World Fantastic
by Sky "Sunlight" Saxon/Fire Wall
1988 album
World Fantastic, released in 1988 as vinyl LP, is the second album by Sky Sunlight Saxon and his band Fire Wall. It was released outside the US as ...In Search Of Brighter Colors, with some differences (see below).
The album includes longtime Sky companion Mars Bonfire, formerly of Steppenwolf, as a musician and co-writer, as well as the irrepressible Frank Beeson and a cast of 1980s paisley underground musicians (plus, unexpectedly, Mick Mars from Mötley Crüe on backing vocals!).
Differences with …In Search Of Brighter Colors
While most of the tracks here are also found on ...In Search Of Brighter Colors, one track from that album does not appear on World Fantastic: "I Hear The Mountains Crash". But there are also three tracks on World Fantastic not on its European counterpart: "Driver Fantastic", "Blueberry Frosting", and a cover of Roky Erickson’s "Don't Slander Me".
"Driver Fantastic" kicks off World Fantastic with huge, booming drums and a very pronounced Bob Dylan impression from Sky Saxon. The track is surprisingly professional sounding for Sky. A wailing harmonica adds to the loose rock feel, and although the lyrics are very good, Sky doesn’t seem to quite get into them as much as usual.
"Blueberry Frosting" is a kind of 1950s style three-chord rocker full of echo and bright mid-60s organ. Sky is much more animated on this song, which is a come-as-you-are party: some heavy metal guitar wankery shows up for the solo and doesn’t even seem out of place.
The final song exclusive to World Fantastic is "Don't Slander Me"; having Sky Saxon cover this one is a tantalizing idea indeed. The erstwhile Seeds singer has a lot of fun with it, too, shoehorning in references to his beloved dogs while the band plays it fairly cool with the garage-y rhythmic foundation (a NWOBHM guitar-hero solo notwithstanding).
For an overview of the rest of the tracks on World Fantastic please see ...In Search Of Brighter Colors.
World Fantastic has not been released on CD; however, ...In Search Of Brighter Colors has, on a CD that also includes ...A Groovy Thing (a.k.a. Destiny's Children) from 1986. Copies of the vinyl LP, and sometimes cassette, of World Fantastic are fairly easy to find, despite being out of print.
Track listing
1. "Driver Fantastic" – [Not on ...In Search Of Brighter Colors]
2. "Blueberry Frosting" – [Not on ...In Search Of Brighter Colors]
3. "Baby Baby (Be Patient)"
4. "Lightning Lightning"
5. "Come On, Pretty Girl"
6. "Put Something Sweet Between Your Lips"
7. "Kick Kick"
8. "Barbie Doll Look"
9. "Paisley Rocker"
10. "The Big Screen"
11. "Come-A Here Right Now"
12. "Don't Slander Me" – [Roky Erickson cover; not on ...In Search Of Brighter Colors]
