Psychedelic Rock
tagStarted 1965Peak 1966-1970Last big hit still active
Located in 1 route
The foundational acid-era sound: jangling and fuzzed guitars run through phasers and flangers, Leslie-swirled organ, sitar and raga drones, backwards tape loops and panning effects. Lyrics chase altered consciousness and surreal imagery. Structures stretch past pop verses into hazy, kaleidoscopic, studio-built dreamscapes.
History
Crystallized in 1965-66 across San Francisco, Los Angeles and London as LSD culture met the Byrds' jangle and Eastern modes. The Beatles' Revolver, the Airplane and the Doors pushed it mainstream by 1967's Summer of Love; multitrack studios and effects pedals let bands paint sound, defining a template later revived endlessly.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Wikipedia: Psychedelic rock
- AllMusic
- Rolling Stone
- Britannica