Psychedelic States: Florida in the '60s, Vol. 3 Psychedelic States: Florida In Artist

{|Gear Fab|} is at it again on the third volume of their {|Psychedelic States|} series, rounding up the last remaining pearls (at least one would imagine) from the oyster that was '60s Florida {|garage psych|} and, surprisingly, coming up with yet another pretty solid edition. There is still roughly the same percentage of gold-to-dross as there was on the first two volumes in the series, but volume three is arguably the most listenable collection from beginning to end. The filler is just a little bit more likeable than before, and while there are not many lost masterworks of {|psychedelia|} in the order of {|Neighborhood of Love|} or {|Blues Messengers|} from the previous editions ({|the Fantastic Group|}'s {|Land of Lakes|} being one, {|the Cavemen|}'s unnerving {|It's Trash|} being perhaps the only other competitor), there is at least half an album's worth of consistently fine {|garage|} and {|pop/rock|} nuggets. The quality might have to do with the number of holdovers from the original two CDs. For instance, {|Bernie Leadon|} and {|Don Feldner|}'s {|the Maundy Quintet|} are back, as is {|Cosmic Camel|} (on the deliciously {|gothic|} {|The King's Winetaster|}), {|the Twelfth Night|}, {|the Fewdle Lords|}, and several others. In addition the great Orlando-based {|We the People|} makes their first appearance here (although {|My Brother the Man|} is a shade repetitive compared to the band's strongest sides), as do the notable {|Painted Faces|}. Aside from those conspicuous examples, of course, there is not a lot of what you could label as originality in the music and some of the tunes are frankly rather nondescript, yet such shortcomings are routinely filled with a sloppy aggression and enthusiasm that brings the era back in all its kaleidoscopic glory. As before, the CD is strictly recommended to {|garage rock|} devotees, but that considerable group will find a wealth of previously unreleased treasures here that is reason enough for the digging. ~ Stanton Swihart