Outsideinside

by

Blue Cheer

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Blue Cheer. Outsideinside.

Most of the mallrat types who buy thier Nirvana and Green Day CDs never take the time to delve into true influental and important stuff. To understand heavy power trios early Blue Cheer is essentual to all that came after them.

Outsideinside is BC's second album. It built on the power and amperage of thier first album Vincebus Eruptum. Outsideinside is an improvement in everyway from VE. Not only in songwriting prowess, but in mix and growth as an artist.

So its fair to say this is BC's zenith. This is the last album with guitarist Leigh Stevens before he called it a day. The band then devolved into a rotating door of members.

What makes this an essentual purchase you ask? Several things. BC was revolutionary for thier loudness. They cranked it up, caused near riots. Keep in mind this was the late 60s - peace and love man. They got the hippies doing crazy stuff. They also laid down the prototype for metal which was to come later. Listen to Magnolia Caboose Babyfinger, you'll see what I mean. Paul Whaley's liberal use of the double kick drum and tasteful fills was also new. Leigh Steven's guitar work at times seared across the meat of the music. They did all this heaviness and kept melodies in thier songs. In short, thier style, attitude and playing chops were completely at odds with most of thier contemporaries.

Which led to many potshots being taken at them, with Jimi Hendrix's dissing of them perhaps being the most famous.

Often an artist that flies against whats trendy or popular at the time - will get savaged and disrespected only later to be appreciated. Blue Cheer's early works are such the case.

A whole lot of loudness, some psychedelic touches along with a style that laid the foundation for metal. Anyone wanting expand thier knowledge of where amped up insane White Blues (aka Metal) came from need to look no further.

Also recommended for fans of this album:

Vincebus Eruptum

Beast is Back (1985 reunion LP)

Rather, it was "Just say Yes." This is real acid rock from the center of the 1960's. Culturally, a fascinating album; musically, so-so.

No one seems to have commented on this here but "Blue Cheer" (besides being a laundry detergent) was in fact a "type" of acid --- i.e. a street brand name along the lines of "Purple Microdot" (little purple dots in the pills) and "Windowpane" (came embedded in clear plastic). I have yet to find out whether the band took its name from the acid or vice-versa. Probably anyone there and dropping at the time can't quite recall...