What's Next [Import]

Mahogany Rush | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Black Rose
• ASIN: B00004SQSG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #493,992 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily Marino's masterpiece..., July 14, 2002

By 

UFO6 (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Next (Audio CD)

...and easily one of the Top 10 greatest rock guitar albums ever recorded.

I had to weigh "What's Next" against the "Mahogany Rush IV" album as Frank's best because the latter is nearly as good (but in a very different style.) "What's Next" narrowly wins because everything on this album came together flawlessly:
Every song is just great; the production is world-class and simply the best Frank has ever done before or since; his vocals, which (like those of many other guitar-slingers) have never been his strong suit, are exceptionally strong here and perfectly suited for the over-the-top intensity of the material; and the three cover tunes - "Roadhouse Blues," "Rock Me Baby," and "Mona" - are perfect selections to compliment Marino's and are done so powerfully they fairly eclipse the originals.

But overall, the thing that really pushes "What's Next" into 'instant classic' territory is its incredible sense of upbeat, no-compromise, pedal-to-the-metal determination that forms its backbone. It starts with Frank's shout of "Yeah!" at the beginning of track one ("You Got Livin'"), climbs to a heady crescendo in "Something Is Coming Our Way," and doesn't let up until the final tag of "Mona".
Marino was in peak form on this album - you get the distinct impression that he was having a blast recording it - and the result sounds like one of those rare, single-take live sets that succeed in capturing fully the intensity of a concert (e.g. Eric Johnson's "Alien Love Child," Hellborg/Lane/Sipe's "Time Is The Enemy," or UFO's "Strangers In The Night".)

A couple of specific notes:
The harmonica in "Roadhouse Blues" is a perfect addition to the mix - Jim Zeller's playing is brilliant and gutsy and breathes new life into the tune;
The wah pedal is perhaps the single most widely-misused guitar effect in existence, but the point roughly 3/4 into "Something Is Coming Our Way" where Frank kicks in the wah is absolutely sublime. It's like an unspoken order to other guitarists to just throw their wah pedals on the scrap heap.
That track alone is ample reason to get this disc, but that's definitely not a statement to downplay the others - "What's Next" is top-notch from start to finish.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Awesome album; HORRIBLE mix, October 2, 2004

By 

E. Nash (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What's Next (Audio CD)

Awesome album; HORRIBLE mix

I'm a fan from way back, and I love What's Next, but Black Rose records put out a criminally mixed release this CD. It is so distorted with such clipping and bad levels, that it actually, physically hurts my ears. Keep your old albums/tapes of this material until some other company comes out with a new release of it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, September 26, 2004

By 

Mark Andrews - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Next (Audio CD)

Whilst the musical content can't be surpassed the audio quality sucks.The CD I acquired was released on Black Rose records and it was lifted from vinyl which had seen better days.Harsh top end that reminded me why many crossed to CD.Unless they re-release with material from the master tapes avoid like the plague.