The Best of 60s Psychedelic Rock: 1988
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60s Psychedelic Rock is a genre of music that is often misunderstood. In this blog post, we will take a look at the best of 60s Psychedelic Rock and what made it so great.
The Psychedelic Rock of the 60s
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that was inspired by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic rock often uses new recording techniques and effects and incorporates elements of other genres, such as queerness, cosmic Americana, and the avant-garde.
The Beatles and Psychedelic Rock
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The line-up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr led them to be regarded as the most influential band of all time.
The group were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways; the band later explored music styles ranging from ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. During their time as a live band they were often described as “the heaviest band ever”. After their break-up in 1970, they each found success in different musical endeavours: Lennon as a solo artist and onto form the Plastic Ono Band, Harrison with his Gary Wright-produced All Things Must Pass triple album and Starr with his chart-topping Ringo album.
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s with the goal of integrating elements of Western pop music with Eastern cultures, particularly using Indian classical musicScale patterns. Psychedelic groups also aimed to enhance their live performances by incorporating light shows into their sets, playing to prerecorded tracks (as was common among acid house parties during this time), or through feedback effects during live performances; these sonic innovations increased the audience’s ability to hear reverberation during a concert for the first time during this era. The use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, cannabis, morning glory seeds, psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline, and DMT also became common within some psychedelic groups for religious or recreational purposes
The Rolling Stones and Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s and developed until the early 1970s. The genre is marked by expressive and often eccentric arrangements, usually employing extensive instrumentation and incorporating elements of pop, soul, folk, jazz, and classical music. Psychedelic rock frequently explores the use of Tape Effects and studio manipulation to create soundtracks for the mind.
The Rolling Stones were one of the first British bands to embrace psychedelic rock. Their 1966 album Aftermath was an important early statement in the genre, with its mix of electric blues and experimental sound collages. The album’s lead single, “Paint It Black”, reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1966, becoming the first psychedelic rock song to top the chart. The Stones would explore psychedelic sounds further on their 1967 album Between the Buttons and 1968’s Beggars Banquet.
The Best Psychedelic Rock Albums of the 60s
Psychedelic rock, also referred to as “acid rock”, is a genre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The genre is defined by its use of psychedelic and mind-altering substances, such as LSD, and is characterized by its challenging and experimental soundscapes. The best psychedelic rock albums of the 60s are…
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles’ eighth studio album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, is the best psychedelic rock album of the 1960s. Released in 1967, the album was an instant classic and is still considered one of the greatest albums of all time. With hits like “With a Little Help from My Friends,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” and “A Day in the Life,” the album perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the psychedelic era.
The Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
Beggars Banquet is the seventh studio album by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in December 1968 by Decca Records. The album marked a return to roots rock for the band following the psychedelic pop of their 1967 LP Between the Buttons.
The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number three in the UK LP sales chart and number five in the US. Beggars Banquet was praised for its return to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ songwriting collaboration, and for its more “hard-edged” R&B sound. It has since been cited as one of the greatest rock albums of all time by multiple publications, including NME, Time magazine and Rolling Stone.
The Psychedelic Rock Revival of the late 80s
In 1988, the Psychedelic Rock Revival was in full swing. Bands like The Psychedelic Furs, The Cult, and Love and Rockets were churning out great music and gaining popularity. The late 80s were a great time for music in general, but Psychedelic Rock was especially on the rise. Let’s take a look at some of the best Psychedelic Rock albums of 1988.
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Psychocandy
The Jesus and Mary Chain’s debut album, Psychocandy, is often cited as one of the most influential records of the late 80s. The record’s combination of catchy pop melodies, noise rock guitar feedback, and darkly poetic lyrics was a radical departure from the band’s earlier work as a more traditional sounding indie rock band. The album’s success helped to spur on a short-lived but influential psychedelic rock revival in the late 80s and early 90s that included bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Ride, and Slowdive. While the revival would ultimately be overshadowed by the grunge explosion of the early 90s, it nevertheless left an indelible mark on the alternative rock landscape.
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses rose to prominence in the late 80s with their debut album, The Stone Roses. The album was a critical and commercial success, and is credited with spearheading the psychedelic rock revival of the late 80s. The album features the band’s signature sound, a mix of 60s pop and psychedelia with adose of jangly guitar work.
