Feedback

Chronique

Fans of classic garage rock and psychedelia were pleasantly surprised when the Electric Prunes began playing live shows again in the new century, showing that they were still a force to be reckoned with, but what was all the more startling is that they cut a solid new album in 2001, Artifact, and two equally impressive sets have followed. 2006's Feedback is a tougher and harder-rocking album than the trippy 2004 concept album California, and the opening track, "Hello Out There," captures the Prunes on-stage gloriously raving up and ranting like a band half their age. In many respects, Feedback recalls the material the Prunes recorded on their first two albums back in 1967, though with somewhat more ambitious arrangements and lyrics that more openly confront the constant war between the straight world and the more enlightened minority. ("Flying Blind," however, seems like a veiled attack on the producers and songwriters who swiped the group's identity after their run of hits had dried up.) Guitarists Ken Williams and Mark Tulin can still produce the same fuzzed-out and shimmering noise they generated back in the day (and they get some additional guitar assistance from Moby Grape axeman Peter Lewis), and vocalist James Lowe may sound older but if anything he's even more opinionated and engaged than he was in the '60s, and "I'll Give You Feedback," "Morphine Drip," and "African Bees" shows that he's matured without losing touch with his inner tripped-out teenager. Don't call Feedback a comeback -- this album shows the Electric Prunes have picked up where they left off with the same talent and years of additional experience, and it's wild, intriguing stuff.
© Mark Deming /TiVo