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Now

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There was a time when Peter Frampton[1976], was the biggest act in rock music, thanks to his monumental live album "Frampton Comes Alive". How do you top selling 25 million albums? The truth is you don't, and hope you can survive artistically, after your 15 minutes of fame is over. Frampton has never left us, and has continued to record and make music over the last 25 plus years since "Comes Alive". His latest release "NOW", reveals that he remains a potent guitarist and songwriter, who hasn't lost his touch. The majority of this CD was recorded at his home studio in Ohio, with a solid band that includes long time keyboard man Bob Mayo and bassist John Regan. All the tunes are original with the exception of a cover version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", which was recorded in honor of his friend George Harrison. Some of the highlights here include, a rocking "Verge Of A Thing", The vintage sounding "Flying Without Wings", which could have easily been a hit rock record during the 70's. Some nice ballads are thrown into the mix including "Not Forgotten". "Love Stands Alone", and "Above It All", are all enjoyable tunes that employ that great frampton guitar sound, with that unmistakable voice. If you are an old-time Frampton fan who has not indulged in any of his music since his music heyday, I strongly urge you to consider this recording and add it to your collection. Frampton has made a cd that truly deserves some attention.

It has been nearly 10 years since Peter Frampton's last studio album, and it is unfortunate that we have had to wait so long for it to materialise. Though this `comeback' album is a good effort of the standard we are accustomed to from Peter, it is hardly the `magnum opus' that one might have expected after a decade's virtual silence. The sound of the album is quite basic and stripped-down, being essentially loud electric guitars (or ringing acoustic guitars), bass and drums, with subtle keyboard textures, the band being the same as that featured on Frampton's 1999 `Live in Detroit' concert album - Bob Mayo from the 1976 `Comes alive' album, John Regan (another longstanding Frampton associate), and Chad Cromwell the regular drummer with Mark Knopfler. There is little of the synthesizer overdubbing previously used on albums such as `I'm in you' and Frampton's 1994 studio album; the sound is very much that of the live band, but performing in the studio.

The songs are typical Frampton - mostly not particularly memorable at first hearing, but pleasant enough to grow on you when heard several times. Stylistically the album covers Peter's usual territory of acoustic guitar ballads and heavier R&B influenced rock, and listeners hoping for much innovation or experimentation would be disappointed - this is standard Frampton material, and though it is done well one can't help wondering why it took so long for the record to be completed. For me the most satisfying moments are when Peter departs a little from his usual formula, and performs a powerful version of George Harrison's `While my guitar gently weeps', followed by `Greens', a long instrumental piece reminiscent of some of Jeff Beck's `jazz-rock' work in the mid-70s. On these two tracks the extended guitar solos are somewhat more eloquent than in the rest of the album, and are a reminder of Frampton's past track record as a very tasteful and melodic electric guitar soloist.

For anyone not already familiar with Frampton's work, this would probably not be the best place to start, although for the committed fan it will be an essential purchase. I feel that with its generally simple musical arrangements it is a good complement to the 1994 `Peter Frampton' album (his previous studio album), which is more complex in its arrangements and is possibly a more carefully crafted album. Consequently I recommend that the listener should not buy one without the other, and along with the Detroit live album these studio recordings would give a good representation of where Peter Frampton really is at `Now'.

It should be noted that the German edition of `Now' contains three extra tracks compared with the original American edition, and in Britain it is also cheaper. This extended edition on the Framptone / SPV label, with 14 songs and a total length of just over an hour, is a particularly good bargain, and much better than the 11-track US edition. (All credits and vocals are of course in English.) The SPV version of the Detroit live album is also much longer than the US version.

Frampton's newest CD is one of his best ever. It rocks, it has beautiful melodies, and his amazing writing, singing and GUITAR PLAYING has never been better. The album is also brilliantly recorded and mixed, and avoids the production overkill that has hampered his studio albums over the years. The wonderful cover version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a gem and Peter's guitar solo on it is pure inspiration. The man is without a doubt the most underrated rock guitarist ever. 'Now' is a great record by anyone's standards. Buy it!

I don't really know where to begin with this one--it's very impressive and sounds surprisingly fresh. The songwriting is topnotch (lots of hooks, very interesting), the production is great--not overdone, very organic--Frampton's voice and guitar playing are just unbelievably good...he's really crafted an excellent album here. My fave tracks are probably "Flying Without Wings" (some of the backing vocals remind me of some of the old Steely Dan stuff), "Love Stands Alone" (great Leslie guitar on there, very reminiscent of Frampton's 70's sounds but more evolved), "I Need Ground", "Not Forgotten", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (a fitting tribute to George Harrison), "Greens" (instrumental a la Jeff Beck, really beautiful), and "Hour of Need" which was originally featured as part of the movie "Almost Famous" (as played by the fictitious band Stillwater but only featured in the concert scenes on the DVD release of the movie). Anyone who's followed Frampton's career will be left with the impression that he's following his own heart again, making great music and not compromising or second-guessing himself. There are a couple of moments where this release doesn't feel 100% cohesive, but after repeated listening it's apparent that the strong points far outweigh the weak spots, which are few. Some of Frampton's previous studio efforts (like Breaking All the Rules, I'm in You, and his early-90's self-titled CD) had some great tunes and ideas, but they often left me with the feeling that he was reaching for something and fell a bit short; with the "Now" album, it seems like all the pieces (finally) fit. Honestly, I'm blown away this time. Nice job!

I am probably the typical Peter Frampton fan--played the vinyl version of "Frampton Comes Alive" over and over, and then forgot about him. Then, after seeing him recently featured on A&E's "Biography," I remembered how gorgeous his guitar playing is and how hooky his songs are. So I took chance and ordered "Now." All I have to say is, wow! This is the best possible type of CD--maybe it doesn't bowl you over on the first listening (I don't think the little 30-second excerpts you can listen to for free really do the songs justice.) But it'll grow on you, believe me. It's now in my daily rotation.

There's a nice mix here of hard-rock guitar-playing and softer ballads. Go ahead, take a chance. He sounds as good as ever.

My wife and I saw Peter Frampton a few weeks ago and heard some of the songs off of this new album, and we liked the tunes he played a lot. Having been duped before, where the only good songs from the new album, were the ones played live we approached with caution.

This entire album is great! We can't pick a favorite song because they all sound so good...I am leaning towards "I'm Back" and my wife likes "Not Forgotten."

Enjoy...

Don & Brenda

I took a listen to this thing at Border's today, thinking, "what the hell." I thought he would sound like a dinosaur, but I was astonished to find myself tapping my foot to the first song. So, I listened some more, liked it and bought it. Now, I'm playing it constantly.
Nice job Peter! I'd never bought one of his albums, but I'm glad I got this one.

I've always said that as a guitarist Peter Frampton is one of the best, in the same league as Pete Townshend, Clapton, Page, etc. After hearing this disc it would be a compliment to those guys to say they are in the same league as Peter Frampton. The intricate guitar work woven into a rock framwork is stunning to say the least. There are a couple of obligitory acoustic numbers, but make no mistake, this is guitar oriented rock at it's best. 'Now' is quite possibly Peter Frampton's best studio work. And that is saying a lot.

After a nine year absence from releasing a studio effort, Frampton is back with NOW. Peter says it best in a line from the seventh track, "Like Schwarzenegger in Terminator, I'm Back". And indeed, he is. One of the greatest guitar players of all time has shown is still has it in this new release.

The CD has a bit of everything. It starts out with the hard-driving "Verge of a Thing", followed by a couple of beautiful ballads; "Gone But Not Forgotten" makes us contemplate the days after 9/11, and "Mia Rose" will be loved by anyone who has sung a lullabye to their child. George Harrison is also remembered not only in the blazing "My Guitar Gently Weeps" cover, but also subtly in the sitar sounds in "I Need Ground". For the guitar purists, there is the instrumental "Greens". In between are other great songs, including my favorite "Love Stands Alone".

It is great to hear new music from a talented musician.

Being a fan of Frampton since the 70's, I've seen the ups and downs of his career. I wasn't sure when I bought this cd what to expect, but from the first chord of Verge of a Thing, I was hooked. This is truly one of his best works to date. Love Stands Alone is incredible, only to be matched by his cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps.. the song gives me goose-bumps. All I can say is that if you are thinking of buying this cd.. then DO IT! You will not be disappointed.