After recruiting Micky Thomas (of "Fooled around and fell in love" fame) the band began to write and record music with a harder, heavy-metal sound. This was probably the album that sounded the most like they're just having fun making music. The big hit off of this CD was the first song on it. "Jane" starts off with a short keyboard intro and then hammers you with guitars. It was a great way to start off the album. Other songs that got air play was "Girl with the Hungry eyes", "Rock Music", and "Freedom at Point Zero". All three great rockers, with Freedom explaining the whole concept behind this album. However, one of my favorite songs here is the softer sounding "Fading Lady Light" allowing Thomas to highlight his vocal range.

I would highly recommend this to any true Rock & Roll fan looking for a extremely strong sounging CD. After this album, and with the return of Slick to the line-up, the band began to evolve into a top-40 band. Thomas started to push the group there, and with the success that brought the music began to suffer. Oh well, at least we had this one great effort to listen to.


A great beginning to a great era   August 12, 2005
H. Forisz (South Wales, UK)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Personally I love the Mickey Thomas era of Jefferson Starship. The first song I heard by JS was Jane. Maybe, there are a few sighs out there, but that song prompted me to buy this album. I loved it from the word go, "Jane" actually became a passing track for me as time went on. I was impressed by the grandiose "Awakening" and the fantastic "Just the same".

Whilst I wouldn't call my self a hard core Jefferson Starship fan, my four favourite Albums are Freedom at Point Zero, Modern Times, Winds of Change and Nuclear Furniture, this era in the band's illustrous career seems to have hit a note for me. I dare say there will be those who will say "ah but that's not the real Jefferson Starship etc". But if you like good rock music you will love this album and the following three albums.

Stand out tracks on this album include: Awakening, Just the Same - great ending to fade out, Lightning Rose has a great middle eight and a wonderful saxophonic sound in it (probably synth), Girl with the Hungry Eyes. If I had to pick a weak track, I couldn't.

"Fading Lady Light" is a brilliant ballad track, the title track is good honest rock and roll ... great riff!!! and the intro to "Rock Music" lets you know what you are in for for the rest of the song.

All in all a fantastic album .. buy it, listen to it, love it! then get the three albums that follow .... Mickey Thomas ! what a voice!

This Ablum - Magic !


This was Jefferson Starship at their best!!!   February 24, 1999
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This was absolutely the best Jefferson Starship rock & roll cd. It was combined, on one cd, some of the folk influences (Fading Lady Light, Lightning Rose) and intense rockers (Jane, Girl With The Hungry Eyes). This was a great balance between not enough production of some of the older cds and too much enhancement of the Starship. Freedom At Point Zero along with Modern Times are both amazing examples of rock and roll at its finest.


BEST JEFFERSON STARSHIP ALBUM   August 8, 2006
James T. Mott (O'Fallon, MO USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Wow! This album still floors me. The songwriting is top notch. All the wheels were turning during the writing and recording of this album. I do wish an official concert album of this tour would be released. Mickey Thomas had just joined the band and Paul Kantner wrote some brilliant songs. Most notable are The Awakening, Lightning Rose, Girl With the Hungry Eyes and the title track.

If you are a fan, don't hesitate. This album is great. Includes the hits, Jane and Rock Music. Big 5 stars!


Jefferson Starship Successfully Overcome Loss Of Singers   June 15, 2004
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

With FREEDOM AT POINT ZERO, Jefferson Starship have proven that they could make a great album even without lead singers Grace Slick and Marty Balin. Their replacement, Mickey Thomas, does a terrific job of replacing them, and the result is an album that almost equals RED OCTOPUS. It is unfair that this album received such bad reviews when it came out, and I think that it's time for a critical rassessment.