Soft Machine - Seven

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Writing this makes me feel as though I'm Elmer Fudd, sneaking up on Bugs so that he doesn't hear me, but here goes anyway: I like this CD. I mean, I REALLY like this CD. In fact, I've liked it since its original release, which was my introduction to the band. Oh sure, I've since gone back and listened to their earlier material - you know, the stuff that's venerated by so many that there are probably several world religions based on it by now. And sure, the earlier stuff is indeed most excellent. But the criticism of this band for its evolution is as misplaced as was the criticism of Dylan when he similarly evolved some years earlier. Dylan clearly knew what he was doing, and he exposed his critics as tired old folkies. In retrospect, those that criticize this release are tired old hippies. Get over it folks - this is good stuff. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that it's an important CD. Not as important as Bitches Brew, but similar. These guys weren't the technicians that Miles' sidemen were, but that's really the point, isn't it? Miles used the world's best musicians to show that jazz and rock could combine to make an eminently listenable brew. This contemporaneous release showed that similar results could be achieved (albeit on a smaller scale) by musicians who were mere mortals. As such, it has become a touchstone for many who have followed (Medeski Martin & Wood, etc.). So you see, it's not so blasphemous after all. Go ahead, give it a spin. You won't turn into a pillar of salt, I promise.

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Tracklist:
01 Nettle Bed Jenkins 4:51
02 Carol Ann Jenkins 3:45
03 Day's Eye Ratledge 5:03
04 Bone Fire Ratledge :35
05 Tarabos Ratledge 4:27
06 D.I.S. Marshall 3:04
07 Snodland Jenkins 1:51
08 Penny Hitch Jenkins 6:38
09 Block Jenkins 4:18
10 Down the Road Jenkins 5:44
11 The German Lesson Ratledge 1:51
12 The French Lesson Jenkins 1:03

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