Customer Reviews

Power Plant

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

 

 

Purchasing this limited edition import CD comes with my personal guarantee that you will be transported back to the days when things were so much easier because the lines were drawn more clearly between those who were enlightened and those who were not. It's a pity that it took 35 years for me to discover this band... *Every* song transports you to "the era" when and where we thought we were going to change the world by combining drugs with music. Few efforts from the late-1960s hold up to close scrutiny because of the studio excesses that molded the music into a rigid format. I promise (excuse me: guarantee) that Golden Dawn is as fresh today as it was in 1968. Dare I say their work was seminal? Probably not because I AM AN AUTHORITY on the 1960s; but, there is something here that transcends the decades and fills the heart with joy and the brain with marvelous visions.

Golden Dawn's `Power Plant' is one of those criminally overlooked albums put out in the early years of psychedelic rock music. Alongside the 13th Floor Elevators, The Red Krayola & Bubble Puppy, Golden Dawn was one of Texas' major psychedelic exports. This album is full of swirling garage rock & blues inflected tunes.

People looking for any type of `Parable of Arable Land' style freak-out jams should look elsewhere however, as the songs on `Power Plant' are concise rock songs (more `Psychedelic Sounds' than `Easter Everywhere' for all you Elevator aficionados). Some of the highlights of this album include:

Track 3). Starvation: One of the most 13th Floor Elevator sounding songs on the album, with vocalist George Kinney sounding eerily akin to his friend Roky Erickson. This has some great piercing guitar work courtesy of the two Golden Dawn guitarists Jimmy Bird and Tom Ramsey.

Track 6). My Time: This a great rollicking tune, with a catchy chorus and more superb, rolling guitar picking all through the song culminating on a simple yet perfect eastern-tinged guitar solo.

Track 8). Every Day: This is a slow, spectral song that ends in very cool backwards guitar with the pulsing hi-hat in the background holding it all together till it drifts away into nothingness.

The guitar work by Tom Ramsey and Jimmy Bird is very unique and cool.They were great band and really ahead of their time.If you like The Thirteenth Floor Elevators you will love this.A must for any true collector.

but not at all what I expected. When I read they were from Texas I thought perhaps I was going to hear hard rock/ psych rock.Some of this reminds me of Love but some tracks are heavier. Lots of sitar and some great guitar work, trippy lyrics for sure, as lets face it chemicals and herbs were all the rage.A cd worth searching for as it is an excellent example of '68 rock and fun to reminisce.

I grew up listening these guys. What a rockin bunch of hippies.Great album. I hear they are going to make a new album after 35 years of people wondering what happened to them.One of the best no hit wonders of all time.Please father give us some more Golden Dawn.

This is a one of a kind sound. I have heard them compared to THe THirteenth FLoor Elevators.I think The GOlden Dawn had a really cool sound unique to themselves.Catchy tunes that you just can't seem to get out of your head.Groovy lyrics and great instramentation.

I really like this disc. Strong songs from start to finish, and talented musicianship. The vocals, while similar to Roky Erikson, shouldn't tempt you to dismiss this band as imitaters of the 13th Floor Elevators, though if you like them, you should like the Golden Dawn. The music kicks butt, and has the vibe of partying away a summer day, circa 1968. This album is a real blast of fun. I recommend it to anyone who likes Nuggets and 60's garage rock, though this hits above garage rock in places.

Great to see this available again after so long. A sincere, thoughtful, and interesting album that is still well worth investigating. That makes it sound like a purely cerebral experience though, which as any International Artists aficionado will confirm, it is not. They just don't (or at least didn't) do that down in Texas. A worthy companion to the 13th Floor Elevators and Cold Sun, (and unsurprisingly, George Kinney is occasionally reminiscent of Roky and Bill Miller.)

Many 'long lost' albums never quite seem to live up to the hype. This is an exception.

but still a very good cd. Trippy for sure, similar to Forever Changes by Love but heavier in some parts. Worth the money and a welcome addition to my 60's psych collection.