Following the almost as incredible Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, which arguably is the first psychedelic album, this 1967 release begins to show just how far that style can go. The combined genius (yes, genius) of the remarkably young (~20) Roky Erickson, guitarist Stacey Sutherland, and electric jug-player and essentially bandleader Tommy Hall becomes even more apparent. The music spares nothing is going all-out with the psychedelia always delivered with energy and urgency that set the bar impossibly high for contenders and giving fellow Texans Janis Joplin and ZZ Top their ultimate aspirations. In fact, the groups eventual visit to San Francisco at the height of Haight-Ashbury proved their drug-influenced music squarely in another league even when in the world's LSD capitol.
The epic opening track "Slip Inside This House" is an unparalleled psychedelic journey and Erickson's lyrical flow can put any rapper to shame immediately. Followed by frequent song contributor Powell St. John's chilling (but why?) "Slide Machine," the album's power hardly could be accused of cooling down. Giving Erickson a break, Sutherland's "Nobody to Love" is a perfect 60s US rocker and the much debated Dylan cover "Baby Blue" is a perfect side-closer.
Luckily, the other side is just as strong, most notably with "I Had To Tell You," which outdoes the debut's "Splash 1" in proving how well the band could write pretty songs. While there are no hits like the previous album's "You're Gonna Miss Me" who cares? Trip out, rock out, and spaz out to this masterpiece immediately. Essential for all fans of music, especially Janis Joplin, ZZ Top, The Butthole Surfers, and/or other Texas rock.
The 13th Floor Elevators - Easter Everywhere (1967)
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