Koala - Koala (1969 Garage/Psych)

The Koala were a late 60's group from New York who released one album on Capitol Records, where some genius decided to market the group as a bunch of Aussies...without getting anyone's permission first! The group got wind of this, after the fact, and broke up soon after the album's release. guaranteeing it a life of obscurity for the next few decades. Now that the market for 1960's psych/garage obscurities is strong, Fallout Records has put the group's one album out on cd for the first time ever, and it's a surprisingly good listen.

The Koala may be a cute and fuzzy animal, but this band was the exact opposite, playing snarling and aggressive music that was influenced by Hendrix, The Who and The Small Faces. This is no run of the mill period piece though, thanks to the leering vocals of Jose Mala (who went on the front 70's glam-rockers The Magic Tramps and played in The Joe Perry Project) and the innovative psychedelic guitar playing of Joey Guido and Louis Cane. When it's all added up you get an album that predates 1970's hard-rock and punk, and The Koala serves as proof that there's still some undiscovered gems sitting in record company vaults.

01. Don't You Know What I Mean?
02. Look At The Way She Comes
03. Poor Discarded Baby
04. Nothing's Changed
05. She's A Lady
06. Colours Of Our Rainbow
07. Poppa Duke Tyler
08. Strange Feelings
09. Elizabeth
10. You Say
11. Yesterday's Rain
12. Lady Dressed In White
13. Scattered Children's Toys

Post by CGR