release date: Feb. 1, 1974
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,08]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Venus Loon" - 2. "Sound Pit" - 4. "Galaxy" - 5. "Change" - 8. "Liquid Gang"
9th studio album by T. Rex and the last to be produced by Tony Visconti. Again, the new album from Bolan doesn't add new dimensions or styles to his repertoire, and the album was received with less enthusiasm compared to his previous releases. A lot of the tracks sound much like former compositions, like was the case with Tanx (1973), and the album title made critics imply it a lesser copy of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (1972). It's not really that the music is bad, it contains several fine songs with perhaps a darker approach to life, but what perhaps made critics dislike the album is what may be seen as Bolan's attempt to stay on top despite having no ideas left, clinging on to a throne while the magic is dissolving.
The king will not step down, although, everyone has seen former glam rockers like Bowie and Reed more than just able to produce new material building on new ideas following glam rock into new areas, whereas Bolan has no intentions to follow suit. It's really not bad but at the same time it's difficult to embrace. Not one of the best by Bolan.
