Post by Erik Rupp on Aug 29, 2009 20:43:35 GMT -5
Deep Purple - Purpendicular (1996)
If album (cd) sales were based solely on the quality of the music on any given album Purpendicular would have sold five million copies. Unfortunately, that is obviously not the case, but Purpendicular is a spectacular album all the same.
Combining classic Machine Head or Fireball style Deep Purple with the jazzy influences of then new guitarist Steve Morse (ok, new to Deep Purple - the guy had been doing fusion albums forever), Purpendicular shows a band staying in touch with their roots, while growing musically at the same time. "Vavoom: Ted The Mechanic," "I'm Not Your Lover," "Somebody Stole My Guitar," and "A Castle Full Of Rascals" all have the great Deep Purple Hard and Heavy sound, and all are given a little extra flash, courtesy of Morse.
"Loosen My Strings" sounds like Purple meets Sting, while "The Aviator" sounds like Purple crossed with acoustic Led Zeppelin. Then you've got, "Rosa's Cantina," which sounds like....well Purple meets ZZ Top (think, "She's Just Killing Me") with something of a 90's groove - very laid back and funky, but still fairly uptempo - it is a great song. "Hey Cisco" offers a combination of Purple and a jazzier Van Halen, while "The Purpendicular Waltz" would fit, well... perfectly on Perfect Strangers.
Purpendicular shows a more mature version of Deep Purple willing to venture into new musical territory, while at the same time keeping themselves firmly rooted in their past. Strong performances can be heard from all in the band, but particualrly from drummer Ian Paice, who hadn't played this well since Who Do We Think We Are! Purpendicular was a huge artistic success, and showed that this classic band had a lot of life left in them.
4.5/5
If album (cd) sales were based solely on the quality of the music on any given album Purpendicular would have sold five million copies. Unfortunately, that is obviously not the case, but Purpendicular is a spectacular album all the same.
Combining classic Machine Head or Fireball style Deep Purple with the jazzy influences of then new guitarist Steve Morse (ok, new to Deep Purple - the guy had been doing fusion albums forever), Purpendicular shows a band staying in touch with their roots, while growing musically at the same time. "Vavoom: Ted The Mechanic," "I'm Not Your Lover," "Somebody Stole My Guitar," and "A Castle Full Of Rascals" all have the great Deep Purple Hard and Heavy sound, and all are given a little extra flash, courtesy of Morse.
"Loosen My Strings" sounds like Purple meets Sting, while "The Aviator" sounds like Purple crossed with acoustic Led Zeppelin. Then you've got, "Rosa's Cantina," which sounds like....well Purple meets ZZ Top (think, "She's Just Killing Me") with something of a 90's groove - very laid back and funky, but still fairly uptempo - it is a great song. "Hey Cisco" offers a combination of Purple and a jazzier Van Halen, while "The Purpendicular Waltz" would fit, well... perfectly on Perfect Strangers.
Purpendicular shows a more mature version of Deep Purple willing to venture into new musical territory, while at the same time keeping themselves firmly rooted in their past. Strong performances can be heard from all in the band, but particualrly from drummer Ian Paice, who hadn't played this well since Who Do We Think We Are! Purpendicular was a huge artistic success, and showed that this classic band had a lot of life left in them.
4.5/5