Published on Jul 27, 1998
I’ve been a bit lax in keeping up with the Deep Purple
genealogical charts, but if I’ve added everything correctly, we’re
now on Deep Purple Mk V (Mk III was the David Coverdale era, Mk IV
would be the Joe Lynn Turner album). After Ritchie Blackmore flew
the coop for the second time in Deep Purple’s career, former Dixie
Dregs axeman Steve Morse stepped in to fill the position that some
claimed could never be filled. (I have yet to pick up
Purpendicular, the first album featuring Morse… gimme a
break, this gig doesn’t pay well.)
With the recent release of
Abandon, one would think that Deep Purple would know the
pitfalls to avoid in their music. Unfortunately, they don’t – but
as often as they stumble, they also fall upon new, unplowed ground
for them.
I don’t know who’s responsible for this – the band and Roger
Glover for production work, or Darren Schneider’s mixing job – but
whoever buried Ian Gillan’s vocals on this album should be hung by
their manhood. When I listen to an album, I actually – God forbid –
expect to
hear the singer!!! Simply put, the overall sound of this
album sucks – and after over 30 years in the business, I’d expect
that Deep Purple should know better. (How do you expect to have a
hit single in “Any Fule Kno That” when I can’t hear what the fuck
you’re singing?!? HUH???
Ahem, pardon me… There are some moments on
Abandon that show you that there is a lot of new ground for
Deep Purple to cover. Songs like “Whatsername” provide a slow,
plodding groove that hook the listener almost immediately. If this
song hasn’t been considered for a single, it should be right quick.
And, for the first time that I can remember in a long time, the
band explores an acoustic vein on “Fingers To The Bone,” a song
documenting the plight of the farmworkers who lose their jobs
through no fault of their own. If Bruce Springsteen could only have
captured it so poignantly.
The rhythm core of the band – bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian
Paice and keyboardist Jon Lord – are strong as ever; I can’t
remember a time I didn’t like their work as Deep Purple’s backbone.
However, Morse doesn’t quite seem comfortable in his role as the
lead guitar player yet. Oh, on the decent songs, he shines – but on
cuts like “Whatsername,” it sounds like he’s doing a Blackmore
impersonation. (Morse does add his own guitar voice to “Fingers To
The Bone,” which probably makes the track that much more
magical.)
In a sense, it’s almost like Morse is too technical – aw, who am
I kidding, he’s too
good for Deep Purple. Sure, the others are talented
musicians. But Morse is a much more technical player, while
Blackmore was very much a groove guitarist. Once Blackmore got
locked in the rhythm, all you had to do was sit back and watch.
Morse is almost trying too hard. In all fairness, maybe it’s going
to take some time to get used to him being in the band; I’ve never
really taken change in Deep Purple that well.
Much of the music on
Abandon follows a cookie-cutter formula for Deep Purple:
rhythm section, vocals, throw in a guitar and/or organ solo for
flavor. Some of the music, like “Don’t Make Me Happy” and “Evil
Louie,” is slower than I’m used to for Deep Purple, and is okay to
listen to. Other songs that could have been cuts worth remembering,
such as “Jack Ruby,” “’69” and “Any Fule Kno That,” just fall
faster than a diver jumping off a building as pictured on the album
cover.
True, it might take some time before it feels natural for Morse
to be in the lead guitarist’s chair for Deep Purple. But unless the
songwriting gets a little fresher and they fix the piss-poor mix of
this album, there aren’t going to be a lot of new fans knocking on
Deep Purple’s back door.