T. Rex (September 25, 1971) – “Electric Warrior” Album Review - Evening Post

This concise Evening Post review assesses T. Rex's newly released Electric Warrior album and identifies Marc Bolan's voice as its defining feature. Reviewer James Belsey praises the variety of material on the record, highlighting its movement from fairy-tale imagery to hard rock while concluding that the music is performed with conviction throughout.

Publication: Evening Post

Date: September 25, 1971

Country: United Kingdom

Appearing within James Belsey's “Pops” column, the review examines T. Rex's latest album, Electric Warrior, released on the Fly label.

The writer describes the record as a “varied, interesting album” and suggests that the material is held together largely by Marc Bolan's extraordinary voice.

Rather than concentrating on one musical style, the review notes that the album ranges from “airy-fairy” material to harder rock numbers. This balance is presented as one of the record's strengths and evidence of T. Rex's broadening musical scope.

Belsey emphasises that, regardless of style, the performances are delivered with conviction. The review gives the impression that Electric Warrior successfully combines the mystical qualities associated with earlier Tyrannosaurus Rex recordings with the newer electric approach that had brought T. Rex commercial success.

Several songs are specifically mentioned, including “Monolith,” “Life's A Gas” and “Get It On.” These tracks are cited as examples of the material featured on the album.

The only criticism expressed by the reviewer concerns the printed lyrics included with the record. Belsey remarks that the “biggest mistake” was placing what he describes as the album's “dire lyrics” on the back cover, suggesting that closer inspection of Bolan's words was less effective than simply listening to the music.

Despite this reservation, the overall assessment remains favourable and recognises Electric Warrior as an engaging and diverse album.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

Published within a column that also reviewed releases by The Four Tops, Danny O'Keefe, Jackie Challenor and Mighty Baby, the article reflects the strong critical interest surrounding Electric Warrior shortly after its release.

The review is notable because it identifies Marc Bolan's voice as the key ingredient behind the album's appeal while acknowledging the wide range of musical styles present across the record.

Its criticism of the printed lyrics also mirrors a common division among some contemporary reviewers, who often admired Bolan's vocal delivery and atmosphere more than the literal meaning of his words.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Review of Electric Warrior

Publication Date: September 25, 1971

Era: Electric Warrior era

Tone: Positive with minor criticism

Featured Tracks: “Monolith”, “Life's A Gas” and “Get It On”

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Review of T. Rex's Electric Warrior

• Praise for Marc Bolan's distinctive vocal style

• Recognition of the album's variety and range

• References to “Monolith,” “Life's A Gas” and “Get It On”

• Criticism of the printed lyrics on the album cover

• Overall positive assessment of the record

---

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

---