"Blows Against The Empire" is a pivotal album released in 1970 by Paul Kantner of Jefferson Starship. The album is a unique concept album, a narrative that depicts a group of people escaping Earth to start new lives in outer space. It speaks to prevalent issues of social change and counterculture sentiments of the 1960s and 1970s.
Kantner, along with various other musicians such as Grace Slick, Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart, formed a collective known as Paul Kantner/Jefferson Starship for the creation of this album. The project served as the embryonic version of the later Jefferson Starship outfit.
Significantly, "Blows Against The Empire" was the first rock album to be nominated for the Hugo Award, a revered accolade in the field of science fiction literature, in 1971. The album was recognized in the category "Best Dramatic Presentation," an unprecedented accomplishment for a musical work.
It's worth noting that the concept and narrative of the album build upon several countercultural, utopian, and science fiction themes. In this unique blend, the album presents a speculative fiction story that is also a hymn to idealistic anti-establishment and pro-peace movements of the time.
Musically, the album showcases folk influences while keeping the psychedelic rock traits of the time. It also offers explorative and avant-garde elements, creating a myriad of sonic landscapes that reflect the album's narrative journey.
In 2015, "Blows Against The Empire" was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry. This further underscores its cultural importance and enduring influence.
