The title of Many Bright Things' third album highlights the nature of the project: a large cast of friends coalescing around guitarist Stan Denski. After a seven-year gap, Denski -- better known by now as the compiler for QDK Media's high-profile series of obscure psychedelia, Love, Peace & Poetry -- delivers an entertaining disc of spaced-out jams. Many Bright Friends combines the folky side of Jefferson Airplane ("Minor Parade for 18 Strings," the title track, "There Will Be a Slight Delay") and the crudest grooves of the Krautrock school. The album is structured around two main tracks. The first one is "East West," a 21-minute cover of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band's anthem to cross-pollination. Featured in this orgiastic jam are guitarists Denski, Nick Saloman, Daniel Noland, and Al Simones (trading solos); Vess Ruthenberg (bass); Steve Obenreder (drums); and harp player Byrd Birocco, who steals the show. "I Am Not a Collector Potato," the other key track here, is a feature for Jello Biafra, who tells listeners what collecting psychedelic records used to be like (with plenty of reverb in the voice), over a quiet groove improvised by Denski, Larry Demyer (guitar), David "Tufty" Clough (bass), and Lon Paul Elrich (percussion). Sandwiched between them is "The Silver Witch," the only song of the set, a nice ballad featuring the delicious Alisha Sufit. Denski presents the multi-tracked acoustic guitar piece "There Will Be a Slight Delay" as a bonus track, but its gentle pastures of echoing guitar parts deserve a better defense. People impervious to Biafra's sense of humor (or collector potatoes who don't find it funny to be laughed at -- yeah, you know who you are!) will probably prefer that encore. Many Bright Friends probably did not end up on anyone's 2005 "best-of" list, but it is an honest record deserving a few honest listens. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide
Jello Biafra (Vocals), Nick Saloman (Guitar), LonPaul Ellrich (Percussion), Alisha Sufit (Guitar), Alisha Sufit (Vocals), Stan Denski (Guitar), Paul Major (Guitar), Larry DeMyer (Guitar), Paul Tescher (Percussion), Vess Ruthenberg (Bass)
