Album Review: Acid Jam by Various (2000)
Alright, let’s talk about Acid Jam. This UK-born gem from 2000 is a wild ride through the realms of Acid Rock and Psychedelic Rock. Released under Woronzow Records, it’s one of those albums that feels like a fever dream you don’t wanna wake up from. The design creds go to Bevis Frond Museum—yeah, sounds like some kinda art gallery—and trust me, the vibe matches the trippy title.
Now, this thing’s got 16 tracks, which honestly could’ve been trimmed down a smidge (I’m lookin’ at you, “Deef”), but most of the songs pack a punch. Two tracks in particular stuck with me: “Tide” and “Long Journey Into Light.”
“Tide” kicks things off with this hypnotic groove that pulls you in like quicksand. It’s not flashy or overproduced—it just flows, man. You can almost picture yourself floating downstream while someone whispers cryptic stuff into your ear. And then there’s “Long Journey Into Light,” which builds so slowly you barely notice when it grabs hold of your soul. By the time the guitars kick in full force, you’re already lost in its swirling cosmos. Honestly, I had to stop what I was doing both times I heard it because it felt like my brain was melting—like, in a good way.
Other standouts include “Star Man,” which has this retro sci-fi vibe, and “Reformation Blues,” where the grittier rock edge shines through. But yeah, there are moments where it drags a bit—looking at you again, “Deef.” Maybe they were going for atmosphere, but dude, sometimes less is more.
What makes Acid Jam special isn’t just the music; it’s how unapologetically weird it is. Like, who even names a track “Funeral Ballet Music”? That’s either genius or someone lost a bet. Either way, props for keeping things unpredictable.
So here’s the kicker: listening to this album feels like flipping through an old photo album where half the pictures are blurry—but somehow, those blurry ones stick with you the most. Weird analogy? Sure. But hey, so’s this record. If you dig psychedelic vibes and don’t mind getting a little lost along the way, Acid Jam might be your next favorite trip.
Oh, and random thought—I wonder if PAG, whoever plated this thing, got high while doing it. Just sayin’.
