The Freeborne ~ USA ~ Boston, Massachusetts

Peak Impressions (1968)

---2004

Pretty forward sounding psych given the 1968 release date. Varied and deeper than most. Groups like Strawberry Alarm Clock were here but more immersed in pop. The Beatles of course dabbled with these sounds as did the Doors. Maybe closer to some of the Vanguard bands of the day, like Listening or The Far Cry (who were both also from Boston). Lots of instrumentation (trumpet, sax, organ, piano, fuzz guitar, cello, harpsichord, recorder amongst the usual), many meter and style changes (freak out psych, early prog, jazz, sunshine pop, folk, baroque), loads of vocal effects. A truly innovative album. I'm on the 3rd listen and can't decide where I'm going with it.

---12/27/17

Boston's The Freeborne represents some of the finest songwriting of the 60s psychedelic movement. There's echoes of the Doors, but in general, The Freeborne were one of the more innovative of the groups of the day - all operating with the context of relatively short songs (final track on each side sees the band stretching out a bit). Fine guitar, organ, vocals - everything you want in a psych album, but rarely get.

You will often times see this album listed as from 1967. However the CD corrects the record so to speak. There are multiple references and proof of a 1968 release. For example: "Notes on the master tape box imply that the mixing and editing of the album occurred on March 27, 1968". Another reference is a half-page advertisement in the July 1968 "New England Scene" magazine that blares out that Peak Impressions is "Just Released !!"

Ownership: 2014 Arf! Arf! (CD).  Booklet filled with historical liners, mono bonus cuts, as well as three reunion tracks. 

2004 (first acquired / review); 12/27/17 (update); 11/5/25