ALBUM REVIEW: T. Rex - Electric Warrior

    There is a very good case to be made that Marc Bolan is the inventor of glam rock - if he isn't than he's at least the first to refine it to such a powerful, catchy edge. Of course, Bolan didn't begin life as a flamboyant glam-rocker, as he was initially a drugged-out folk hippie; by 1971, though, that was out the window, and in its place was someone who could easily pump out hooks and rockers in his sleep. On Electric Warrior, damn near every moment is filled with catchy choruses, punching guitar lines, and pure energy - look on in awe. Of course, Bolan is one piece of the puzzle that is T. Rex, and it helps that his band is unbelievably sharp and just as bursting full of energy as Marc is. A remarkably clean album, albeit one that slips on occasion, but a clean album nonetheless.

    Easily the best thing going for this album is the pure energy and glam power. T. Rex, even without the powerhouse fronting man that is Marc Bolan, are an incredibly tight, pounding group, and I think one of the strongest aspects of this is the drummer - Bill Legend maybe isn't the most technical drummer, but he can crash out a pounding beat that seems to perfectly with Bolan's guitar hooks and Steve Currie's thumping bass-lines. This dynamic pretty much sticks throughout the album, whether Bolan is rocking over blues compositions or more gentle, spaced-out moments like "Planet Queen." It's a fun dynamic, and generally the album sounds excellent, probably due in part to Tony Visconti's skillfully production - did I mention that Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan from The Turtles are backup singers on this album?

    Of course, a rock album isn't shit if it doesn't rock, but T. Rex delivers. You can tell that you're on the right track when half of your album could qualify as an A-Side, and straight from the opener of "Mambo Sun" one thing is apparent - Bolan knows how to write a hook. If you weren't convinced by that song, than surely by the time the final orchestra hit at the end of "Rip Off" rests you will be. Of course, you have the actual singles on this album, mainly the galvanizing "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" which easily ranks as the greatest song on the album, although I also have plenty of love for "Jeepster," a song that I think builds on the distinctly feminine masculinity of Marc Bolan - one of the most powerful tools in his charm and presence. "The Motivator" is another great song that could've easily been a single with a similar guitar riff and punch as "Bang a Gong." Of course, sometimes the album slips. "Girl" plays a bit like a weak Bowie cut from the Space Oddity era. Potentially more controversial is the fact that I find "Cosmic Dancer" to be a pretty weak moment - far too low energy for the album in my opinion.

    Electric Warrior showcases a powerhouse group, and a charismatic lively frontman who is exactly what the album describes him as. Bolan is an excellent rock writer, and he's got the power to back it up. While it stumbles sometimes in the track listing, Electric Warrior is mostly a dirty sweet album throughout its running time, and easily one of the most sustaining albums from glam rock's early days. Very good.

RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Listen to Electric Warrior.