Artist: Blood, Sweat & Tears Album: New Blood

Year: 1972
Duration: 0:0-1

Blood, Sweat & Tears' New Blood Album: A Critic's Perspective

In the late 1960s, Blood, Sweat & Tears emerged as one of the most iconic rock bands in the music industry. The group's unique blend of jazz, rock, and blues music had a significant impact, pushing the boundaries of what was considered popular music. In 1972, they released their sixth studio album titled New Blood, which continued their evolution into a progressive rock band with a focus on horn arrangements. In this post, we will review the album, its music genre, its most innovative parts, and the best songs of the album while offering some criticism.
The New Blood album is a fusion of rock, jazz, and classical music, displaying the group's versatility and mastery of their crafts. It is undoubtedly a more progressive rock album compared to their earlier works, which were predominantly jazz-centric. The horns and the keyboard work by Dick Halligan and Larry Willis are inventive and different from the stereotypical rock band sound. The use of strings arrangements in some of the songs is a testament to the experimentalism of the band arrangements.
The album's opening track, Overture, is an ambitious start, with a beautiful medley of strings blended with the band's signature horns. Something Going On features guitar and keyboard that adds flavor to the song, with David Clayton-Thomas' powerful vocals breathes life into the song's lyrics. Another excellent track is Song For John, a tribute to the late John Lennon in which the band's musicality is on full display.
One of the most innovative aspects of the album is the use of cross-generational works, bringing classical music to the rock scene. A prime example of this is the song Variations On A Theme By Erik Satie featuring a reimagined version of Satie's most famous composition that leaves the listener speechless. It's also worth noting the splendid Lynda Woodward's vocals in the song that give a soft and enjoyable aura.
While New Blood is a spectacular album, it's not without its drawbacks. The album's production is somewhat uneven, and some tracks lack the coherence of the earlier works' concepts. Additionally, the redundancy of the horns and the guitar's overuse creates a monotonous sound in some of the songs, which may not appeal to the mainstream listeners.
In retrospect, New Blood is a highly underrated album that showcases the growth and evolution of Blood Sweat & Tears. The group's innovative use of classical pieces with rock genre and the inclusion of string arrangements that manifest the versatility of their music. While some tracks fall short of collective cohesiveness, it doesn't detract the album's influential and compelling nature. Overall, it's an album worth listening to for anyone looking for original rock music that challenges the established norms.