I noticed recently that I have been writing about a lot of bands’ self-titled albums, so I figured I’d keep that up today with The Other Half’s self-titled album, The Other Half (1968). I don’t know much about The Other Half, in fact, only after searching them on google did I learn anything at all about the band, but they seem like they’ll be a fun listen for me, given that they a psychedelic garage rock band that started in L.A. and moved to San Francisco. My idea of that type of music typically shifts towards the band Count Five, who were a psychedelic garage rock band from the same time frame; the Count Five only produced a single album, but found some success with their track, “Psychotic Reaction”. In a similar fashion, The Other Half seems to have only gotten the chance to record a single album, but also caught some attention in the early 80s after a song of theirs was featured on one of Rhino Records’ Nuggets compilations. I’ve never heard of these compilations, but I’m going to find out what that song and its original album were all about shortly.
“Introduction” has a very raw, live sound to it. There’s a very high energy to it all – with a bopping backing track and vocals that go back and forth. Ooh, that harmonica is pretty tasty, sort of bluesy, and the electric guitar is just jamming out in the background. I love the sound like it’s live.
“Feathered Fish” jumps right back in where the previous song left off with some super slick face-melting guitar playing. I always dig the vibe from garage rock albums – raw, authentic, very high energy, and all with a great grit. I really dig what’s going on with the guitar in this one. This definitely has a proto-punk feeling to it all, but the song has its own way of slowing down and stirring things up with some psychedelia.
“Flight of the Dragon Lady” has a very infectious bass line that carries the song with the drums while the guitars play something that reminds me of surf rock in a way, like a distant cousin of sorts. I really dig when they bring the harmonica in to slow things down with a bluesy sort of feel. Oh wow, that was either a massive guitar tone, or an air horn of some sort. This song is pretty sweet, not going to lie. I’m pretty impressed at the moment, honestly.
“Wonderful Day” has a bit slower, more mellow feel than the previous few tracks. Almost like the band is taking a trip through a wonderland of sorts. There’s almost a shuffling waltzy sort of feel to it. This one definitely is more psychedelic than garage I think, and it’s quite enjoyable to listen to the rawness involved with that kind of playing.
“I Need You” starts out as a really forceful track, though mellows out somewhat when the vocals come in. I guess mellows out might not be a great term, it’s more so less chaotic, though feels like it’s a train rolling down the tracks. Oh dang, when the beat changes up for the guitar solo I’m really drawn to listening even closer. This song is awesome. All the songs on the album except for one are under three minutes, so this album feels like it’s flying by.
“Oz Lee Eaves Drops” definitely has a psychedelic chop to it. Wow, that guitar is pretty sweet. I really dig the clapping portions of the song, it adds just the right flavor to the song. This song really takes some unexpected left turns, but you wind up in a very interesting and dynamic place. The drumming is super impressive honestly – it’s quite dynamic in tempo, and definitely gets a whole lot of sound out of the kit. The guitars almost melt the song together in a big pot, it’s super interesting to hear.
Oh I dig this one. “Bad Day” sounds like a really raw, bluesy rock and roll song. The keyboards, and especially the guitar, makes me think of the earlier days of The Rolling Stones. This album is super intriguing to listen to; different instruments shine in different parts and all add a quick flavor to the song at every moment.
“Morning Fire” has almost a stand-off marching feel it. There’s a super interesting circulating beeping noise in the track. The song really has a bit of an eastern European feel to it (from what little I know about eastern European music). This one has a really interesting feel to it, and is made all the more intriguing via the garage rock sound. Each song sounds like they’re a perfect length; nothing is overplayed in any of them.
Oh wow, “What Can I Do for You, First Half”, has almost a pseudo-psychedelic, pseudo-funk rock feel to it. At this point, I can’t stress how in awe I am over the dynamic range in sound that this album contains. This one definitely has a much slower feel, though it remains steady and feels like it’s carrying some great momentum built up in the album. The vocals are great – they switch locations in the soundscape creating a psychedelic effect, while retaining a high octane grit the whole time.
“What Can I Do for You, the Other Half” is the original last song from the album (I think everything else were singles from the band). This one definitely has more of a psychedelic rock feel to it, and almost reminds me of The Doors’ original self-titled album from 1967 in terms of pace and how and what the instruments are all playing. That being said, the guitar style is pretty different from that of Robby Krieger’s. Worth mentioning, this is the only song on the album over 3 minutes in length, and comes in at almost 7 minutes. Wow, that guitar solo is really awesome – very gritty, psychedelic, and definitely interesting. The song’s instruments are sort of rotating around the soundscape a bit at this point, and I’m super hooked into the song at this point. There’s a certain darkness to this one that I think is what is reminding me a lot of The Doors. Wow, there’s almost such a great contrast in vocals – silky and gritty, and then both meeting at gritty eventually. This band originated in Los Angeles, much like The Doors, so perhaps that’s why The Other Half is reminding me of them right now. Wow, what a song. That was awesome.
“Mr. Pharmacist” is the song featured on the Rhino Records Nuggets compilation. Wow, this one is pure punk – gritty, raw, power chords, and a strong beat. Oh wow, the energy picks up a lot when the harmonica comes in and everything becomes super chaotic. Wow, there’s that touch a psychedelia I’ve grown accustomed to hearing from The Other Half. This has been a great album thus far.
Oh wow, “I’ve Come So Far” has that late 1960s psychedelic rock sound that reminds me a lot of The Beatles’ album, Revolver (1966), only with a lot more garage rock influence. Ooh wow, the harmonica comes on and simultaneously solos next to the guitar solo, that really don’t play off each other too much, but the chaos really works and adds a super interesting layer to the song.
“It’s Too Hard” has a great bluesy feel to it, especially with that harmonica. The rest of the instruments sort of bop along in the background until the vocals pick up speed, which the rest of the instruments quickly follow suit. Wow, that guitar is super slick in this one. Wow, when the song switches up tempo it can get pretty punk rock out there.
“I Know” has a bit of a mellower feel to it that almost shuffles around, especially with that interesting guitar lick. Honestly, I can’t tell how many band members play at once, because I think the more I listen, the more I can pick out little different things in the background. Definitely an awesome song in an awesome album. This song is probably the closest thing to a ballad on the album. That guitar solo has a great feel to it – it almost reminds me of The Brian Jonestown Massacre a bit. Wow, I really dig the energy that’s kept up throughout the song a lot.
“No Doubt About It” sounds like a pure garage rock jam piece – super high energy, quick tempo, raw, gritty, with that underlying rock and roll feel to the whole thing. Wow, that guitar comes in with some quick little psychedelic licks and then the whole song switches up. Dang, that harmonica really brings a great vibe to it. Dang, that bass part was super chunky with its distortion – super sweet. The little licks the lead guitar gets in are really awesome ways to add to the song. I really dig the little high hats in the song too. Wow, the vocals really lead you out of a hole of sorts. Awesome song.
Wow, this album was absolutely awesome. I’m so glad I listened to this one. I really recommend this to ano