Sonic Flower Groove
Encyclopedia
Sonic Flower Groove was Scottish band Primal Scream
's debut album. Released in 1987, Sonic Flower Groove featured psychedelic, Byrdsy
jangle pop
and was the only Primal Scream album to feature founder member Jim Beattie
(credited as 'Jim Navajo').
The album sold well enough to reach number 62 in the UK Album Chart, but performed poorly by major-label standards. The disappointment was a major reason for the original Primal Scream splitting up shortly after Sonic Flower Groove, leaving vocalist Bobby Gillespie
and the guitar duo of Andrew Innes
and Robert "Throb" Young to reorganize the band.
Mayo Thompson
of Red Krayola
was the producer of the album, after work with Stephen Street
did not please the band.
were impressed with "Gentle Tuesday" but said "the rest is not pop. It is dandelion fluff", satating that the album was "swamped with problems" with "no songs, just a dusty pile of dull leftovers".
A later Allmusic review called it "one goofy headscratcher of a release, the sound of a band that didn't quite know exactly what to do yet trying to record a big-budget (of sorts) debut album and ending up with little more than a pristine but dull photocopy of Turn! Turn! Turn!
". In 2002, the Evening Times
stated that it is "now regarded as a retro masterpiece".
Japanese Bonus Tracks
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
's debut album. Released in 1987, Sonic Flower Groove featured psychedelic, Byrdsy
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
jangle pop
Jangle pop
Jangle pop is a genre of alternative rock from the mid-1980s that "marked a return to the chiming or jangly guitars and pop melodies of the '60s" bands such as The Byrds, with their electric twelve-string guitars and power pop song structures. Mid-1980s jangle pop was a non-mainstream "pop-based...
and was the only Primal Scream album to feature founder member Jim Beattie
Jim Beattie (musician)
Jim Beattie is a Scottish musician who founded Primal Scream and later went on to form Spirea X and Adventures in Stereo.-Biography:Beattie formed Primal Scream in 1982 along with Bobby Gillespie...
(credited as 'Jim Navajo').
The album sold well enough to reach number 62 in the UK Album Chart, but performed poorly by major-label standards. The disappointment was a major reason for the original Primal Scream splitting up shortly after Sonic Flower Groove, leaving vocalist Bobby Gillespie
Bobby Gillespie
Robert Bernard Andrew "Bobby" Gillespie is a Scottish musician. He is the lead singer and founding member of the alternative rock band, Primal Scream. He was also the drummer for The Jesus and Mary Chain in the mid-1980s.- Early life :Born and raised in the south side district of Mount Florida in...
and the guitar duo of Andrew Innes
Andrew Innes
Andrew Innes is a London-based musician. He is best known for being the rhythm guitarist in Scottish rock band Primal Scream.-Early years:...
and Robert "Throb" Young to reorganize the band.
Mayo Thompson
Mayo Thompson
Mayo Thompson is an American musician and visual artist best known as the leader of the avant-garde rock band Red Crayola .-1960s:...
of Red Krayola
Red Krayola
Red Krayola was a psychedelic, avant-garde rock band from Houston, Texas, formed by art students at the University of St. Thomas in 1966. The band was led by singer/guitarist and visual artist Mayo Thompson, along with drummer Frederick Barthelme and Steve Cunningham...
was the producer of the album, after work with Stephen Street
Stephen Street
Stephen Street is an English music producer best known for his work with The Smiths in the 1980s, as well as Blur and The Cranberries in the 1990s. Street also collaborated with Morrissey on some of his most popular work after The Smiths broke up, playing instruments and co-writing songs...
did not please the band.
Critical reception
At the time of its release, critical reception was mixed. Underground called it "a real gem of a debut album" and "one that's sure to top all the polls come the end of the year", but others were less impressed. Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
were impressed with "Gentle Tuesday" but said "the rest is not pop. It is dandelion fluff", satating that the album was "swamped with problems" with "no songs, just a dusty pile of dull leftovers".
A later Allmusic review called it "one goofy headscratcher of a release, the sound of a band that didn't quite know exactly what to do yet trying to record a big-budget (of sorts) debut album and ending up with little more than a pristine but dull photocopy of Turn! Turn! Turn!
Turn! Turn! Turn! (album)
Turn! Turn! Turn! is the second album by the folk rock band The Byrds and was released in December 1965 on Columbia Records . Like its predecessor, Mr. Tambourine Man, the album epitomized the folk rock genre and continued the band's successful mix of vocal harmony and jangly twelve-string...
". In 2002, the Evening Times
Evening Times
The Evening Times is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland.-History:The paper, an evening sister paper of The Herald, was established in 1876. The paper's slogan is "Nobody Knows Glasgow Better"....
stated that it is "now regarded as a retro masterpiece".
Track listing
All songs written by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie- "Gentle Tuesday" – 3:49
- "Treasure Trip" – 3:15
- "May the Sun Shine Bright for You" – 2:41
- "Sonic Sister Love" – 2:36
- "Silent Spring" – 3:52
- "Imperial" – 3:38
- "Love You" – 4:45
- "Leaves" – 3:32
- "Aftermath" – 2:47
- "We Go Down Slowly Rising" – 3:23
Japanese Bonus Tracks
- "Black Star Carnival" - 2:39
- "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" - 2:12
- "Star Fruit Surf Rider" - 1:58
- "So Sad About Us" - 4:17
- "Imperial" (Demo) - 3:43
Personnel
- Bobby GillespieBobby GillespieRobert Bernard Andrew "Bobby" Gillespie is a Scottish musician. He is the lead singer and founding member of the alternative rock band, Primal Scream. He was also the drummer for The Jesus and Mary Chain in the mid-1980s.- Early life :Born and raised in the south side district of Mount Florida in...
- vocals - Jim NavajoJim Beattie (musician)Jim Beattie is a Scottish musician who founded Primal Scream and later went on to form Spirea X and Adventures in Stereo.-Biography:Beattie formed Primal Scream in 1982 along with Bobby Gillespie...
- 12-string lead guitar - Andrew InnesAndrew InnesAndrew Innes is a London-based musician. He is best known for being the rhythm guitarist in Scottish rock band Primal Scream.-Early years:...
- rhythm guitar - Robert Young - bass
- Martin DuffyMartin Duffy (musician)Martin Duffy is an English keyboardist who originally played in Felt and currently plays with Primal Scream.-Career:Duffy was born in Birmingham and grew up in Rednal in the south of the city, attending St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in King's Norton, and growing up listening to Two Tone, punk,...
- piano - Dave Morgan - drums
- Francis Sweeney - viola
- Pat Collier - engineer