Soup Dragons-Lovegod
The Soup Dragon's only commercially successful release,Lovegodwas a definitive album of a short-lived but blissful movement in alternative dance that began in the late '80s and ended in the early '90s. Lead with fellow ScotsmenPrimal Screamand other proto-trip-hop bands like theHappy Mondays, theCharlatans U.K., theStone Roses, and theFarm, the scene revolved around community--masses joined in various forms of often chemically enhanced euphoric states, dancing till breakfast and beyond. Like Primal Scream'sScreamadelica, this album follows a path clearly cut by theRolling Stones. Their hazy, blues-on-Ecstasy psychedelic grooves fueled the club-going shoe gazers swaying in place for what could have been forever, while at the same time uplifted souls (and soles) with money-maker shakers like "Backwards Dog" and a cover of the Stones' "I'm Free." Because of its combination of timeless rock influences and its preturntablism dance sensibility,Lovegodhas aged well, losing little of its capacity for elation.--Beth Massa