Whether they're doing the spacy, airy, psychedelic pop of "Castles in the Sky" or the folky "Time Is Passing," the group attack their instruments as though they're performing live, and the effect is riveting throughout, even when the melodic content flags slightly. Thomas' voice is powerful if a little over-dramatic at times, but when the band keeps things moving, there's enough richness of content to carry the album and then some; the band was probably really interesting in concert, too, based on the evidence here. And for once with a band like this, trying to encompass psychedelia, folk-rock, hard rock, and progressive rock between two covers, they don't over-reach on their magnum opus "Colour Questions," the record's 12-minute centerpiece.
The group's prog rock impulses are also expressed on the album's original closer, "You'll Never Know Me/Release," which is a tour de force for Richard Hopkins' keyboard playing; unlike most of the competition, Blonde on Blonde seems not to have gravitated to the Moog synthesizer or the Mellotron, and the difference is refreshing, Hopkins' grand piano and organ speaking volumes in their own resonant language.
by Bruce Eder
Tracks
1. Castles In The Sky (Eve King, Paul Smith) - 3:29
2. Broken Hours (David Thomas) - 3:40
3. Heart Without A Home (Gareth Johnson) - 5:27
4. Time Is Passing (Les Hicks, David Thomas) - 2:40
5. Circles (Gareth Johnson) - 7:23
6. November (David Thomas) - 3:09
7. Colour Questions (David Thomas) - 12:07
8. You'll Never Know Me (Gareth Johnson)/Release (Richard John) - 7:46
9. Circles (Single Version) (Gareth Johnson) - 3:30
10.Castles In The Sky (Alternate Version) (Eve King, Paul Smith) - 3:24
11.Time Is Passing (Alternate Version) (Les Hicks, David Thomas) - 3:45
Blonde On Blonde
*Gareth Johnson - Lead Guitar, Sitar, Lute, Electronic Effects
*David Thomas - Vocals, Guitar, Bass
*Richard Hopkins (Aka Richard John) - Bass, Keyboards
*Les Hicks - Drums, Percussion
1969 Blonde on Blonde – Contrasts (2010 Esoteric bonus tracks issue)
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