| I've heard some very different opinions from reviewers on the "Bananas"
CD so far. So I decided to give you mine too, which is also different.
It took the band quite a while after Abandon to come up with another
studio CD. Therefore the expectations grew very high. For me too, I must
admit. Would it be another milestone in Rock history ? Would it be top of
the notch like the historical albums DPIR, MH or PS ? After all the waiting
we expected something big like that. So, would the Bananas album be strong
enough to be mentioned in one sentence with those ? Let's look at it:
House Of Pain is a pretty powerful
opener. It could also work as an opener for the live shows. Although Steve
is stealing from his own Take It Off The Top it's pretty fresh, heavy and
moving forward with melodic and powerful vocals, a driving bass, cowbells
and harmonica, even some screams, which we don't have too many of on this
album and I must say I don't mind that fact at all. Overall it has to be
stated that Gillan's work on Bananas is way more melodic than on Abandon.
He actually sings on this one, and he sings beautifully. One of the
very positive facts about Bananas.
The Sun Goes Down is pretty
heavy with a still singing Gillan but that one doesn't do anything to me.
Unlike other reviewers I consider this one the weakest. My wife likes it
though.
Haunted, which has been slagged
on from most of the reviewers so far, is a beautiful song in my opinion.
It sticks in your ear and it has "radio play quality", and that's what the
plan is. Get Purple a new and wider audience. Sure, it's very polished, maybe
too soft, and I must admit I liked it better live without the background
singers, but the avarage listeners will (hopefully) love it that way. I think
it has a chance on the market and in the charts.
Razzle Dazzle I'm not sure
about yet. First I didn't like it too much. The more I listen to it, the
more I'm changing my mind. It 's not an outstanding song but it makes me
move though.
Silver Tongue is, according
to my wife, the strongest song. Amazing how different opinions can be...
It has moments, especially when Steve kicks in with his licks but overall
I find it average and boring. From a band with Purpe's musical abilities
you expect more than one chord. It might work out live though 'cause it makes
a good head-banger.
Walk On I like the best so
far. Nice heavy blues with great harmonies and a beautiful job
from Gillan. Not too typical Purple, but that doesn't matter at all. Very
nice "un-Morsey" soli and also nice parts from Don. Just that stumbling at
the end and the following noodling on the keys I don't get. Wish they had
found a proper ending for the song. But it could become a classic.
Pictures Of Innocence. Falling
back into Abandon habits. Can't find the message in this one. But it makes
me swing. Besides that I can't really describe it.
I Got Your Number grooves. It
had to grow on me through eight live performances and now a couple of listenings
to the studio version. Again I think Steve is stealing from himself, especially
in the slower sections. Don is on fire though. Nice guitar/organ trading
and the chorus sticks in your ear and Paicey's time changes make it
special.
Never A World What is that
all about ? What is that thing doing on this CD? I don't know. Weird, very
weird. Not a bad song though. Shows that Purple can also do stuff like their
ex-banjo player, but was that neccessary ? Did we need that proof ? That
is beyond me. One of these songs that the world doesn't need, especially
not from a band like Deep Purple.
Bananas is very different with
it's 7/8 beat. Powerful in all means with Ian on the harmonica. Roger is
really pushing through the song and Don and Steve are doing the solo parts
together, like a duell. The organ sounds very Jon-ish here. How come...
Doing It Tonight. Somebody called
it the weakest song. Yeez, I can't second that. It's my favorite. I love
the beat, the rhythm, the harmonies and especially Ian's singing. What a
song. Just way too short I could constantly listen to it.
Contact Lost. We all know what
it's about, the accident of the spaceship. So it makes no sense to discuss
it musical-wise. The song ends too soon and unexpected, like their journey
did. Very nice homage to the astronauts.
My overall impression about Bananas is that is a pretty good album.
Roger is all over the place, always driving forward. Don is surprisingly
present, there's quite a few lick trades with Steve, not always the traditional
"theme-solo-theme-solo" structure. Pretty refreshing. As I stated before
I like Gillan very much on this one. He sings, and he sing beautifully. There's
melodies again, not just rap-like screaming. Very enjoyable. And Paicey is
doing what he's always doing: a perfect job on the stool. The guys appear
as a real group, nobody is trying to dominate. No outstanding solos though,
but real harmonic playing together.
Especially through the different opinions of my wife (she's thrilled
- she says it totally rocks) and myself about the album I think I realize
what it's about: I'm a Purple Maniac for almost 30 years, therefore I look
differently at DP things, probably with higher and different expectations.
She's just a rock music fan, not a Purple geek. Though I realize, even with
my purple glasses on, for the avarage Rock fan this is one of the best albums
that came out in years. It's really fresh, showing the musical ability of
all the guys, very varying in styles, produced very well; in one word: very
enjoyable. It will probably (and hopefully) reach some non-Purple-die-hards,
make new fans and new audience guests. I think it will.
In my humble opinion it's way better than Abandon and about on the same
level as Purpendicular. But it can't touch the historical releases mentioned
above. I'm afraid it does not hold any song which we will still hear
on the radio in twenty years. It's very well worth buying for everyone
though, but it will not reach historical status, IMHO.
Purple regards to y'all. And go and buy
Bananas.
God bless you, Ted. |
