Description
Its member’s names might not be as familiar as those of the Traveling Wilburys but make no mistake, the Third Mind is a supergroup. How could it not be when its members have been in or been involved with the Blasters, X, Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker, Monks of Doom, John Hiatt, Counting Crows, Richard Thompson, John Cale, Better Than Ezra, and even more?
Yeah. The Third Mind is a supergroup, all right, and their self-titled debut album is every bit as eclectic and idiosyncratic as you can imagine after reading that list of bands. For the record, the Third Mind is Dave Alvin, Victor Krummenacher, David Immergluck, Michael Jerome, and special guest Jesse Sykes.
The Third Mind was initially the brainchild of Dave Alvin, who wanted to assemble a group of musicians that would be capable of making music the way Miles Davis did on Bitches Brew and his other electric albums. That is, bring a set of great musicians into a studio, select a key, establish a groove, and hit the record button. The resulting album features six tracks of expansive, adventurous music that might not be for everyone, but that might blow the minds of those who are receptive to it.
The Third Mind contains five covers and one original. The album’s centerpiece is a cover of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s “East/West“, a Mike Bloomfield/Nick Gravenites composition that was also inspired by Miles Davis.
