This is Deep Purple at the bottom, releasing a mediocre set of songs aimed directly to sound commercial and almost pop at some points.
Of course, when you talk about Paice, Blackmore, Lord and Glover, you will always find some great stuff in the middle of this waste, given that they are such stupendous musicians.
Have no doubt: this is the "Bent Out of Shape" of Deep Purple's discography. (for those who don't know, Bent Out Of Shape was the last Rainbow album with Joe Lynn Turner - and it's disastrous, an abomination.)
August 26, 2008 |  | Good hard rock, but not the Gillan Deep Purple |  |
Well, Deep Purple had a noticably different (matching the times) sound post-reunion as it was, but this album sounds different even from the ones around it. It's the "Machine Head" lineup, but with Ian Gillan replaced on vocals with Joe Lynn Turner, who has a very different style - Turner has a smoother, crooner rock voice like David Coverdale (I've noticed Blackmore never tried to find another singer in the Gillan vein when he worked with different singers in Purple!). The band similarly seems toned down to match - this album doesn't seem to have the kick of "Perfect Strangers" or "Battle Rages On". So, if your looking for more like that you won't find it here! But, the songs are good hard rock more in the style of mid/early 80's Whitesnake, and I rather like this album now I've gotten used to it for what it is.
May 10, 2008With over 40 albums from the greatest band in the world what more do I need to say-But seriously this is a fantastic example of classic Deep Purple rock.
March 29, 2008 | | The best Rainbow album that never happened. | |
Slaves and Masters was recorded in 1990/1991 after Ritchie Blackmore fired Ian Gillan from the band. Gillan was replaced by Joe Lynn Turner, who was Blackmore's cohort in Rainbow from 1981-1984. Consequently, this album turns out sounding like a Turner-era Rainbow album more than a Purple album. Personally, I'm not a fan of JLT Rainbow--give me Ronnie James Dio any day--but I have to admit that I like this album better than the three Rainbow albums with JLT. The first three tracks--King of Dreams, The Cut Runs Deep, and Fire In the Basement--are all pretty good. Unfortunately, after that, the album goes south rather quickly. Truth Hurts is an OK ballad-like song, but most of the album sounds like Ritchie is trying to get an 80s-style pop-rock hit. I'd recommend this only if you're a Purple fanatic completist like me or if you really, really, really love Joe Lynn Turner. Incidentally, Turner was unceremoniously dumped after the tour and Blackmore reluctantly replaced him with Gillan after much complaining from Lord, Paice, Glover, and fans.
September 24, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(4 reviews)
