UTOPIA AVENUE

Narrator Ralph Lister exuberantly conveys the psychedelic music scene of 1967-68. Mitchell's novel features a British band called Utopia Avenue as growing success takes its members from modest venues to arenas. Listeners will breathlessly accompany the awestruck group as they stay at the fabled Chelsea Hotel in New York City and meet big stars, including Janis Joplin and Jerry Garcia, each convincingly portrayed by Lister. Chapters, which include song lyrics, profile band members Elf Holloway, Dean Moss, and Jasper de Zoet, but, oddly, not Griff Griffin. While Lister convincingly depicts interviews, stage fright, and band members' relationships, too few selections of the band's enchanting music are included. An impressive chronicle of music and phenomena like the Vietnam War, hippies, and hallucinogens make audio the advisable listening choice. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2020]