San Francisco Sound
Moby Grape issued one of the more interesting, eclectic and satisfying debut albums of the late 1960s. But the group soured soon after and never enjoyed the spoils of hippie-era commercial success or subsequent support from classic rock radio. That's too bad. The band's self-titled debut is an endearing amalgam of heavy blues, breezy folk-rock, subdued psychedelia and country soul. The San Francisco-based band is at its best here on stinging laments such as "8:05" and "Lazy Me." The musicianship on Moby Grape is first-rate throughout, but it's the emotional punch that makes this disc a recommended purchase 40 years after its original release.
This article appears in Feb 7-13, 2007.