements and guitar leads). This is very evident on the tracks "Stray" & "Stagnant Pool". Instantly, I was reminded of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid"...Much in the same vein as "Fairies Wear Boots" & "War Pigs".

Very good piece for its time...Get it, Get stoned and Get educated.

Leaf Hound was formed from the ashes of Black Cat Bones who added Keith Young on drums and continued on under a new name in 1971. Other members included vocalist Peter French, guitarist Mick Halls, and the Brooks brothers Derek and Stu on guitar and bass respectively. The band's only album contained an acid guitar based psychedelic sludgefest of blues based rock. The band sounded like a raw combination of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Tracks which stand out include "Freelance Fiend", "Stray" and "Sawdust Caeser". However, the entire cd is good. French's vocals fit the mood of the set perfectly. The set has some solid acid guitar playing but nothing really fancy. This reissue also includes two bonus tracks, a non-lp single b-side and a previously unissued track. It is worth noting that vocalist Peter French was later a member of progressive rockers Atomic Rooster, the power boogie band Cactus and the German band Randy Pie. He also unsuccessfully auditioned for Deep Purple after Ian Gillan left the band but David Coverdale was hired instead. This is a highly recommended reissue of powerhouse psychedelic blues based British rock. The original lp is exremely rare so buy this reissue before it goes out of print again.

As anyone can tell from the five stars, I love the Leaf Hound record dearly; it's one of theeee very best Brit blues-based rock 'n roll records there ever was (right in there with The Groundhogs, probably). That said, I don't know how anyone can reasonably be so disrespectful as to compare ANY 30-something-year-old record to... The Black Crowes (who everybody knows owe everything to Goats Head-era Stones anyway; but I digress...). Chronology backwards. And although there's clearly the blues thing very strongly here, it's far more Anglo-fied than any old Led Zep. And lo, I was saying to my friend just earlier tonight that I absolutely HATE Led Zeppelin and always have done- not only because of unpleasant jocky associations but because of their flagrant "borrowing" of many a blues song. Not so Leaf Hound, who it says here (in the liner notes natch) got their name- and all of the song titles- from a collection of short horror stories by someone named Herbert Van Thal. At any rate, definitely a classic record with a unique kind of occulty vibe all its own (and a helluva little title track too, by the way). A bargain at twice the price too, as the vinyl is supposedly worth something like $2000 (yes, with THREE zeroes). If you're into the early '70s Brit blooze, give this obscure little band a try. So obscure, in fact, that apparently no pictures of Leaf Hound even exist. Hmmm, now that's odd...

A friend turned me on to this band and when I listened to it the first time through, the singer reminded me of Chris Cornell of Soundgarden. Not a big fan of Alternative, I was not sure I liked Leaf Hound.

However, upon second listen, I got used to the singer and though a bit much a times, he fits the music perfectly! To my ears they are definitely in the stoner rock mold. At times they remind me of Lucifer's Friend, except the keyboards are not really there. There is also the vague Black Sabbath flavor to it. The riffing is good, and the general guitar work is a real kick!

Highly recommended.

I read somewhere that this was a very sought after vinyl recording from the early 70's. I am a vinyl collector so it peaked my interest. Newly released on CD, this was a very satisfying purchase! Considering it was recorded about the same time as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were rising to the top, it makes for an interesting listen. The Leaf Hound were in that same English, blues meets psycedellic, hard rock. They may not sound as polished or professional as the mighty Zep, but still very cool. The album art work is worth the price of admission, but the late 60's, early 70's rock on this disc is also worth it! It even evokes the sound of an American hard rock pioneer, Blue Cheer.

Gotta say, i've lately been mining the early 70's heavy material via Poppoff's Collectors Guide to Heavy Metal, the 70s ed., and only happened to notice this one cuz it came right before Led Zep. The description intrigued me, and I was familiar with Peter French from Cactus (which I like) so I gave it a shot. Usually, when you hope for the great lost rock classic it just doesn't live up; Leafhound truly does. Shades of Zep I and II, a touch of "Smokin" era Humble Pie, maybe a little Free as well; good solid riff based guitar playing, great vocals. I was very very pleased when I put it on and pretty much the Whole Thing is consistent from the first track on. If you like the early 70s stuff that's half riffy boogie rock and half proto-metal then this is a truly good buy.

this release has been highly lauded by the "stoner" rock crowd,but is it any good??
keeping in mind when it was recorded,production techniques being what they where in the early 70's,this isnt at all bad!
not a "clasic" or "essental" in my book,but well worth a listen and worthy of a place on the collectors shelf.
as other reviewers have stated,this is along the lines of Led Zepp and Deep Purple,not so much Black Sabbath (which is what i was after).
a solid 3.5 star release

OK, I'll try to sum up this CD in a nutshell:

Rod Stewart meets Peter Green sung by the Black Crowes with Robert Plant pulling the strings and Jimmy Page nodding along :-P

Seriously, these guys obviously liked and were heavily inspired by Early Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall, Genesis, Hendrix, and most oviously Zed Zeppellin. This is not to say they necessarily copy these bands but the influence is definitely there. Enjoyable stuff if that white boy blues-rock sound is your thing. I'm also a sucker for this kind of things and, as this one has two bonus tracks (sound quality is diminished but they are surely listenable), I was hooked :o)

Amuse Your Friends: throw this on when they aren't looking and wait for them to say: "Hey, what early Led Zep album is THIS? " Pure imitation, but man, dedicated.