Originally slated for release in 1968, scrapped in favor of , the LP that became his official debut in 1969. Looking back, it was certainly the right move. touches upon the lush, arty balladry that would become one of 's signatures in the 1970s, whereas is very much looking backwards -- at the psychedelic vistas opened up by in particular. The very title signals the album's debt to and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" -- a song would later cover -- is a particular touchstone. Melodies swirl through the ornate production, the lyrics are aggressively whimsical, and the recordings are intent on opening up your mind so you can float downstream. As a whole, is a heavier affair than -- there are fuzz guitars and washes of organ straight out of -- and it can also get quite Baroque, as the precious "Tartan Coloured Lady" makes plain. All of this is interesting and makes for a rather interesting artifact, but there's little question it would've gotten 's career off to an unsteady start back in 1968. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine