ALBUM REVIEW: Flamin' Groovies - Supersnazz

    After hearing Teenage Head, I became curious as to what the Groovies were up to before their '71 album, so I naturally went back to square one - their debut album. It only makes sense, right? Plus, with such a genuinely excellent album cover, I was immediately drawn into what the material on this album might sound like. After a few listens of Supersnazz, I can confidently say that this debut overshadows Teenage Head in almost every regard. Everything that unfolds on this powerhouse debut is fun, galvanizing rock backed with some truly stunning moments and the same wacko comedy and humor that makes the group so distinct, to the point where you can only help but imagine the group to be as filled with life as their cartoon depictions on the album cover. From start to finish, Supersnazz is nothing short of one hell of a time.

    Even more-so than Teenage Head, this album showcases a group that's here to play some rock and roll and have a good time. Straight from the thumping blues opener of "Love Have Mercy," the group is tight, playful, and more than willing to provide the goods - it helps that the singer breaks the fourth wall to thank you for listening in the first place. A sticking point I've seen against this album in comparison to Teenage Head is that it's too clean, but I honestly find it to be in a perfect middle ground - the characteristic roughness and edges are still there, but they're polished just enough to make them sound clean and confident. For the majority of the album, the group's energy is high as they blast out rockers and bouncing blues like nobody's business. Amongst my favorite is their cover of "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu," a song that's so fun and lighthearted that it puts a big smile on my face every time I hear it. It's bouncing piano lines, punching horns, and hollering vocals make it such an incredibly fun song - I can't get enough of it. Other covers are similarly bouncing with life, like "The Girl Can't Help It" and the medley that is "Somethin' Else / Pistol Packin' Mama."

    And yet, amidst all the rough edges and lighthearted rockers, occasional soft, heartfelt moments pierce their way through. Some moments fit in remarkably well with other pop outfits of the day, most notably to me being the closer "Around the Corner," which gives me Buffalo Springfield vibes for whatever reason. "Laurie Did It" is another great song that could've very easily been a hit in my eyes with its clean harmonies and soft instrumentation. That song is immediately followed by the beautiful sounding "Apart From That," which contains some of the most gentle vocal performances on the entire album - it almost reminds me of early Pink Floyd with the accented vocals, lyricism, and the string ensemble added over it. "Brushfire" is another very conventional sounding rock song, and yet another highlight of the album's incredibly consistent track listing - I don't think there's a single moment or song on this album that I'd say that I didn't like.

    Supersnazz is an album that I didn't expect to blow me away, and yet it did in ways that I didn't consider. Very few albums have such a fun, explosive style to them quite like this, and the Groovies' ability to play towards different styles and sounds throughout is certainly impressive. It's an expressive, fun, electrifying album that has done nothing short of put a big smile on my face from start to finish with its palpable, thumping grooves and earnest attitude. Easily some of the most fun I've had listening to an album in recent memory. Just excellent.

RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Listen to Supersnazz.