The 5 Best Obscure Psychedelic Rock Bands
Contents
In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at five of the best obscure psychedelic rock bands that you need to check out. These bands may not be household names, but they’re definitely worth a listen if you’re a fan of the genre.
Introduction
Psychedelic rock, often shortened to psyrock or psych rock, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what was then known as proto-punk music, psychedelic rock grew out of the experimentation with mind-altering substances that characterized the counterculture of the 1960s.
Although psychedelic rock is often associated with the use of hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, many bands involved in the genre were actually opposed to drug use. While some psyrock bands did experiment with drugs, others deliberately eschewed their use.
The 5 Best Obscure Psychedelic Rock Bands:
1) Iron Butterfly
2) The13th Floor Elevators
3) The Electric Prunes
4) Love
5) The Seeds
The 5 Best Obscure Psychedelic Rock Bands
Psychedelic rock is often thought of as a relic of the past, but there are plenty of modern bands keeping the sound alive. If you’re looking for something a little different, check out these five obscure psychedelic rock bands.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a psychedelic rock band formed in San Francisco in 1990. The group was founded by Anton Newcombe, who is the only constant member of the band. They have released seventeen albums, three compilation albums, five live albums, thirteen singles, and five EPs. The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s music incorporates elements of psychedelia, garage rock, shoegazing, jangle pop, and acid rock.
The band rose to prominence in the early 1990s as part of the San Francisco psychedelic scene. They were one of the most prominent bands associated with the scene, along with acts such as The Charlatans UK, WordPress, Jeff Buckley, and Radiohead. They were characterized by their neo-psychedelic sound and use of vintage instruments.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre has been praised for its eclectic mix of genres and influences. AllMusic described the band as “one of the most intriguing bands of the ’90s”, while Drowned in Sound called them “the best psychedelic band since The Doors”.
The13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1965. The band was principally the work of Roky Erickson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), who wrote most of their material. They are considered as one of the first psychedelic rock bands. The band released their debut album The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators in 1966.
The Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes were an American garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1965. They are best known for their 1967 hit song “I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)”, as well as for appearing in the 1968 film performance Invasion of the Blood Farmers. The band’s original lineup consisted of James Lowe (lead vocals), Ken Williams (rhythm guitar), Mark Tulin (bass), Mike Gannon (keyboards) and Preston Ritter (drums).
The band released two albums on Reprise Records, 1967’s The Electric Prunes and 1968’s Mass in F Minor, before breaking up in 1969. They briefly reunited in the early 1970s, releasing two more albums, 1971’s Release of an Oath and 1974’s New Improved Electric Prunes, before disbanding again. The band has undergone numerous personnel changes over the years, with only Lowe remaining as a constant member.
The Electric Prunes were one of the first psychedelic rock bands to gain mainstream attention, and their music has influenced many subsequent artists. They have been cited as an influence by everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Roger Daltrey of The Who.
The United States of America
1. The United States of America: The self-titled debut album by The United States of America is a psychedelic masterpiece. It is a blend of experimental, avant-garde, and rock that is truly unique. It is one of the most original debut albums ever made, and it is still massively influential today.
2. The Electric Prunes: Another hugely influential psychedelic band, The Electric Prunes released two masterpiece albums in 1967, ‘The Electric Prunes’ and ‘Underground’. Their sound was heavily influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Captain Beefheart, and they pioneered the use of electronic sounds in rock music.
3. Love: Love were one of the most important bands to come out of the 60s Los Angeles music scene. Their 1967 album ‘Forever Changes’ is a timeless classic, and their other two albums ‘Da Capo’ and ‘Four Sail’ are also excellent. Love were constantly exploring new sonic territory, and their music remains as fresh and relevant today as it did 50 years ago.
4. The Zombies: One of the most underrated bands of all time, The Zombies released three incredible albums in the 60s, ‘Odessey and Oracle’, ‘Begin Here’, and ‘R.I.P.’ Their unique blend of pop, R&B, psychedelia, and experimentalism makes them one of the most interesting bands of all time, and their influence can still be heard today in many modern bands.
5. The Kinks: One of the most important British Invasion bands, The Kinks were also one of the earliest pioneers of psychedelia with their 1966 album ‘Face to Face’. They would continue to experiment with new sounds and styles throughout their career, culminating in the brilliant concept album ‘Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)’ in 1969.
Love
Love was an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1965. They were led by singer-songwriter Arthur Lee, who wrote most of the group’s material. Their best-known song, “Alone Again Or”, was included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and was ranked number 115 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The group’s lineup changed frequently; by the time of their final album, Four Sail, only Lee remained from the original group. Love began as a folk rock group inspired by the Byrds and released their first album, Love, in March 1966. The album contained their breakthrough hit “7 and 7 Is”, as well as the minor hit “She Comes in Colors”. Soon after its release, Elektra Records reissued Love’s debut album along with an EP of outtakes called Da Capo.
In January 1967, Love released their second album, Da Capo, which reached number 18 on the Billboard 200 chart and contained the singles “Stephanie Knows Who” and “She Loves You”. Four Sail was released in October 1968 and marked a change in direction for the band. Love began recording Four Sail while Arthur Lee was dealing with personal issues; his creative vision for the album was considerably different from that of Elektra Records. The label forced Lee to work with producer Bruce Botnick and limited his input on the record. Four Sail received mixed reviews upon its release; AllMusic described it as “the sound of a band at odds with itself”.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these five bands may not be as well-known as some of the other greats in the genre, but they are all definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of Psychedelic Rock. Each one has their own unique sound and style, and they have all managed to create some truly amazing music that is sure to appeal to any fan of the genre. So go ahead and give them a listen, you might just be surprised by what you find.
