18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
UFO At Their Best!, April 26, 2000
This review is from: Walk on Water (Audio CD)
After years of fragmentation UFO finally got Michael Schenker to return to the group in 1994. The result was WALK ON WATER, one of the finest UFO albums ever recorded. The album picks right up where the classic LIGHTS OUT line-up left off in 1979. "Self Made Man" and "Darker Days" both feature crunchy heavy riffs and "dark" melodies, and are classic UFO songs. "Pushed To The Limit" is a top-notch uptempo rocker with a driving beat. The rest of the album is spectacular Hard Rock with a lot of melody. Often laced with acoustic guitar for texture, songs like "Stopped By A Bullet," "Venus," "Knock, Knock," and "Running On Empty" show a more mature version of UFO that still rocks. In fact, that is what makes this album so special; the band treats the listener with respect and doesn't just put out a "paint by numbers" Hard Rock album. WALK ON WATER is a must for any UFO fan, and should be in the collection of any fan of 1970's & 1980's Hard Rock. \ (If you like this album I also HIGHLY recommend Deep Purple's PURPENDICULAR!)
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite CDs!, January 3, 2002
This review is from: Walk on Water (Audio CD)
Walk on Water is, as other reviewers have noted, the "dream team" of Phil Mogg, Andy Parker, Michael Schenker, Pete Way and Paul Raymond -- the classic UFO line-up from the '70s that produced all the catchy FM radio staples.
On this, a reunion album after many, many years apart, the UFO boys rock like never before, adding an updated, gritty yet crisp sound to their guitars. From the opening riff of "A Self Made Man" right through to the updated covers of their classic tunes "Doctor, Doctor" and "Lights Out," Walk on Water is a joy to behold. And, believe me, I behold it often while I'm working.
Phil Mogg's vocals are still unique and very good. He still has the range and style he did two decades ago. That, in itself, is amazing.
Schenker's playing is every bit as "guitar-god" as it used to be. Perhaps more flamboyant than on the classic old UFO albums (but, of course, his ego has swelled to dirigible proportions since then), yet it's still UFO-like and fits well with Mogg's vocal style.
Although there isn't a song on this album I don't like, and some I like very, very much, there is one song that really pushes all my buttons: "Venus," track two. There's something about that bouncy, catchy song that makes it one of my favorite tracks EVER by any band. I can push "Repeat" and listen to that one track all day long at the office.
Although most of the classic UFO line-up would return for Covenant (minus Andy Parker and Paul Raymond), released in 2000, this album is by far the more enjoyable of their two latest. Perhaps it's because on Walk on Water is the classic UFO line-up. That's a large part of it, for sure. But the songs are simply better on Water. And the guitar sound is more prominent and punchy. Covenant has a muddy sound by comparison. (I'm listening to Covenant while I'm writing the Walk on Water review and nothing on Covenant grips me like what's on Walk on Water.)
If you're already a UFO fan, you probably already have Walk on Water. If you're not a UFO fan, but you're a fan of melodic hard rock played by a magical line-up of musicians, you should buy Walk on Water immediately.
I guarantee you'll be hooked from the opening riff. And you'll thank me profusely for "Venus," one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life.
Now, what would be REALLY nice is if the guys in UFO would stop fighting with each other long enough to tour the States. I'd love to see these guys live. (Hey, Schenker! You're good, but you're not THAT good. Try to get along with your band mates, eh?)
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE DREAM TEAM, December 19, 1998
This review is from: Walk on Water (Audio CD)
The album opens with a destructive guitar chord in a song with a melodic bridge and chorus, and a creative guitar solo, so we have no doubt that this is UFO in their best shape. Paul Raymond sounds like Jon Lord in the semi-acoustical "Venus". The good 4th track is a country rock in Garth Brooks style. "Darker Days"chorus reminds the best songs of the band in the 70s. Michael Schenker plays electric guitar solo during almost the whole "Running on Empty", but surprises us with an acoustic guitar solo in the middle. "Dreaming of Summer" is as wonderful as the melodic UFO masterpieces like "Love to Love". The new version of the two greatest hits are a gift to the fans - they`re slightly and smartly different, so fans will not be shocked with too many changes but will have refreshed versions of the songs they love. Only UFO can alternate from heavy to acoustic in the same song so beautifully. We hope this dream team will last for many more CDs like this.
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