Customer Reviews

Abandon

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple for the second time on the eve of the Japanese leg of 'The Battle Rages on Tour' in 1993, most thought it was the end of this historic band. Because they were contractually obligated to do the Japanese shows, the band considered doing the shows without a banjo player, but feeling this would cheat their loyal Japanese following, a replacement had to be considered at short notice. Not easy to find someone who was capable of filling such big shoes, let alone that was available, and most importantly was brave enough to take it on.

Ian Gillan said as a joke: "How about Joe Satriani?" Bruce Payne, longtime manager of the band, saw the funny side but also thought, "Why Not?". Phone calls were made, contracts written down on scraps of paper and Purple played six of their most unique concerts ever in Japan. No rehearsals with the new guitarist (they did send Joe some tapes of Blackmore's last couple of concerts with Purple to give him a clue, which he listened to on the flight over to Japan), just straight out onto the stage and play. The results were spectacular as can be borne out by the very high quality of the Bootlegs from the shows. Even though Joe does at one stage forget the opening riff to "Smoke on the water" and has to be reminded.

But Joe Satriani could not stay on a permanent basis with Deep Purple, so it was back to audition tapes for the other remaining four of the Classic Mark 2 lineup of the band. The name of American Steve Morse (ex Dixie Dregs and Kansas, he had also been voted best overall guitarist by Guitar Magazine three consecutive years running) was brought up. But the band was not keen as another talented American (Tommy Bolin) had been drafted into the band the last time that Blackmore left with disastrous results. Steve Morse himself was not keen either seeing it as a step backwards, as he had already been drafted into one Dinosaur Rock Band in it's death throes and although the financial rewards were great, artistically these things left a lot to be desired. A rehearsal was set up anyway, and as they say the rest is history. Musically as well as socially the band and their new guitarist got along famously, to check all was well. After furious rehearsals a short but by no means small tour was set up to check whether the chemistry would last. Early 1995 saw the new Purple playing five concerts in India to a combined audience of over one million people, to mass critical and public acclaim.

So instead of it being the end of Deep Purple, Blackmore's departure signaled a completely new - and most would say better - Purple. Certainly the fun was back and now the band was writing together again. Both the concerts and the recording showed the band scaling new heights. A new album was recorded "Pupundicular", released in 1996. It showed a fresh new band with their creative juices flowing. A massive world tour followed with plenty of songs from the new album aired, plus, mainly through Steve Morse brand new fire, was injected into the old classics. At the end of this tour the band went back into the studio with renewed confidence, coming up with the results of which were laid down on this fine CD of over an hour's worth of Hard Rock as only Purple know how,

Songs such as "Watching the Sky" and "Almost Human" rock-a-long in classic style. Ian Paice once again proving he is the world's leading Rock 'n' Roll drummer. Roger Glover, the ultimate Hard Rock bass guitarist, driving the band along using his guitar as a lead instrument, forcing the groove of each song down the listeners throat so that they cannot help but take notice. Jon Lord was and still is the original rock keyboard player often imitated, but never equaled. There has really only ever been one vocalist for Deep Purple, and it is Ian Gillan. Nobody has the range to cover all of Purples different sound scapes. Many have tried, but none have ever come close. And Steve Morse has found himself a permanent home for his incredible Guitar Pyrotechnics, capable of turning a song on its head with a flurry of his fingers.

"Abandon" is a classic Rock album that should be an automatic in any decent collection of Rock music.

Now in 2002 Jon Lord, the master of the Hammond organ, has decided it is time to hang up his Deep Purple keyboards and concentrate on his solo projects. Purple has drafted in longtime friend and keyboard wizard Don Airey. They are presently out on the road breaking in the new band before returning to the studio again. Rest assured, whatever they come up with it will be top notch Deep Purple.
Mott The Dog

After being amazed by Rapture of the Deep, I had to get the other three Steve Morse albums. Not having any preconceptions, I have to say I have found myself rather impressed with this album. These days, any album that has at least five songs that I like has to be pretty darn good. There are few modern albums that have all four and five star songs in my opinion. So this album sounds pretty good to me. Since I got it along with Perpendicular and Bananas I can only say that I think I like this one the best, simply because after one week I find this album has the most songs of three that I find myself playing over and over again. Probably my favourite is Seventh Heaven which seems to be the among the heaviest tunes DP has ever put out. Excellent guitar sound. When I was a teenager, guys Jon Lord's age said metal was nothing but racket. What does Lord think as he rocks away with Morse on this song? She Was is an interesting heavy tune that seems just beyond the borders of DP's previous stuff but fits nicely into their repetoire. One of the joys of having Steve Morse in the band is the use of more melodic and acoustic guitar which was rare under the Blackmore banner. The opening to '69 and the folksy sounding parts of Work Your Fingers to the Bone are a real pleasure to listen to. Lyrically, Work Your Fingers... is a wonderful new step for DP. There are a couple of other memorable tracks like Any Fule Kno That and Watching the Sky, the latter again combining hard rock guitar with experimental sounds and a softer touch. The whole album starts to come across as a stage for a variety of guitar sounds that are played excellently. The big surprise was to hear Bludsucker, one of my all-time favourite DP songs. Gillan is hard pressed to deliver the vocal performance he did back in 1970 but he pulls it off nicely, albeit with a few variations to accomodate his 'mature' vocal talents. I was starting to write him off after The House of Blue Light and the live performances on Nobody's Perfect but on this album Gillan proves that a man in his fifties can still scream to a hard rock guitar and do it well.

Though some people give this album a poor rating, I am overall very pleased with it.

Abandon was at first a bit hard to listen to after hearing the explosive Purpendicular album just two years prior to this this. I guess it's because Abandon sounds more like a band effort, instead of Purpendicular which sounded like Steve Morse featuring Deep Purple. Thats no problem though, Abandon is much heavier, and rocks harder than Purpendicular. It's not better than it, but different. There are some stellar moments on here, like 7th Heaven, 69, Any Fule Kno That, and a remake of Blood sucker. Watching the Sky is a good, mellow song and Steve Morse is on fire pn the entire CD. Not as dominating like on Purpendicular, but still amazing nonetheless. By the way, as for the rest of the band, they haven't sounded this damn good since Machine Head. Awesome!

This is vital hard rock. Deep Purple is sticking a** and deserves your support. This disc doesn't skip a beat it just plain rocks, what else can I say? Minus a half a point because I like Purpendicular just slightly better. Now buy them both!

Purple hasn't sound like a band in years, and the personal problems between Gillan and Blackmore didn't help the band sound. By adding Steve Morse, and removing Blackmore, Deep Purple woke up and picked up what they left a lot of years ago. Of course, this album is no Machine Head or In Rock, but is certainly better than most of the albums they made in the 80's and 90's. Steve Morse still have his own sound, and is fits perfectly in the Purple sound. The production of Roger Glover is still perfect, the sound of the whole album is real high quality. Too bad that the Purple is not getting any radio airplay. Any fule kno that and Don't make me happy are among the highlights of the album. Don't think of Deep Purple as a classic band, who's trying to survive, they're still alive and kicking. The age is not an obstacle for them, their live performances are still full of energy and fun.

This album rocks harder than Perpendicular. Steve Morse has become Purple's guitarist, and it leaves one thinking "Ritchie Who?" I know that it is almost heretical, but it is the truth. I also got to see the band in concert and they have lost none of their edge. Unlike most 70's dinasaurs who play as an oldies act, Purple is still releasing albums, and good ones at that.

Steve Morse on the banjo, replaced Ritchie Blackmore in 1994. DP still rules however Blackmore had gone. The new songs are still innovative, check out the songs lie almost human, anyfule know that, and seventh heaven. I saw DP in Balingen south Germany on the bang your head metal festival in 1999. It was fantastic....the new set of the new album refreshed the whole fans, though many fans still wanted to hear their old set. This album still gives the eye of the tiger for Deep Purple as the most innovative band in the hard rock history. deep purple fans can't be wrong!

This is the classic Deep purple sound once again! The previous album, "Purpendicular" sounded like a Steve Morse showcase. "Abandon" is again a full band effort well mixed and strong. I would venture to say it is the best Deep Purple album since "Perfect Strangers". It has the feel of a new and revived band effort much like the "Perfect Strangers" reunion album did. A full review of each song is below

1."Any Fule Kno That" - Nice rocker, very strong opener to the album with the classic Deep Purple sound

2."Almost Human" - Slower tempo but still good, love the guitar work on this song

3."Don't Make Me Happy" - Slow bluesy feel

4."Seventh Heaven" - Another great track, slow crunching guitar in the classic Deep Purple style. Steve Morse is starting to catch on to the Purple way of doing business.

5."Watching the Sky" - Mid tempo rocker, okay, not stellar but okay, sounds like a late 60s tune and then takes off...is this alternative Purple?

6."Fingers to the Bone" - slowing it down through the middle of the album, good song

7."Jack Ruby" - Another slow song, I love this tune, nice groove, shrieking Gillan (It's been a while), great keyboards and good lyrics

8."She Was" - Okay song, good keyboard / guitar interplay on this one. I love that aspect of of the Deep Purple sound

9."Whatsername" - Slow jam, respectable, not bad at all

10."'69" - Welcome back the rockers, love the keyboard solo, classic Deep Purple

11."Evil Louie" - Respectable song, not great but respectable

12."Bludsucker" - Deep Purple covers Deep Purple! Very nice! Steve Morse shows his talents on classic "In Rock" track. Great ending to a great album!!

Steve's use of pitch harmonics seem toned down on this album and appropriately placed in the solos. Jon Lord shines as does Ian P., Ian G. and Roger. This is what Deep Purple should sound like. This is a full band playing at their finest. Great studio album for Jon Lord to retire with.

After Purpendicular, it was clear that Deep Purple could basically do whatever the hell they wanted to do with Steve Morse on the guitar. Abandon brings back the heavy style that was epitomized on Deep Purple In Rock. The only problem is that most of the songs and riffs just aren't as memorable as classic Purple or other Morse era favorites (Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, Ted the Mechanic, Rapture of the Deep, Picture of Innocence). Any Fule Kno That is a pretty good opener, but most of the album is like The House of Blue Light and The Battle Rages On: solid and a little underwhelming. Seventh Heaven is good; Fingers to the Bone and Don't Make Me Happy are too. The last three tracks pick it up more. The riff to '69 is catchy and the lyrics (Your ma said you slept real good in your food last night/You couldn't hold it down but you broke up a real good fight) are pretty amusing to me. Evil Louie also has a neat rhythmic riff and again, the words, which I usually don't pay much attention to, are neat. Finally, we have a remake of Bloodsucker from In Rock. I'm not sure why. They could have put this out without it and had 11 songs...but whatever. It's a pretty good take, though Gillan's screeching isn't what it was in 1970.

Maybe it's not the first Morse album you'd give to a Purple newbie, but after awhile, it begins to catch on.

Before i bought this album i looked at the reviews on this site and was dissapointed to see that many critisized it as a poor effort. I went ahead and bought it anyway coz im going to see them in march 2002, and its great. A truly cool album made without having to try and impress. This music just flows out of the cd player and fills the room, some real cool riffs, great singing, hard drumming, wicked bass and awesome organ playing.
It is just a really good album with lots of melody and 'feel'. Dont be put off by others reviews, listen to me instead! ;)