Jefferson Starships Hardest Rockin Cd!

Jefferson Starship really rocks on this cd which came out in the spring of 1981. This cd has become very hard to find since it went out print in the USA. Grace Slick rejoined the band on this album to share the lead vocals with Mickey Thomas. Lead guitarist Craig Chaquico really stands out on this cd with his masterful guitar solos and riffs. The song "Save Your Love" has one the best guitar solos I have ever heard him play. The songs "Find Your Way Back" and "Stranger" were the hit singles off this cd. This cd is the hradest rocking cd I have heard from Jefferson Starship.

Modern Times - Modern Rock!

Critics love to assail 1980s-era Jefferson Starship for their weak rock, insipid ballads and overall sellout crass commercialism, but in their defense if it was such a sellout why didn't they have a LOT more hits? And in their defense 1979's "Freedom at Point Zero" marked a drastic turning point for them. Farewell to Marty Balin, Grace Slick and the jazzy/blues inspired tracks clocking in at over five minutes. Hello hard rock and Mickey Thomas. Mickey's voice gave them a new vehicle better suited for rock and up-tempo numbers that put Jefferson Starship back on the charts. 1981's "Modern Times" gave the band the chance to "introduce" Grace Slick to the lineup to a positive and very devastating effect. "Find Your Way Back" is an appropriate track for all concerned as it truly is Jefferson Starship, all back, all together and hitting it hard. Grace and Mickey harmonize great together and it's as if Grace had never left. The two keep the tempo going on "Stranger" and really burn the place down on that track. Grace gets an awesome turn on "Wildeyes" and the whole band joins in for a rollicking "Modern Times". It's as if being freed of Marty Balin liberated the group to do what they want. Speaking of doing what they want, the finale "Stairway to Cleveland" is probably the funniest thing any band did in the 80s giving the finger to literally everyone, critics, record labels, DJs and so on. This CD is worth the money just to hear Mickey shout "F*%k you! We do what we want!"

For some insane reason this is a Japanese only CD that has been wonderfully re-mastered, yet even though it sold well in the USA was never released here on CD. Strange that as it probably was the best Jefferson Starship recording of the 1980s along with "Winds of Change" which followed up this one. Now before you think I'm some rocker dude let me correct you...I also LOVE "Earth" era Jefferson Starship and the 70's ballads that turned people's stomachs. I freely admit Peter Wolf ruined the group circa "Knee Deep In the Hoopla" when Paul Kantner bailed (and rightfully so!). Grace Slick has rightfully sworn off any further reunions and tours and rightfully so. Rest on your wonderfully voiced laurels darling...you've earned it!

The Forgotten Album - Modern Times, Jefferson Starship

MODERN TIMES



This isn't just my opinion, it's a fact. Modern Times is the most underrated Jefferson Starship album of all time and it's no longer in print. If you want it, you have to spend $35 on a remastered Japanese version of this American classic. Funny thing it's probably worth it!



Not counting Paul Kantner, who was usually more of a backup singer, Jefferson Airplane / Starship etc. has had three lead singers in their history, the inimitable Grace Slick, Jefferson Airplane original Marty Balin and the very capable Mickey Thomas and, if I'm not mistaken, this is the first album that both Slick and Thomas appeared on and they are great together. And let's not forget guitarist extraordinaire Craig Chaquico. He may be the best there is and on this album you get to see what he is really capable of. The guitar solo on "Save Your Love" is nothing if not sensational.



On Modern Times the ever changing J.S. lineup consisted of:



Craig Chaquico Synthesizer, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm)

Aynsley Dunbar Percussion, Drums, Marimba

David Freiberg Organ, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

Paul Kantner Guitar, Guitar (Rythm), Vocals, Oberheim 8

Pete Sears Synthesizer, Bass, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals

Grace Slick Vocals (bckgr)

Mickey Thomas Vocals



1981's Modern Times gave the band the chance to re"introduce" Grace Slick and she makes the best of it, lending her magnificent voice on songs like "Stranger" and "Alien". Opening track, "Find Your Way Back", which was a #26 hit in 1981, seems an appropriate name for the opening track, since wayward members did indeed find their way back. Slick, who has one of the most powerful voices in all of musicdom, and Thomas harmonize wonderfully together and it's as if Grace had never left. In fact Slick's and Thomas's voices are close enough that you have to listen close to tell who's singing. In the end you can tell because Grace's vox has more presence.



Check out this great lineup of songs, these all are(or should be) classics: Find your way Back" is one of the best Jefferson..... songs ever, with a medium tempo start/stop format, this song has Thomas in the lead, with melodic background vocals by Slick. Next, Slick really outdoes herself in the slick arrangement of "Stranger" a rather dark number that was also released as a single, that has interesting bluesy guitars and strong percussion. Mickey Thomas takes the mic for the following rousing number - "Wild Eyes", which is actually reminiscent of earlier Airplane. Ok, stay with me now, the next song "Save your Love" is my second favorite J.S/J.A..song of all-time, just behind the incomparable "Someone to Love". Mickey keeps the mic and Slick again performs her magic on the backups. This is a very catchy mid tempo number and listen to Craig Chaquico play the axe, while Thomas and Slick hum in the background, it is amazing.



Title song, "Modern Times", is another Kantner influenced, rollicking song with whole dang band joining in on this fun number. I suppose if there's a dog on Modern Times it would be "Mary" a mediocre take off of their hit song from the last album "Jane". Guitarist, Chaquico delivers another standout performance on the next track "Free", a semi-fast song with screaming guitars backing Thomas's vocals. "Alien" is another interesting song with heavy drum beat and similarities to "Stranger". Hilarity reigns when the album closes out with "Stairway to Cleveland" another stellar J.S. song, where the entire band and probably the recording studio join in, dissing literally everyone, critics, record labels, DJs and so forth, a fitting climax to a very underrated but excellent album.



CONCLUSION



Some old time fans and purists felt that this new more mainstream Jefferson Starship style was a sellout to commercialism but hey, they've always been commercial. They may have been on the fringe of commercialism but even with Jefferson Airplane, their singles sold, their albums sold and their tours sold out. Yes they did AOR but that was a sideline. Most of their songs through the years were the three to four minute variety, so what's the big deal?



Actually there is nothing wrong with top forty music, at least there didn't used to be, as long as it was imaginative thoughtful music. Sure I've always liked AOR, Heavy Metal and Progressive Rock but I've got my share of albums by big top forty artists like Styx, Def Leppard, Fleetwood Mac etc and for my money Modern Times has forty-three plus minutes of some of the best, most accessible music in the Jefferson ....... catalog.



If you haven't figured out yet that I'm recommending this masterpiece let me make it official. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!!