Sundance

Buried beneath the sun-drenched rock along California’s west coast are a host of long-forgotten rural psychedelic records, gritty guitar projects coated in heavy layers of melodic harmony. One of the cornerstones of this particular pile of plastic is the self-titled debut album from Sundance, an excellent five-piece band that released its only lp in 1971 on Kapp Records. The album’s centerpiece is “Chico Women,” a brilliant rocker highlighting the group’s double-barreled guitar attack and harmony-drenched vocal approach. “Train Time” and “Strange New Time” replicate that song’s hard rock sound, while “Jeweled Scene Stealer” and “Changes” offer a more acoustic-based, laid-back alternative. The only real misstep is “Hollywood Dancers,” a weak-kneed, thin-sounding number that lacks the rest of the disc’s hard-edged bite. So what happened? Where were all the hits, the gold and platinum records, and the sold-out concert tours? Sadly, as was often the case, the band’s small label folded shortly after the album’s release, ultimately forcing Sundance to call it a day.

Notes: Here is an audio-only YouTube clip of "Chico Women" by Sundance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n94cPld_8OM.