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T. Rex is a monster group that has already devoured England — four No. 1 songs out of five last year, sales of four million-odd records and more than four per cent of the entire British market.Now the group is ready to devour America and their second album released in this country, “Electric Warrior” (Reprise RS 6466), is the means to bring the nation to submission.It’s rock ‘n’ roll all the way — simple enough at times to remind one of Chuck Berry, direct enough to remind one of the Rolling Stones and with the appeal of the Beatles’ early work.But although one is reminded of all these early greats, the music played by T. Rex is no mere imitation. Writer Mark Bolan, also lead singer, guitarist and rock’s next superstar, gives his songs an intonation and inflection that is all his own. He vocally transcends the earlier rock style and lyrically mixes paleontology, medieval lore, cosmology and mysticism.If this sounds too high-handed, it shouldn’t. Primarily because the most accurate description I’ve heard of Bo-lan’s earthy style is rape rock. For example, the album’s hit single, “Get It On (Bang a Gong),” has lyrics that are both sexually explicit and yet obtuse in other ways: “You’re built like a car/You got a hubcap/Diamond star halo.”“Planet Queen” again carries the sexual references, this time mixed with cosmology: “Well it’s all right/Love is what you want/Flying saucer take me away/Give me your daughter.”Even better than “Get It On” is the track called “Cosmic Dancer,” which is the best rock song I’ve heard so far this year. The song is imbued with an aura of mystery, heightened by the soft vocal before the steady drums, flugel horn and strings. The lyrics are compelling, moving one to involvement with the music: “I danced myself right out the womb/Is it strange to dance so soon?”Another great song is “Mambo Sun”which again features a steady, driving beat. It is also a prime example of Bolan when he most turns on an audience. Grunts, groans and screams. Lyrics put together as phrases — each good but with no coherent whole over than the beat. It’s a mystical spell to enchant the listener.It seems incredible that a group this good could go unnoticed for so long by this country. T. Rex is one of the best, as is “Electric Warrior.”
Newspaper Details
Elk Grove Village Herald
Elk Grove Village, Illinois, US
Fri, Mar 31, 1972
Page 43
Full Page
Clipped by
Clifford M.
CZ 04 Jun 2025
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