Tarantula (1996)

Oxford, England, band Ride started out playing noisy, contemporary psychedelia tinged with classic rock. But the more they progressed, the more their sound regressed. Tarantula, recorded shortly before their breakup late last year, is a retrofest resembling an all-star jam with the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, Traffic, and Jimi Hendrix. Soaring harmonies, jangly guitars, and bluesy solos blend with chiming keyboards and the occasional bongo. Free your mind and the past will follow. B