We Are Paintermen (Half-Speed Master)

This was the only full-length album released during the brief life-span of the Creation, one of the few beat groups to rival the raw intensity of the Who. (Guitarist Eddie Phillips, who committed violin bow to guitar strings before Jimmy Page, was allegedly even courted by Pete Townshend to become the Who's second guitarist.) This album, released in 1967 on Hit-Ton, a label out of Germany, where the group enjoyed immense popularity (a situation not mirrored back home in the UK), consists of the singles and some uninspired choices of covers ("Cool Jerk," "Like a Rolling Stone," "Hey Joe"). The group's criminally under-appreciated sound is fueled by Phillips' clanging, melodic power chords and feedback-drenched squalls, which show up most prominently in the Creation's signature single, "Making Time." Other highlights on this essential album for fans of Mod and British Invasion include "Try and Stop Me," "If I Stay Too Long," "Biff Bang Pow," and "Painter Man." A 1999 Repertoire Records reissue cleaned up the poor sound quality of the original. ~ Erik Hage