The United States of America, The United States of America (side A)

The United States of America are well-documented at this point—academic type Joseph Byrd started a rock band at the height of the psychedelic/experimental era of rock music, and this 1968 LP documents the results. It's got a bit of everything, from overtly catchy songs to through-composed pieces. Through all of the studio experimentation, the sound of a rock record does come through, thanks in part perhaps to producer David Rubinson, who also worked with Moby Grape. On my 90s vinyl reissue (which could be a bootleg?) the loudest treble notes are overly emphasized, which I'm sure is not what the original LP sounded like.