Monster (Steppenwolf album)
| Monster | ||||
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| Studio album by Steppenwolf | ||||
| Released | November 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1969 | |||
| Studio | American Recording Co. Studio, Studio City, CA | |||
| Genre | Hard rock, psychedelic rock, blues rock | |||
| Length | 32:53 | |||
| Label | ABC Dunhill | |||
| Producer | Gabriel Mekler | |||
| Steppenwolf chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Monster | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | B+ |
| Rolling Stone | (unfavorable) |
Monster is the fourth album by Steppenwolf. Released in 1969, it was their first LP with new lead guitarist, Larry Byrom instead of Michael Monarch. The album was Steppenwolf's most political one, making references to important issues at the time, such as the Vietnam War.
The album was the first Steppenwolf album not to feature a US top ten hit, though two singles from the album cracked the top 40: "Move Over" and "Monster".
Reviews for Monster have generally been negative. Rolling Stone commented that the playing of the individual performers is "top-notch", but that "Their arrangements have become sloppy and crude, as the early-Zappa lyrics continuously clash with the music."
Allmusic panned the album in their retrospective review, remarking that "these lumbering hard rock tunes were not an effective means to address [important political topics], politically or musically."
On the other hand, rock critic Robert Christgau gave the album praise. Christgau gave the album a B+ rating and called it "an excellent comeback", though he thought the preachy lyrics marred somewhat the final result.
Album - Billboard (United States)
Singles - Billboard (United States)
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