You can click on this link to go back to the main CREAM page ... If you really want it ... Flesh Cream Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 Mmmmm! Fresh Cream! ...... Well, I can't tell you to take off to the record store now and purchase Fresh Cream by Some Band Who I Forgot the Name Of, but this is still a pretty decent artifact for someone wanting to get into the origins of rock-and-roll or WHATEVER. ... And, you'll be getting something pretty darn enjoyable in return! ... This might not be an AMAZINGGGGGG album, but it's good. I love albums that are *good*. If an album can't at least have that minimum requirement, then what's the point of listening to it? ... That's what I want to know from Kiss fans. How can you stand it? Anyway, Fresh Cream is the first album from The Band I Forgot the Name Of But It's Coming to Me, and it showcases the wonderful talent of the three principle band members! Eric Clapton is certainly the most respected of the three with his AWESOME guitar licks. ... Clearly, this guy's reputation of being one of the best guitarists of all rock and roll is well justified! Listening to the album proves it! (WOOOHOOHOHOOOO!) ... And then there's a bass guitarist called Jack Bruce. Mind you, he's not really better than Paul McCartney, but he's got that whole AWESOME ROCK thing going every time he puts his bally fingers on that bally bass. And last, and probably least, is Ginger Baker. That drummer guy. He's a good drummer! He's got plenty of spirit, and he gives these songs ATTITUDE! ... Unfortunately, he gives us a little too much attitude via a drum solo on "Toad," but all is forgiven. If I could play drums as well, I'd very well threaten to murder if Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce refused me a chance to play a drum solo on a Band With a Name That I Forgot album. There are a bunch of really good songs on here from Whatever This Band Might Be Called. I forgot what they were, unfortunately. So, if you want to know what they are, just scroll on down to the track reviews. If you don't, then I'll probably have to cream you with my fist. (Oh yeah!) Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 (Cream's debut album isn't perfect, but through merits of the instrumentation, it does manage to prove why this band is considered so danged legendary.) Average Song Score: 8.7 (Very good songs in here! The ones that don't really have much in the melody-department usually have much in the instrumental-department!) Album Tilt: 8.5 (Oh, this isn't such a special album. Get it for the instrumentalists. They're worth the album price alone. If you're looking for Beatles-level pop ditties, look someplace else, man.) Artist Rating: 8.5 (Not so much of an artistic statement, but an album that's simply fun to listen to.) Track Reviews I Feel Free 9.5/10 I feel free too!! ... Okay, I don't really feel free. ... It just seemed like a cool thing to say at the time. Well, this is a pretty decent pop song to start things up. It has a good melody and some snappy instrumentals. Uhhhh... That's all I have to say 'bout that. N.S.U. 10/10 Nothing Starts Unicorns! Hey! I think that's what NSU stands for! ... Or maybe Nevada State Ukulele. Hmmmm... Anyway, there's nothing to complain about this song! It's got a good psychedelic atmosphere and it's fun and poppy enough for you to enjoy it. Last but not least, there's a great Clapton solo in here. After all, that's what you paid for, isn't it? ... Oh, and Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce are on here, too. It's not like Eric Clapton is playing the DRUMS and the BASS, too. That would mean that the guy has *a lot* of talent, and the names Mr. Bruce and Mr. Airforce were completely made up. Sleepy Time Time 9/10 Every time is sleepy time! Even now! ............. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ............ Okay, I'm not really asleep. I was just faking it. Cream branches out on their blues roots and delivers us a very typical (but well performed and enjoyable) slow blues ditty. I normally tell the slow blues to go set its head on fire, but not this time ... baybe. Dreaming 8/10 Do you know what's funny? This sounds like Renaissance! ... You know, that prog-rock band ex-Yardbirds Keith Relf and Jim McCarty founded. Why didn't Eric Clapton and The Rest just go freaking join Renaissance??? ... Oh yeah. That's only one song in a lot that sounds like Renaissance. Okay. Well, this classical-inspired ditty is pretty entertaining. ... Uh ... It's more goofy than artistic, though. Sweet Wine 8.5/10 Not so much great as a SONG on the poppy sense, but it has a really good rock jam in it. ... Clapton really gives a nice electric guitar solo in here... that amidst Bruce's bass and Baker's good drumming ....... you can't freakin' go wrong, baaaaby! Spoonful 9.5/10 This is another blues tune ... this time, it is fully equipped with a harmonica. The length of it is well over six minutes, but the song remains fun and enjoyable throughout! And that isn't only partially due to more of those great Clapton guitar licks! ... Mmmm! Don't you just want to gobble those up?? Cat's Squirrel 7.5/10 This isn't exactly the album's gem! It's very unfocused! It could have used an anchor amidst so much of this unorganized nonsense (looking at YOU, Bruce). Four Until Late 7.5/10 A bit of a foray into country music. Ooooooh, the melody is okay, but all in all this is nothing to get excited about. Hmm. I kind of like some of the harmonica stuff, though. Rollin' and Tumblin' 8.5/10 This is a MUCH more fun and rollicking jammy blues-rock thing. There's very little not to dig about this song (other than the lack of a general melody ... of course, with Cream, that's not always necessary, but it helps). It has a really fun instrumental interlude! ... This band is tops with their instrumental interludes. I'm So Glad 9.5/10 Yay! Bring on moreuvthuh pop!!! ... Horrahhh! This song doesn't rely on instrumental rock jams, but rather on MELODY. And it's a great melody! I'm so glad!!! It's a fun song!! Heee!! And then, since it's necessary, there's some nice Clapton licks in the middle of this. I can appreciate them Clapton licks better in between periods of good melody than not. ... Whoahaaaah! Toad 8/10 I'm so glad ... that this is the last song in the album! ... Okay, not really. This has been a really good album! ...... About this song. Here's the problem. Drums solos usually aren't good. But, I guess this was the 60s and the rock music scene hadn't figured that out yet, so I'm going to let it slide this time. But the next time, Mr. Rock-And-Roll, it'll be your ass. Feeling fresh with ideas and creamy comments? Send them here! dsm@sym.ca FAKE FAKE (DSM) received Dec. 20, 2004 N.S.U. is a form of venereal disease (Non Specific Uthritis) Don Ignacio responds: Yes, thanks for clearing that up (what the initials stand for; not the venereal disease).

All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He parties with goats (we drink beer).