The title is a bit misleading for, although this is certainly "new"
Blue Cheer, it is hardly an "improvement." It is important as a document of a band with some influence and certain cult status. Now that
the Velvet Underground have achieved true cult superstardom, it is bands like
Blue Cheer that continue to get rediscovered by devotees of '60s music. Here, bassist
Dick Peterson and drummer Paul Whalley present two distinctly different
Blue Cheers. Side two works much better. It is 14 minutes and 43 seconds of three
Randy Holden originals, "Peace of Mind," "Fruit & Iceburgs," and the brief "Honey Butter Lover." "Peace of Mind" is great, a lilting hard rock riff, and a refinement of the blistering
Blue Cheer sound that launched them into the consciousness of the public. This is the stuff
Grand Funk should've listened to -- or better still, should have covered. Although both sides of this album were produced by
Milan Melvin, Dot recording artists
Burns Kellogg on piano and organ, and
Bruce Stephens on guitars, sandblocks, and tortoise shell, cannot help
Peterson lift the basement tape vibe of side one to a place where it can compete with
Holden's contributions on the second side. Even covering Dylan's "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry does not bring the effort anyway near the majesty of "Peace of Mind."
Blue Cheer "As Different As Night and Day" would've been a better title for this disc. "Fruit & Icebergs" is heavy psychedelia.
Black Sabbath's "Rat Salad" meets San Francisco's
Big Brother & the Holding Company without
Janis Joplin. The final track, "Honey Butter Lover," is a cute acoustic piece with more spirit than anything on side one, which makes this a real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde album of
Blue Cheer in transition. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide