Max - Rodan from 1974 (Beyond Rodan) from 1974, FLAC limited time only

 

Such an incredible cover graphic!

Information on this album here.  Note the following:

The 1974 RODAN Album, was an incomplete list of recordings by MAX released on the Pandora label without knowledge or consent from the composers. Most all the liner notes are incorrect or misleading on that album, and it’s unknown what tapes were used to create the LP. Max, as a group, never signed any agreement with any entity.

Subsequently, a much longer 2-LP release appeared (50 years later!) with bonus tracks and history of the band, databased here.  They hailed from Hollywood, Calif.

50th Anniversary 2LP gatefold set of the 1974 jazz-rock-funk fusion LP "RODAN", remastered from original source tapes and expanded with 8 unreleased tracks, restored original artwork, never-before-seen live, studio & promo band photos, and extensive liner notes revealing the mystery of "RODAN

For some reason this album gets some rave reviews online, but from the perspective of a prog fan there isn't much to cling on to, whether dissonance (tritones, minor seconds, etc.), crazy original chord or rhythm changes, novel patterns, etc.  It's in fact relatively straightforward horn rock with intensely funky beats. Always one gets the impression it's being overhyped by those who own the original (200-LPs pressed) version and hope it will gain in value.  I would go so far as to say it sounds like any generic funky seventies album, but you be the judges.  An ex. of overstatement from rym:

Super horn rock album, that absolutely kills on most of the 12 short tracks. There are a couple of bluesy moves and at least one James Brown styled funker, but mostly this just rips from start to finish. The kind of album you wish all horn rockers were. Smoking guitar and great brass charts. The rhythm section never stops. California based group was actually known as MAX, and toured extensively with groups like Malo and Tower of Power. Album sports a fantastic drawing on the cover...

I mean, reviewing it on a regular rock blog would make sense, just not somewhere that specializes in progressive rock or progressive fusion (the latter of which is totally absent).  The furthest they venture, timidly, into creative chords, is Juicy Lucy:

A piano track called Pandora's Theme, sounding very much like a purely improvised, unpreplanned piece:

All in all, it's very similar to the other horn rock contenders, like Lighthouse, Dr. Music, Earth Wind and Fire, but unfort. it's lacking the really convincing compositions that those better acts featured, with little progressiveness to hold it up otherwise.  Or do you remember the astrounding Italian one-off horn-rock band called Sage? That one was amazing.