The Perfect Prescription
| The Perfect Prescription | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Spacemen 3 | ||||
| Released | September 1987 | |||
| Recorded | at V.H.F. in Rugby | |||
| Genre | Neo-psychedelia, Garage rock | |||
| Length | 45:39 | |||
| Label |
Glass (original UK release) Fire (various UK reissues) Genius Records (original US release) Taang! (1996 US reissue) |
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| Producer | Sonic Boom & Jason | |||
| Spacemen 3 chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
1996 re-release.
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Drowned in Sound | 9/10 |
| PopMatters | 10/10 |
| Record Collector |  |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10 |
The Perfect Prescription is the second studio album by Spacemen 3. It is a concept album, "a vision of a drug trip from inception to its blasted conclusion, highs and lows fully intact." The music becomes progressively more orchestral and serene until the high of the trip, represented by "Ecstasy Symphony"/"Transparent Radiation (Flashback)," moving on to the moment of realisation where the high has faded and the comedown ensues, represented by the harsh opening guitar chords in "Things'll Never Be the Same." Coming down is represented in the blues based "Come Down Easy," whilst the potentially fatal effects of an overdose are portrayed in the final track "Call the Doctor." The music was written by the band except "Transparent Radiation" which is a Red Krayola cover from their 1967 album Parable of Arable Land. The band also borrow heavily from the gospel standard "In My Time of Dying," for "Come Down Easy" and pay homage to Lou Reed in "Ode to Street Hassle."
Pitchfork Media listed it at #50 in their list of the greatest albums of the 80s.
All tracks written by Pierce, Sonic Boom, except where noted.
Adds b-sides from the "Take Me to the Other Side" single as bonus tracks:
Adds two tracks from the "Walkin' With Jesus" single and the Transparent Radiation EP as bonus tracks:
The vinyl edition of The Perfect Prescription includes liner notes by author R. Hunter Gibson:
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