Rolling Stone #100 (January 20, 1972)
by Mike Saunders
cover: Jerry Garcia

★ [Magazine/Airwaves] Rolling Stone #290 (May 3, 1979)
★ [Magazine/Wish You Were Here] Rolling Stone #177 (January 2, 1975)
★ [Magazine/Badfinger] Rolling Stone #158 (April 11, 1974)
★ [Magazine/Ass] Rolling Stone #153 (January 31, 1974)
★ [Magazine/No Dice] Rolling Stone #72 (December 2, 1970)
by Mike Saunders
Straight Up is a big disappointment coming after Badfinger's previous superb album, No Dice.
I remember reading a quote by drummer Mike Gibbins saying that Straight Up would be a "natural progression" from the previous album -- as is usually the case with such supposed progressions, the result here is self-consciousness in place of spontaneity, solemnity in the place of former exuberance, and a general all-around deadness where infection energy was previously the rule.
[Total word count of piece: 553]
I remember reading a quote by drummer Mike Gibbins saying that Straight Up would be a "natural progression" from the previous album -- as is usually the case with such supposed progressions, the result here is self-consciousness in place of spontaneity, solemnity in the place of former exuberance, and a general all-around deadness where infection energy was previously the rule.
[Total word count of piece: 553]
cover: Jerry Garcia

★ [Magazine/Airwaves] Rolling Stone #290 (May 3, 1979)
★ [Magazine/Wish You Were Here] Rolling Stone #177 (January 2, 1975)
★ [Magazine/Badfinger] Rolling Stone #158 (April 11, 1974)
★ [Magazine/Ass] Rolling Stone #153 (January 31, 1974)
★ [Magazine/No Dice] Rolling Stone #72 (December 2, 1970)