VA - White Lace And Strange 1968-1972 (2007)

By the end of the sixties psychedelia was pretty much a spent force. Bands were looking for something simpler and more earthy. Crosby, Stills & Nash had gone all acoustic and harmonious, The Band had achieved a return to classic Americana, and James Taylor was showing the world you could be laid back and hip at the same time.
However, not everyone wanted to ditch their fuzzboxes just yet awhile. Inspired by such outfits as Cream, Blue Cheer, Hendrix and the nascent Led Zeppelin, what we have here is a collection of American bands moving sideways out of psych into something less cosmic and far heavier. This amalgam of blooze rock and heavy riffing is loud and nasty but it pre-dates metal. It’s full of attitude, but it certainly isn’t punk. It’s pretty tripped out, but it’s not really psychedelia. It’s got elements of all three, but it’s something quite unique. It’s the sound of guitar, bass and drums (and the occasional Hammond organ) just as it was meant to be, cranked up and in your face. No frills, just power chords and stomping riffs from a time before it all got bogged down by Spandex, pyrotechnic stageshows and satin tour jackets. This is old school, heavy, uncompromising guitar rock. Stamp on that Big Muff and solo till your brain drops out.