BOOT
''TURN THE OTHER CHEEK!''
1976
38:37
1. It's All Comin' Down (Mike Mycz)
2. I've Been Thinkin' (Dan Eliassen)
3. I'll Be Fine Someday (Bruce Knox)
4. Sick and Tired (Dan Eliassen)
5. The Outside World (Bruce Knox, Jim O'Brock)
6. Meaningless Madness of Man (Bruce Knox)
7. A Plea for the Masses (Bruce Knox)
8. For Diana (Bruce Knox)
9. Everyone Come (Bruce Knox, Dan Eliassen)
Dan Eliassen - Vocals, Bass
Bruce Knox - Guitar, Vocals
Mike Mycz - Guitar, Vocals
Jim O'Brock - Drums, Vocals
REVIEW
1977's "Turn the Other Cheek" was apparently released posthumously by the taxscam Guinness label. Produced by Mike Stone and Peter Thomason (though the liner notes misspelled the latter's name as Thomasson)., the nine tracks were seemingly recorded in 1972 during the same sessions that saw the release of their debut album "Boot". As on the debut all four members contributed material, though lead guitarist Bruce Knox was responsible for the bulk of the collection. Musically the first side of the album wasn't all that different from the debut. Not the case with side two.
- Starting out with some sparkling acoustic guitar and then showcasing some of Knox's ever tasteful lead guitar, 'It's All Comin' Down' had everything needed to be a hit - great melody, fantastic vocals from Mycz and band harmonies, great lead guitar ... One of the best things they ever recorded, shame it wasn't released as a single. rating: ***** stars
- Kicked along by a great Eliassen bass line and some excellent twin lead guitar (don't know if it was Knox overdubbing himself), 'I've Been Thinkin'' was the funkiest thing they ever recorded - imagine a really good Redbone song and you'd get a feel for this one. rating: **** stars
- The first Bruce Knox composition, 'I'll Be Fine Someday' had a nice country-rock feel to it - more Buffalo Springfield than Poco. rating: *** stars
- A routine slice of boogie-rock, 'Sick and Tired' was the first disappointment. Professional, but completely forgettable it wasn't really helped by the fact it included a lengthy and needless Jim O'Brock's drum solo. Mind you, O'Brock was one helluva a drummer - I'd tell you he was Boot's secret weapon, but among his strengths was the fact he wasn't showy, instead focusing on keeping the rest of the band focused ... well, except for here. By the way, Knox's screeching solo wasn't much better. Yeah, it showed he could play fast and had a thing for Hendrix, but it seemed pasted on at the end of the song just to lengthen it. rating: ** stars
- 'Even though the track listing showed five songs, side two was actually divided into two long suites and was quite different from the rest of their catalog in that it found the band exploring what sounded like a progressive sound, complete with some synthesizers and fairly complex song structures.
- 'The Outside World' incorporated all of those characteristics along with O'Brock's martial drums and Knox's always tasteful leads - this time lots of wah-wah pedal. It made for one of my favorite performances. rating: **** stars
- 'Meaningless Madness of Man' was easily one of their strangest offerings - imagine a Florida rock band that had been listening to lots of British progressive stuff. The lyrics were actually quite funny. rating: ** stars
- Starting out with some thunderstorm sound effects 'A Plea for the Masses' continued the band's rant against middle class, 9-to-5 lifestyles. rating: ** stars
- Opening up with some nice Knox lead guitar, 'For Diana' was one of their prettiest ballads . The song also showcased some unexpected synthesizer. rating: *** stars
- Even better was the majestic 'Everyone Come'. Co-written by Knox and Eliassen, this one was their prettiest melody with a performance to match. Edited down this one could have easily scored them a hit. Only complaint was that it was too short. rating: **** stars
So how'd it compare to the debut? Even though this one's largely unknown to folks (not like Guinness tried to market the album), song for song I'd give the nod to this one. These may have been castoffs from the debut, but perhaps because they were recorded with less pressure on the band and they were willing to experiment with unusual approaches, it was more entertaining. That was enough to make it one of the better Guinness label releases.
- Eliassen retired from music and was living in St. Amant, Louisiana
- Sadly Knox had died of pancreatic cancer.
- Mycz had disappeared
- O'Brock opened up a handyman business in Shreveport, Louisiana where he plays drums for his local church.
''TURN THE OTHER CHEEK!''
1976
38:37
1. It's All Comin' Down (Mike Mycz)
2. I've Been Thinkin' (Dan Eliassen)
3. I'll Be Fine Someday (Bruce Knox)
4. Sick and Tired (Dan Eliassen)
5. The Outside World (Bruce Knox, Jim O'Brock)
6. Meaningless Madness of Man (Bruce Knox)
7. A Plea for the Masses (Bruce Knox)
8. For Diana (Bruce Knox)
9. Everyone Come (Bruce Knox, Dan Eliassen)
Dan Eliassen - Vocals, Bass
Bruce Knox - Guitar, Vocals
Mike Mycz - Guitar, Vocals
Jim O'Brock - Drums, Vocals
REVIEW
1977's "Turn the Other Cheek" was apparently released posthumously by the taxscam Guinness label. Produced by Mike Stone and Peter Thomason (though the liner notes misspelled the latter's name as Thomasson)., the nine tracks were seemingly recorded in 1972 during the same sessions that saw the release of their debut album "Boot". As on the debut all four members contributed material, though lead guitarist Bruce Knox was responsible for the bulk of the collection. Musically the first side of the album wasn't all that different from the debut. Not the case with side two.
- Starting out with some sparkling acoustic guitar and then showcasing some of Knox's ever tasteful lead guitar, 'It's All Comin' Down' had everything needed to be a hit - great melody, fantastic vocals from Mycz and band harmonies, great lead guitar ... One of the best things they ever recorded, shame it wasn't released as a single. rating: ***** stars
- Kicked along by a great Eliassen bass line and some excellent twin lead guitar (don't know if it was Knox overdubbing himself), 'I've Been Thinkin'' was the funkiest thing they ever recorded - imagine a really good Redbone song and you'd get a feel for this one. rating: **** stars
- The first Bruce Knox composition, 'I'll Be Fine Someday' had a nice country-rock feel to it - more Buffalo Springfield than Poco. rating: *** stars
- A routine slice of boogie-rock, 'Sick and Tired' was the first disappointment. Professional, but completely forgettable it wasn't really helped by the fact it included a lengthy and needless Jim O'Brock's drum solo. Mind you, O'Brock was one helluva a drummer - I'd tell you he was Boot's secret weapon, but among his strengths was the fact he wasn't showy, instead focusing on keeping the rest of the band focused ... well, except for here. By the way, Knox's screeching solo wasn't much better. Yeah, it showed he could play fast and had a thing for Hendrix, but it seemed pasted on at the end of the song just to lengthen it. rating: ** stars
- 'Even though the track listing showed five songs, side two was actually divided into two long suites and was quite different from the rest of their catalog in that it found the band exploring what sounded like a progressive sound, complete with some synthesizers and fairly complex song structures.
- 'The Outside World' incorporated all of those characteristics along with O'Brock's martial drums and Knox's always tasteful leads - this time lots of wah-wah pedal. It made for one of my favorite performances. rating: **** stars
- 'Meaningless Madness of Man' was easily one of their strangest offerings - imagine a Florida rock band that had been listening to lots of British progressive stuff. The lyrics were actually quite funny. rating: ** stars
- Starting out with some thunderstorm sound effects 'A Plea for the Masses' continued the band's rant against middle class, 9-to-5 lifestyles. rating: ** stars
- Opening up with some nice Knox lead guitar, 'For Diana' was one of their prettiest ballads . The song also showcased some unexpected synthesizer. rating: *** stars
- Even better was the majestic 'Everyone Come'. Co-written by Knox and Eliassen, this one was their prettiest melody with a performance to match. Edited down this one could have easily scored them a hit. Only complaint was that it was too short. rating: **** stars
So how'd it compare to the debut? Even though this one's largely unknown to folks (not like Guinness tried to market the album), song for song I'd give the nod to this one. These may have been castoffs from the debut, but perhaps because they were recorded with less pressure on the band and they were willing to experiment with unusual approaches, it was more entertaining. That was enough to make it one of the better Guinness label releases.
- Eliassen retired from music and was living in St. Amant, Louisiana
- Sadly Knox had died of pancreatic cancer.
- Mycz had disappeared
- O'Brock opened up a handyman business in Shreveport, Louisiana where he plays drums for his local church.
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