soleil rare 8 - mediator.

The least you can say is that I have not an extended knowledge of rock music, but I try to improve myself... here's "Soleil rare 8".

Seatrain - Sea Train.

The song title is "Sea Train", off the "Sea Train" album by Seatrain. Get it ? This album was released in 1969 on the ashes of the Blues Project. This album is the only one featuring the original line-up of the band, as it radically changed a few months after this release.

Some say Seatrain is not a rock band, more a fusion group, probably because of their use of a large range of instruments... whatever. It sounds rock to me.

Everything sounds on point on this track, and chaotic at the same time : the vocals, the orchestration (crazy horns, round bass, and even almost classical violins...), the breaks. Let your mind be blown away.

The Rolling Stones - Let's Spend The Night Together.

Do I really need to elaborate about the Stones, or even the track ? I don't think so. It's simply a classic (off a worshipped album, "Between The Buttons"), with Jagger laying down some dope vocals and Watts getting crazy with the sticks.

Just listen and move.

The Seeds - Evil Hoodoo.

My God, can it get more insane than this ?

A heady guitar riff, with additional guitar subtle picks, drums that seem to get lost in the background, ridiculous keys, and a voice sponsored by the devil. There's even an harmonica if you were not funked enough...

The Seeds were an American group of the 1960's, in a psychedelic/garage mood. Like a lot of other bands, they went through a few line-up changes. It was lead by charismatic singer Sky Saxon. "Evil Hoodoo" is featured on their first album, simply called "The Seeds". 

Led Zeppelin - Dazed And Confused. 

Although a lot of people associate Led Zeppelin with the USA, the band is British. Actually, their first album "Led Zeppelin", with its classic Hindinberg crash picture, was release in the US before it even touched the British crates... maybe that would explain the common idea... This and the fact that they were so successfull across the Atlantic Ocean. 

Well, listening to "Dazed And Confused" makes you feel in space... loud instruments (bass, drums, guitars), weird sounds, and the overwhelming voice of Robert Plant... wow. No wonder Led Zep' were credited for having given birth to the hard rock movement, even though there's nothing better than the original. Once again, a first album tells you everything you need to know about a band. 

Byzantium - Trade Wind. 

Let's cool it down a bit with psychedelic band Byzantium, another act from England, with a short career at the beginning of the 1970's. They actually released a live album before antyhing else, then dropped the "Byzantium" album, which marked a turn towards more folk vibes. 

With their recipe of multi layered vocals, Byzantium may sound a bit like the Pink Floyd. Yeah, maybe... the track is all about vocals, with a gentle acoustic guitar and almost nothing else. 

Noir Désir - Comme Elle Vient. 

Noir Désir may not be known outside of France, but it's definitively a huge band. Based on the charisma of singer Bertrand Cantat, they topped the small world of French rock in the 1990's, only to officially disband recently after a few difficult years due to Cantat's incarceration. 

The "666.667 Club" album features powerful songs, which are regarded as some of the finest and more classic ones of French rock, thanks to Cantat's poetic and sometimes political lyrics. "Comme Elle Vient" is short, brutal, showcasing Noir Dez' classic recipe of hard drums and electric guitars. 

Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box. 

Growing up with Nirvana was a nice feeling ; they were heroes for a lot of youngsters around the world. 

"In Utero" is Nirvana's last album before Kurt Cobain's suicide. With this album, the band decided to go back to the roots of grunge, to a more dirty sound than on the world success "Nevermind". A few short studio sessions allowed the group to achieve their goal. 

"Heart Shaped Box" offers a guitar-saturated sound to the fans, Dave Grohl's impeccable tom sounds and Kris Novoselic's surrounding bass. The production of this song, and furthermore on the album, is flawless. The result : more than 5 million copies sold.  

Ben Harper - Everything. 

You might say "what the hell"... You might think I pushed it too much towards the 2000's. But Ben Harper has that authentic feel that so few have. The funny thing is that he seems to be more successfull outside the US, his home country. 

"Everything" sounds so live, with its trademark slide guitar. It's bluesy, yes, but it still sounds like rock. A different kind of rock music. Less aggressive, but still relevant. Ben Harper always brings a nice mood to the table. 

Procol Harum - Wreck Of The Hesperus. 

British band Procol Harum exploded on the rock scene in 1967 with timeless hit "A Whiter Shade Of Pale". Imagine that year... Procol Harum, The Moody Blues etc... 

Well, after that incredible success, they maintained a one-album-a-year pace for a few years. "A Salty Dog" was their third LP, and featured their almost cheesy sound, particularly on the psychedelic "Wreck Of The Hesperus", with its heady piano and chaotic drums. 

Pink Floyd - Fat Old Sun. 

In the world of music, the name Pink Floyd means psychedelic and progressive rock. It's like the origin of a sound. Nonetheless, the album "Atom Heart Mother" is a reaction to how people pictured their own sound. This post-Syd Barrett, and pre-"The Dark Side Of The Moon" effort, also marks a progress in the use of recording technology. 

However, this song, "Fat Old Sun", is David Gilmour's work. Starting with a ballad-style part and acoustic instruments, it continues with a wall of electric guitars and organs. Everything here is very gentle, and the feeling is great. A masterpiece.  

As usual, the link to the compilation is in the comment section.