Review:

on 2011-05-08 CharlesMartel Said:

You have to own a T. Rex album. There's no question about it, you just have to. Marc Bolan was a man who practically invented glam rock. Often overlooked in terms of musical contribution, Bolan subjugated the words (which were often little more than a vehicle for presenting a rhyme) to the power of the rocked up rhythm and occasional backing vocal harmonies. In so doing he found the basis for a new style of pop which, once married with glitter, platform shoes (needed because he was so short) and outrageously flashy clothes, he had hit on a successful formula.

I will admit that T. Rex sounds today very dated. But in terms of the history of music, it was absolutely critical to developments like punk rock and the New Romantics. Marc Bolan was a seminal influence on so many of today's pop greats. He has been cited by a wide range of musicians as a source of inspiration and it is arguable that both Lou Reed and Iggy Pop owe him a huge debt. Bowie would not deny his own. T. Rex stood head and shoulders above their contemporaries  Sweet and Gary Glitter.

Bolan's formula was simple. Take a series of catchy guitar riffs, add an easy to remember refrain and a few yeahs and oohs, all of which can be chanted by the masses and you've got the basis for a hit. Never mind about the lyrics, it doesn't matter if they don't mean anything. After all, anybody who came up with the line

"Metal Guru
Is it you, yeah yeah yeah"

is not exactly going to win any songwriting awards is he? But the beautiful simplicity of those lyrics was more important than their meaning (mainly because there was no meaning). After all, "Telegram Sam" means nothing, so

"Telegram Sam
You're my main man"

has as much depth and philosophical underpinnings as

"Telegram Sam
You're a side of ham".

Who cares, it's a damn good tune. And even decades after I first heard it, I could still remember and sing the refrain.

Of course, like all pop, which is transient by its very nature, it had its moment and then passed. The moment Bolan started trying to write lyrics with a meaning, he lost it. Be honest, he could not have picked worse imagery than "Dandy in the Underworld". But let this not put you off. Go out and buy a T. Rex album. Just make sure it is a good compilation like this one otherwise you will buy a lot of music which sounds all the same.
Rating: 5/10