T. Rex’s carnal re-imagining of ’50s boogie anchors this glam-rock landmark. “Jeepster” frolics along, packed with Marc Bolan’s hiccupping riffs and aroused groans, while “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” slides into second gear with a groove punctuated by throbbing sax and slinky whispers. But for all of Bolan’s glittery bravado, he also reveals a vulnerable side with the album’s clutch of dreamy, psychedelic-kissed ballads, including “Cosmic Dancer,” in which he sounds like a quivering alien lost in space.
- 1972