Customer Reviews

Malice in Wonderland

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first listened to this album when it first was published in 1976, I liked it then and I still like it. It's one of those classics that never gets old, a unique album that you feel like listening to every now and then without interruption.

I thought I was the only one who had this album. I got it based on the fact that two of favorite musicians are one it, Jon Lord and Ian Paice. This is not Deep Purple nor did I expect it to be. It's a pretty good and interesting rock album with a blues edge. Some people may know guitarist Bernie Marsden from early Whitesnake and he's a fine player. I got it for a lot less than it is selling for here. It's worth checking out if you're not expecting Highway Star and can get it for a reasonable price. My favorite track is the funky Silas and Jerome. No matter what, Lord and Paice will always have my respect and admiration.
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I've been trying to find this CD for a year or so now and was pleased to finally receive it, and let my brother have a copy. Both of us thought the live bonus tracks at the end were pretty excellent but the others fairly mediocre. We're now getting a copy of the Paice Ashton Lord Live at the BBC CD and hopefully it will be better value.

Pretty cool Blues/Rock with Funk mixed in. All songs rock while maintaining a blues/cool/funky melody to them. Similar to the bluesy rock/funk of Deep Purple's "Come Taste the band" this late 70's release makes me laugh at what was popular at the time. It's also an example of why these guys still make rock music today.

This CD is made in pleasant blues rock, not heavy metal, as some databases state incorrectly. Here, former DP members Paice and Lord team with bluesman Ashton and 2 younger musicians. Result is not outstanding but quite enjoyable and never gets boring. Bonus live tracks are also interesting and are very well recorded. As performer, Ashton dominates this album. He brought in some sence of humor, a quality that members of DP always lacked. Both Lord and Ashton play the keyboards and do excelent job, especially on Ghost Story. Not bad at all, but, of course, even 2 of them are no match for Al Kooper or Dave Greensdale. This is simply not Jon Lord's type of music. I think his best keyboard works (in Concerto for Group & Orchestra, on Sarabande and hard-rock tunes like Burn and Hard Loving Man) were not moment improvisations, essential in R&B, but rather small compositions in themselves, a result of careful polishing. So, my guess is that PAL was doomed to be short-lived experience. Was it the right choice for Lord (and Paice, too) after that to join Whitesnake and later re-united DP, where he wasted his talent through the 80s, that's another question... So, if you are a fan of DP, you will most likely be disappointed: no hard rocks or Blackmore's guitar riffs here. If you like R&B, this album is not a masterpiece but is still better than many alikes, including many of the ABB albums or whatever Steve Winwood and Co could do by mid-70s and ever since. The CD is provided with lyrics and Ian Paice's comments.

the idea of this unique album came from Jon Lord, Tony Ashton (RIP) & Ian Paice after Deep purple final split forever in 1976. The most tracks are very unique and strange, they didn't play any hard Rock n roll anymore in this album, what they ever did within deep purple for 8 years before. but the tracks are excellent check it out like ghost story Ashton 's vocal is very deep grave and bluesy. Jon Lord did always some excellent melodic with his keyboard, Ian Paice did several great drumming tracks and Tony Ashton did a good job! cheers Jonas

I certainly wasnt thrilled with album. This is a departure from the hard rock edge Deep Purple fans would appreciate. Lords talent isnt really apparent here...Ashtons vocals are flat (perhaps in good interesting-type-of-way)..Paice's percussion isnt really much to remember.

Im listening to it now. Its dull. 70s rock diehards might enjoy it to kill time...or Deep Purple collectors might simply need to have it.

Simply dull BritRock album from 1977, by some uninspired monsters of rock...reminds me of other mediocre releases by BBA (Jeff Beck, Tim Bogert, Carmine Appice) or BLT (Jack Bruce, ,L? ,Robin Trower). All these musicians had much better studio releases outside these 'powertrios'. When comparing BLT/Truce, BBA (Beck, Bogert, Appice) and PAL (Malice in Wonderland)...BLT is the most dissapointing, with PAL earning one star because it is so dull, and BBAs self titled being not all that bad with some good playing.

I suggest listen before you buy.