Nuggets: The Psychedelic Rock Album You Need to Hear
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Nuggets: The Psychedelic Rock Album You Need to Hear is a blog post that explores the best psychedelic rock album of all time.
Who are Nuggets?
Nuggets are an American psychedelic rock band from New York City, best known for their 1967 album Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968. The album was compiled by Lenny Kaye and released on Elektra Records in 1972.
The band was formed in 1966 by brothers George and Merrell Fife, who were joined by John Eaton (guitar), Wayne Cantrell (bass) and Ronnie Torrisi (drums). They were influenced by British Invasion bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, as well as American garage rock bands such as the Sonics and the Thirteenth Floor Elevators.
The band’s sound is characterized by fuzz-tone guitars, distorted vocals and a heavy use of feedback. They were one of the first American bands to incorporate elements of psychedelia into their music.
Nuggets’ debut album was released in 1967 on the Tower Records label. It is regarded as one of the most influential garage rock albums of all time, and helped to pioneer the genre known as “psychedelic punk.” The album’s title comes from a line in Michael Hurley’s song “Grizzly Bear”: “I’m gonna buy me a nugget/And take it home to my babe.”
The album was not commercially successful at the time of its release, but it has since been lauded by critics and has been cited as an influence by many artists, including Kurt Cobain, Dinosaur Jr., Pavement and Sonic Youth. In 2003, Nuggets was ranked number 426 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
What is Psychedelic Rock?
Psychedelic rock is a musical genre that emerged in the mid-1960s that was characterized by whipping distorted guitars, mind-bending lyrics, and drug-inspired excess. The genre borrowed heavily from the garage rock and acid rock scenes that were taking place in America at the time and shared many of the same fashion sensibilities and flavor. Psychedelic rock reached its apex in 1967, often referred to as the Summer of Love, but by the early 1970s, it had already begun to decline in popularity. Nevertheless, the genre has continued to exert a significant influence on popular music in the intervening decades.
Why You Need to Hear This Album
Nuggets: The Psychedelic Rock Album You Need to Hear is a compilation album of psychedelic rock songs released in 1968. The album was released by Elektra Records and features 12 tracks by 12 different artists.
The album received critical acclaim upon its release and is now considered to be one of the most important albums of the genre. The tracks on the album are seen as influential to many subsequent psychedelic rock bands.
If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, then you need to hear Nuggets: The Psychedelic Rock Album You Need to Hear.
The Songs on the Album
The album kicks off with “I Can See for Miles” by The Who, a driving, anthemic track that sets the tone for the rest of the album. The song is followed by “Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane, a slower, more intimate track that demonstrates the range of emotions that can be conveyed through psychedelic rock. Other highlights include “Happy Trails” by Quicksilver Messenger Service, “Dark Star” by The Grateful Dead, and “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane.
Where to Buy the Album
The album is available for purchase online from a variety of retailers, including Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play. You can also stream it on Spotify or listen to it for free on YouTube.