Strawberries music in Rock & Pop Music

"Good Morning Starshine [Collectors' Choice]" (10/25/2005) Rock & Pop Strawberry Alarm Clock, Collectors' Choice MusicPersonnel: Jimmy Pitman (vocals, guitar); Lee Freeman (vocals, harmonica); Gene Gunnels (drums). Liner Note Author: Richie Unterberger. Recording information: Decca Studios, Universal City, CA. Photographer: Frank Bez. This is the fourth and final long-player of new material from Strawberry Alarm Clock (SAC). As with their previous discs, Good Morning Starshine is a mixed affair. Prior to recording the album, the band underwent a somewhat drastic personnel change -- replacing longtime members George Bunnell (bass/vocals) and Randy Seol (drums/vocals) with Jimmy Pitman (guitar/vocals) and Gene Gunnels (drums), respectively. Also of note is the fact that all of Bunnell's songwriting credits for material on this album actually belong to Gunnels. The music has shifted away from the mix of punky psychedelia such as "Love Me Again" and "The World Is on Fire," inheriting a much more aggressive, bluesy approach ? la Grand Funk Railroad or even (gasp) MC5. Although there are sonic vestiges and remnants of the band's former self -- such as the disc's pseudo-hippie title track -- by all accounts this was the antithesis of what the band had been up until this point. The dichotomy in the material on Good Morning Starshine is indicative that SAC had pretty much run their course. With managerial and other behind-the-scenes issues continuing to plague them, there are no signs of cohesion within the grooves. The disc is certainly full of strong material, despite the decidedly aimless direction. "Small Package" is reminiscent of the band's sound, circa Wake Up...It's Tomorrow. Likewise, the song is a minor chord masterpiece in the same vein as their previous hit, "Tomorrow." The "California Girls" vocal tag is a nod to the Beach Boys, with whom SAC shared many a late-'60s performance stage. Additionally, either of the two versions of the mid-tempo rocker "Miss Attraction" would have been a welcome addition to their earlier releases. The free-form jamming and lead guitar lines are definitely reminiscent of early Spirit and the highly underrated Bay Area band Kak. The heavier and blues-influenced "Me and the Township," "Off Ramp Road Tramp," and "Hog Child" recall Blue Cheer and even later-era Moby Grape as much as they do the electric British blues of, say, Fleetwood Mac. ~ Lindsay Planer This is the fourth and final long-player of new material from Strawberry Alarm Clock (SAC). As with their previous discs, Good Morning Starshine is a mixed affair. Prior to recording the album, the band underwent a somewhat drastic personnel change -- replacing longtime members George Bunnell (bass/vocals) and Randy Seol (drums/vocals) with Jimmy Pitman (guitar/vocals) and Gene Gunnels (drums), respectively. Also of note is the fact that all of Bunnell's songwriting credits for material on this album actually belong to Gunnels. The music has shifted away from the mix of punky psychedelia such as "Love Me Again" and "The World Is on Fire," inheriting a much more aggressive, bluesy approach ? la Grand Funk Railroad or even (gasp) MC5. Although there are sonic vestiges and remnants of the band's former self -- such as the disc's pseudo-hippie title track -- by all accounts this was the antithesis of what the band had been up until this point. The dichotomy in the material on Good Morning Starshine is indicative that SAC had pretty much run their course. With managerial and other behind-the-scenes issues continuing to plague them, there are no signs of cohesion within the grooves. The disc is certainly full of strong material, despite the decidedly aimless direction. "Small Package" is reminiscent of the band's sound, circa Wake Up...It's Tomorrow. Likewise, the song is a minor chord masterpiece in the same vein as their previous hit, "Tomorrow." The "California Girls" vocal tag is a nod to the Beach Boys, with whom SAC shared many a late-'60s performance stage. Additionally, either of the two versions of the mid-tempo rocker "Miss Attraction" would have been a welcome addition to their earlier releases. The free-form jamming and lead guitar lines are definit

"Strawberries [Deluxe Edition]" (04/05/2005) Rock & Pop Damned (The), Sanctuary (USA)The Damned includes: Dave Vanian (vocals); Captain Sensible (guitar, bass); Rat Scabies (drums). All tracks have been digitally remastered. Liner Note Author: Kieron Tyler. Finding their feet again after yet another career misstep, the Damned emerged with STRAWBERRIES, their fifth studio album in as many years. With their line-up more or less stable at this point, it features Dave Vanian's more assured vocals and the more-pop-by-the-minute keyboards and guitars of Captain Sensible. STRAWBERRIES evokes the best of the Stranglers with a touch of XTC thrown in. Well produced by the band themselves, aurally it's a great improvement over previous efforts, and even includes a lyric sheet. From the catch-a-fire punk of "Ignite," the album moves on to new-wave pop with "Generals" and "Stranger on the Town." "Dozen Girls" foreshadows the gothic Damned of the near future, while "The Dog," STRAWBERRIES' most interesting track, fortifies their creepy vampiric image. For un-cynical punks in love, there's also the surprisingly bouncy un-cynical love song "The Pleasure and the Pain," and its companion "Life Goes On." An enjoyable album and highly recommended.

"Strawberry Shade" (08/29/2000) Rock & Pop Strawberry Shade, Orchard (Distributor)

"Black Strawberries" (09/30/2002) Rock & Pop Unbunny, Two-Ton Santa RecordsUnbunny returned in 2002 with Black Strawberries on New Hampshire's Two-Ton Santa Records. The band's quirky musical strategy remained mostly the same, with singer/guitarist Jarid Del Deo serving as songwriter, and drummer James Ess and bassist Steve Haruch providing rhythm support. The disc begins with the upbeat and casual "In a Way," which is followed by the bare-bones instrumental "Blorn Blind." On "5th of July," the band sounds like a folk band more than ever, with a healthy dose of blues behind Del Deo's calculated and straightforward lyrics. The pace picks up on "Water and the Spanish Tongue," and the majestic instrumentation reaches a new level on "Glacier," with guest piano by Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla. The disc ends with "Northerns Pies," an orchestral and reflective mood piece. Black Strawberries marked the return of Unbunny, who remained at top form after recording at a frantic pace in the mid- to late '90s. Sidney Linder, Rob Downen, Julie Law, and Gregg Porter guest on guitar, trumpet, piano, and drums respectively on the 12-track disc, which was mostly recorded with Walla in early 2002. ~ Stephen Cramer