The first time you hear this record you sense it from the first note that you are listening to something new, different, and Glam Rock was born.
Produced by Tony Visconti who went on to produce 14 of Bowie’s albums, and acts such as Badfinger, Gentle Giants, Strawbs, Osibisa, Thin Lizzy and 80’s acts like the Boomtown Rats, Stranglers and Altered Images, the sound is unmistakable, and Marc Boland soothing guitar sound will stay with you for eternity.
Often criticized for the lack of substance of its lyrics Electric Warrior completes the transformation of Marc Bolan from hippie-folk rocker to a world of no pretense or deep messages, a world where stage presence and theatrics combined with simple, yet overwhelming hooks and carefree lyrics replaces the politically and socially engaged musician, a blueprint that will eventually lead to Punk, New Wave, Big Hair LA Metal and the likes.
Notwithstanding nor understanding Boland’s transformation, Electric Warrior remains one of those albums that I can listen to over and over again and never tire of it, each time delivering remaining as fresh as the first time I heard it. The record starts with Mambo Sun and its unmistakable brand of electric thumping and spacy chords takes you on spaceship Bolan and begins its journey which will take you to the soothing Cosmic Dancer before rocking it out with Jeepster and finishing Side 1 with “Lean Woman Blues”. And as Side 1 finishes and you get off the couch thinking “what the fuck did just happen here”, you flip the record over to Side 2 and the rest is history….
Well, you’re dirty and sweet
Clad in black, don’t look back and I love you
You’re dirty and sweet, oh yeah
Well, you’re slim and weak
You’ve got the teeth of the hydra upon you
You’re dirty sweet and you’re my girl
Get it on, bang a gong, get it on
Get it on, bang a gong, get it on
And you decent into a filthy teenage wasteland.
Immortal.