I came across this album on Spotify the other night doing some exploration of some bands (I see a lot of different suggestions for similar bands than I do when I use Apple Music, so I try to search on both to find as much as possible). I’d never heard of St. John Green before, but I think I was looking at artists similar to either Bohemian Vendetta or possibly The Freeborne, and figured this would be a good one to check out too during this late 1960s psychedelic rock kick I’m on at the moment. The band only released this one self-titled album, and sort of went on different paths with other music groups after the band broke up later in 1968. That said, I’m looking forward to listening, so I’ll jump on into the music.
“7th Generation Mutation” has a steady pulsating bass at the beginning, and suddenly there’s some poetry performed while there is moaning in the background. Woah, this song is pretty sweet. The poetry reminds me a lot of Jim Morrison a lot. The band is creating some really spaced out sounds for the background. That electric organ serves a simple melody well that the bass also starts to echo. Wow, there are some other droning instruments in the background with the groaning – and almost sounds like someone playing music in front of a zombie apocalypse while someone reminiscent of Jim Morrison, though a bit more tight and/or higher in pitch in vocal delivery, performs some poetry with the track.
“Canyon Women” has some super strange sounds to it. Wow, this song is pretty sweet. It’s almost like someone made some sort of shamanic chant from a ceremony (at least what I’d imagine it to be like) into some strange psychedelic song. There are a lot of different vocals in many directions in the soundscape that all add a different flavor and vibe to the mix. The organs really add some great flavor. Holy smokes, this song really fires on all cylinders when the electric guitar and organ are jamming out. Wow, the vocals in the song are mystifying.
“Devil and the Sea” has a super groovy flavor to the electric organ and the bass guitar picking the song up by the fingertips of a proverbial hand, while the vocals coax said hand forward. Oh wow, the harmonica really grooves out with the organs. The drums keep the song going steady. The vocals are absolutely awesome. The vocal performance is definitely reminiscent of an ultra charismatic vocalist like Mick Jagger or Jim Morrison.
“Do You Believe” has a super strange, but really sweet feel that sounds almost like a bit of a psychedelic ragtime groove. Wow, this album is super groovy. There’s a super tin pan alley-esque feeling to this one, draped in psychedelia. The vocals slowly move from one side to another, and at the end of the song the band really has a super slick groovy jam.
Oh wow, “Help Me Close the Door” drops right into things, and creates a super psychedelic soundscape with the piano, guitars, and different vocal samples while there’s poetry spoken over the instrumentation, manifesting a super cool psychedelic-tinged track.
“Messages from the Dead” drops right into a speedy psychedelic track, with some strange biblical-influenced poetry that steers the song, with certain instruments coming in based on the words in the tune. The organs fill up the soundscape with tri-tones at the mention of Satan, while the cymbals crash together at the mention of fire. Meanwhile, the bass and drums keep things steady rocking at a really fast pace. Honestly I’m looking into buying this one on vinyl already. Wow, the little jangling of the electric guitar in the background really creates this fast-paced, strange ethereal dream-like feeling. Holy smokes, at the end of the song everything comes crashing together in this super groovy melody that was unknowingly teased the whole time.
“Goddess of Death” has a super eery feeling to it, and definitely reminds me a lot of The Doors’ second album, Strange Days (1967). Wow, the bass guitar keeps things moving forward in a sort of haunting way, while the organs swirl around create this sound that rushes in and out of the tune. Wow, the song was super dense and awesome.
“St. John Green” is a huge vibe change-up that is incredibly tasty, as it’s almost a bluesy Morrison-type ballad. It’s something like “The Crystal Ship” by The Doors, though is a bit boppier in feel, and almost has a Bob Dylan circa 1965 sort of sound to it, and I’m really grooving out to it. Absolutely awesome song.
“Spirit of Now” definitely keeps a certain Doors-esque vibe to it, and has a really nice groove to it that is somewhat reminiscent of a psychedelic circus. Wow, the energy in this one is super high and the playing is ultra tight. Wow, this guitar solo is absolutely sick. The drums in this song is awesome – every beat feels interconnected, and honestly kind of reminds me a bit of Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead. Wow, that little organ solo was pretty slick.
“Love of Hate” is another poetry type song, with the organ providing a psychedelic backdrop to the performance, and the bass gently feels out certain parts, almost like a steady, sure heartbeat. I’m not even sure what the poetry is necessarily about, but it’s still incredibly musical. Oh wow, those little skips in the taping of the poetry are sweet. Wow, the ending word of “amen” was super slick, and I really dig it.
“One Room Cemetery” creates an almost shamanic soundscape where more poetry is performed with. The drums feel almost primal, while the bass accentuates the pulsating rhythm. Wow, the little space-like notes made by the keyboards or possibly guitars are absolutely sweet. Wow, this feels like a really proto-space rock psychedelic song, and sounds like The Doors meets Gong. Wow, there’s a marching feeling with the drum beat now that makes the whole song feel like it’s got an incredible amount of momentum. Those rolling drum beats are super interesting. Really sweet little tune.
Oh wow, “Shivers of Pleasure” is a meta commentary on the album as a whole, and sounds like Grateful Dead meets ragtime meets bebop, and is super sweet. Wow, everything sounds like it’s gradually winding down as the vocals sort of feel less tense in delivery, and definitely has a super fun jam-session feel. The band goes down the alphabet as the band winds things up and plays a really neat tune to end the album. Definitely a cool song to end the groovy album.
Wow, this album is awesome. I wish the band had made more albums, but am extremely grateful to have listened to this one. I do know that this album oozed charm, great songwriting, and interesting manifestations of psychedelia. This one is definitely a great listen for psychedelic rock fans, and I would definitely recommend it especially to those who enjoy the musical stylings of 1960s L.A. psychedelic rock. Regardless, if you do decide to give this one a listen, I do sincerely hope that you enjoy it at least as much as I did.
-A