Second Hand Albums (2)
'Death May Be Your Santa Claus'
Release Date 8/5/1997
Tracks 12
Label See for Miles
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
By the time Second Hand released this, the band's second album, in 1971, the progressive elements were much stronger, and the group went further with experimentation. Only a couple tracks have guitar, but there are plenty of high-energy rockers just the same, especially the title track, "Lucifer and the Egg," and "Somethin' You Got," and the lack of guitar is more than made up for by plenty of long, wild organ solos. "Hangin' on an Eyelid" adds in easy listening elements to a rock song for an oddly effective mix. The experimental leanings become especially prevalent on the second side of the record, where the group leaves song structure aside for several segued tracks of bizarre, mostly instrumental material, a wise choice given that Rob Elliott is only a marginally better vocalist than his brother Ken, who sang on the first album. (Fortunately, on many of the tracks they use processing to make the vocals sound more interesting.) "Cyclops" is a long instrumental of mostly keyboards, whereas "Sic Transit Gloria" has some weird chanting and explosions before suddenly going into "Revelations Ch. 16, Vs. 9-12" with nightmarish tones. The two bonus tracks on the CD, placed between the two sides rather than at the end, are quirky pop songs, one of which has guest saxophonist Lol Coxhill. ~ Rolf Semprebon, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Second Hand's debut, Reality, released in 1968 before progressive music had developed, is one of those odd records that mix psychedelic and garage-style music with some progressive touches. This is most evident on "Mainliner" and the title track, which are segued together by some classical music instrumentation. "Reality" adds other symphonic elements as well, and there's even a minute where one hears just organ and cello, a relaxed, slightly haunting moment before the rest of the band kicks back in. "Mainliner" is a nightmarish track about heroin addiction with funeral-dirge organ riffing, and "The World Will End Yesterday" is another doom-laden piece. "Denis James the Clown" uses carnival music played at an amphetamine-hyperactive pace to create a strange little song. There are lots of long instrumental sections with guitar solos, which is fortunate because Ken Elliott's vocals are the weakest link, and a few of his song arrangements come off a little dated as well. Fortunately, those aspects are not enough to distract too much from this otherwise excellent record. ~ Rolf Semprebon, All Music Guide
