War - WAR***

Sun Oh Son/Lonely Feelin'/Back Home/War Drums/Vibeka/Fidel's Fantasy

Self titled debut album from the funk-rock band War after they parted from Eric Burdon. Their sound was hard to categorise but included elements of blues, soul, rock, jazz and Latin. (US:190)

“The first War album is actually quite good. The opening track Sun Oh Son sets the mood, and though the following songs are different, the vibe remains the same. Even the eight minute Vibeka carries it all the way through. So War is much more consistent than the more famous follow-up albums.”

“This is not a masterpiece, but has some nice songs on it, especially War Drums, which shows their jazzy pop songwriting with a cheap twist of madness in the style of Frank Zappa. Sun Oh Son is another prog-funk gem from the days when black music still brought a bit of refreshment to the scene.”

“From the gun blast of the single Sun Oh Son to the dark observation of the epic Fidel's Fantasy. War's debut release enters the post-Burdon era with a no-holdsbarred approach in the social ring. War Drums has to be considered as harsh a statement as any in the entertainment world concerning the Vietnam conflict, and leaves the hair standing on your neck from it. Then you are calmed back down with the harmonica in the classic Vibeka.”

“The band’s debut album without Eric Burdon and they try to do a lot here. The songs all have very substantial musical ideas and even when they are more minimal the listener will feel as if they are swimming in this music. On Sun Oh Son they start out one way and suddenly spin into another idea entirely with the gospel of Lonely Feelin', a highly celebratory tune focusing on War's new found independence.”

“Musically a potent mixture of different blues, gospel, soul, jazz and Latin rock influences. Their open door policy towards freedom of musical expression made them alone of the poster bands for the first half of the 70s. Once mixed together the different styles they embraced came together to become the building blocks of the ‘united funk’ period where social/cosmic lyrical concepts, soulful musical ambition and commercial success all rolled into one.”

“The playing is smooth and refined, which is impressive considering how new the genre was back then. The energy is more of a controlled burn rather than a straight out assault which helps this album to stand out from its contemporaries.”