4.5 stars - Unfairly bashed by the critics

Tanx (1973.) Marc Bolan's eighth album.



By 1972, glam rocker Marc Bolan and his glam rock outfit T. Rex had conquered the United Kingdom, due in no small part to his masterpiece albums Electric Warrior and The Slider. The albums were nothing short of excellence, and while Bolan achieve massive success in his native nation, the albums did almost nothing in America, outside of the hit single Bang A Gong (Get It On), from the former album. Bolan sought to expand his audience into the United States with Tanx, his 1973 release. Unfortunately, the album was a dismal commercial failure, and critics on both sides of the Atlantic wrote Bolan off as a has-been. Read on for my review, and see if the critics were right in their bashing words.



No album screams out "critics are morons" like Tanx. This is a GREAT album that really documents Bolan's maturing musical sound. There are plenty of rockers and slower tracks alike, along with some of the classic glitter/glam-style rock that made Bolan famous. I won't deny that this album doesn't top Electric Warrior or The Slider, but I think it's a worthy contender that certainly ranks up there in my book. It's somewhat ironic, though, that the album he released in an effort to expand his audience actually reduced it. Many of music's greatest recordings are commercial failures - and Bolan's Tanx stands as one of the strongest examples of that. If you liked Bolan's two albums that came before this, you're likely to enjoy this one too. Just don't come in listening expecting a carbon copy of the previous two works.



Bolan's catalogue is, for the most part, out of print in America. Fortunately, a Russian import twofer series has made his albums easier to get and more affordable. At long last, you can get his albums easier than you could before. The twofers are a better value and a better choice than the two-disc deluxe editions.



Why was Tanx a commercial failure? I guess we'll never know. Critics never gave this album a chance, and that's a real shame, since it's some of Bolan's best work. If you're a fan of his, there's no reason not to have this one added to your collection.

I know you're going to hate this review but...

I went through the biggest Marc Bolan obsession ever. I bought his albums, videos, and listened to his early stuff to the point where my girl friend had to lay down a few ground rules about how much I could listen to Slider or E.Warrior. Anyway, when I heard 20th Century Boy I thought this album was the next thing for me. Anyway, everyone notes that this album is his big departure and boy is it ever. Gone are the rocking boogies, and kinky vocals. In place of it is a bunch of slower, moodier songs that I couldn't get into at all. Needless to say this album was a huge disapointment for me. I would say this to you, realize that most people reviewing albums like this are complete die hards and to them it's going to be 5 stars. I would also say, that before you pick this one up give it a listen as it is definitely a different sound and approach than his earlier albums. Artists change and Marc Bolan was definitely one to evolve and challenge his audience. Unfortunately he grew beyond my hopes and expectations. If you're new to Bolan get Electric Warrior and Slider the deluxe editions. You'll have so much fun listening to that stuff. If you go for this one then I hope you like it more than I did.

THE T.REX EXPLOSION AT ITS PEAK!!!

It is hard for any T.Rex/Bowie fan to ignore the fact that the two inspired each other...for they were both stemmed from the magical hands of the producer Tony Visconti. "Tanx" not only combined the elements of the previous T.Rex albums ("T.Rex", "Electric Warrior", & "Slider") but it went a step beyond! It combined the mystical and electronical together, making for the T.Rex climax for all fans.

"Tanx" is perhaps the most seductive of the T.Rex collection. Not since the self-titled album had the band produced such dreamy and breath taking surrealism. "Broken Hearted Blues" is like everyone's teenage lust preserved in a jar. Though many Tyrannosaurus Rex fans felt that the abbreviation to T.Rex was the ending to the Marc Bolan legacy, "Tanx" plays like a fish coming to the surface of the water for a breath of fresh air and remains the same during each play! Had Marc Bolan contained the energy displayed during this album -- Led Zeppelin would have appeared in the cut-out bins!