Customer Reviews

Nice & Greasy

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

 

 

I have all of Atomic Rooster official albums, plus several live CD compilations, but Nice and Greasy is my favorite. It is worth its weight in gold just for Chris Farlowe singing, which is incredible. The whole band is tight. Music is not that hard as on some other albums, but is very uplifting.

This is not an album for pop-loving mellon brains! But if you are a hard-core collector/historian of classic rock, you can't pass this album up. It (along with Made in England) is Atomic Rooster's finest. Chris Farlowe's vocals roar with a soul deep down. Johnny Mandela's guitar-work is charged with Greek fire. Vincent Crane is as solid here as he ever was. Some may say this album is a departure from the regular sounds of Atomic Rooster, but I say this is the album where they found that exact mixture and finally gelled.

i like this reissue, although i rather prefer the other cover with chris farlow being "blowed up." i wonder what the significance of that is. anyway, this edition has great liner notes discussing the history and troubles of vincent crane and atomic rooster. it also has pictures of the various album designs of this release. although i disagree with the author stating that this release was a "step backwards" and not well prepared. the majority of the songs are very strong and well composed. "the voodoo in you" is one of my favorites. i always thought chris farlow was an odd addition to atomic rooster, but, he does blend in well on most of the compositions. the extra material is a good selection too, although the two 1980 reunion tracks do not feature farlow. it would of been nice to have more of him to keep the continuity of the cd intact. if you can afford it, get both versions for the covers and listen to this one as it is musically more complete.

Skilled guitar scribbles on top of a few involved jams keeps this energetic blues-rock release from spilling into caricature.

I bought all the Atomic Rooster albums as they were issued, beginning in 1969. Each one got progressively worse as the band went through personnel and stylistic changes with every album. This final album (issued as ATOMIC ROOSTER IV in the U.S., even though it was their 5th album) just hits the dirt. 60's R&B singer Chris Farlowe is still around for this album, unfortunately, and really drags it down. Chris Farlowe singing songs about Satan? Gimme a break. By this time, Atomic Rooster had completely made the transformation from prog/hard rock band to dull prog/blues band. The only decent thing here is their cover version of "Voodoo In You," which raises the rating to 2-stars.

The Rooster re-grouped in the 1980's with earlier members and recorded a decent album. NICE & GREASY remains their least-successful release.