Customer Reviews

Hat Trick

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

 

 

A solid album that may have been sterotyped by its first single, Muskrat Love. The album was produced by America and rivals their later work with George Martin. It was their third album (hence the name "Hat Trick") and was actually a bit of a let down after their first two albums (America and Homecoming) had been huge hits. This album was a moderate hit in the US in 1973 peaking at 28 on the album charts. This album was their most ambitous effort to date. They run the gammit on this one, from harder rock (Green Monkey), to soft pop (She's Going To Let You Down), to folk rock (Windwave) and everything in between (Hat Trick). They make more use of strings than on their any of their previous work. If you are an America fan this album is a must.

You know those records that you heard when you were too young to place who the band was, but you remember the songs fondly and once you hear them again there's a memory shockwave that hits you? For some of us, Hat Trick was one of those.

For those of us young enough to ignore critics, we simply enjoyed the music.

Now for specifics: the album comes off a bit more polished than America's previous two efforts, and as their third album it is evident they started to hit a stride. The original three are all here on this one, no breakup had occurred yet.

Some don't like their version of Muskrat Love -- I much prefer theirs over the 'hit' version that came later from C&T. If you've never owned this record, there are classic songs here that you haven't heard on the radio, songs that America still plays in concert because they're that good. This is a classic album from a time when albums, not singles, were the way a band made their art.

While none of the biggest hits are on Hat Trick, there are many really great songs. If you are not familiar with this one, and enjoy America's vintage music, it is definitely worth owning. Muskrat Love is an anomaly on the album - lyrically silly and musically very spare, with none of the signature America layered guitar/banjo/etc instrumentation. Considering that it's a cover song, I've never undrstood why it was included (perhaps a favor). Most of the rest - Wind Wave, Rainbow Song, Submarine Ladies, It's Life, Hat Trick, Molten Love, Green Monkey - are really great. As a guitar player, I thnk they are worth learning. This album has more orchestration than others and, at times, I wonder what it would have sounded like with more of their regular stringed instruments, instead. Still very enjoyable. On the original vinyl album, a couple of the songs transition from one to the next without any gap. This is true for the transition from Rainbow Song to Submarine Ladies, and it is preserved in the CD transfer. It was also true for the end of Molten Love into Green Monkey, but on the CD there is a break/time gap which is disappointing. I presume this is some engineering mistake, not a transfer limitation, since the prior transition is maintained smoothly. Still, great to finally have on CD.

I usually listen to an entirely different type of music than the kind these musicians make. Yet I find this album extremely enjoyable. This is especially odd because the title track is the oft ridiculed "Muskrat Love". But this song's supposed sentimentality doesn't bother me and blends in with the overall eclectic quality of the album.

Within a pop spectrum there is a little bit of everything on this album, including melancholy love songs, a bit of progressive rock, and the expected ballads. I bought this album for our anniversary and my wife and I both enjoyed it immensely. Definitely the best album of the band's first three.

In spite of "Muskrat Love" this is a great album. Hat Trick provides a continuous flow from one song to the other on side one of the original album and immediately picks up again with "Hat Trick". It is an inventive, melodic, mood-flowing creation that is a joy to listen to. For what it's worth, I even think "Muskrat Love" works in context of the album's entirety!

Most personal America-Album, unmatched post-hippie-mysticism, natural atmosphere, real played music, one of the reverence album of the seventies, overused word gem fits here. This music's got soul. The epic 10-minute song Hat Trick should be played in school.

America's self titled debut album is fantastic, follow up Homecoming, is not far behind, so I had high hopes for Hatrick.
OK I already knew Muskrat Love is just about my least favourite America track, but somehow the whole album just dosen't seem to come to life.
By far the best song is She's Gonna Let You Down, however all too much of the remainder seems to meander along.
Green Monkey is OK, but overall it's 3 stars and that's pushing it.
I recommend the first 2 albums, A Horse With No Name And Other Hits and the 1975 semi live A Horse With No Name recorded in Germany.