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Rating:
If we were to choose an album based on its cover, for sure the choice would not fall on this first and only album by Bubble Puppy. And if, furthermore, we were to judge an album, or rather the music contained within it, based on its cover, this would be one of the ugliest albums in history. Fortunately for us, that's not the case.
Mother Nature was indeed harsh—an understatement, of course—only regarding the physical appearance of our musicians (look at the bearded guitarist in the center top, for example), because, on the contrary, technical and compositional skills were certainly not lacking for these four unfortunate Texans.
Originally from the cheerful Corpus Christi—I swear it's true—the Bubble Puppy moved to Austin where they recorded this album (AD 1969) for the local International Artist.
Originally perched on a garage style indebted to the Texas scene of the time (label mates 13th Floor Elevators primarily), they evolved their sound by introducing elements of folk, blues, and almost progressive passages, bleaching it all with a good dose of LSD. The result is a varied and excellently played work, whose only flaw perhaps lies in the sometimes sentimental and uninspired vocal; the rest is a kaleidoscopic succession of acoustic tracks between West Coast sound and Beach Boys during their Pet Sounds period (the title track), quirky blues sung like the Beatles, which suddenly speed up only to return to their original pace (I've Got To Reach You), and country ballads honoring the Grateful Dead (Road To St. Stephens).
However, the more direct, properly rock moments are the best of the album: Todd's Tune with an explosive finale, Lonely with its Hendrixian riff and an explosive crescendo, Thinkin' About Thinkin' intricately tied to their garage origins but with vocals reminiscent of the Bowie to come. The best track of the bunch remains Hot Smoke and Sassafras, just over two minutes introduced by an epic riff.
What to say, a must for all lovers of the lesser-known 60's sound.
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