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UFO | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 16, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hunter
• ASIN: B00018QIU2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,489 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another average record from one of my favorite bands., August 16, 2004

By 

Scott "Dr. Music" Itter "Dr. Music" (Naperville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Are Here (Audio CD)

UFO. The no frills, hard-rocking English act that gave us gems like Too Hot To Handle and Lights Out, releases a brand new set of tracks after more than three decades together. A large lot of you would not call anything without guitar god Michael Schenker, UFO; and, believe me, I understand. One of the first things that comes to mind when someone says UFO to me, isn't Roswell, or even E.T., ...its Michael Schenker. The power shredder is missing on this new set, and it really is quite evident.

If you can't get Michael Schenker to do the album, who do you call? Well, former members Pete Way, Phil Mogg, and Paul Raymond gave virtuoso Vinnie Moore a ring. Definitely not a bad choice, but it's just not Schenker. That raucous, but beautifully rhythmic style; the brutally raw licks, followed sweetly by a gentle touch; that's only one thing this record lacks. Make no mistake, I'm not saying that if the guys had Michael in the mix here they would have a great record. They did a record called "Sharks" a few years back, in which Schenker did play on, and it was really nothing special. It was great guitar work, surrounded by mediocre songwriting. For this set, I think we get a kind of "double whammy". Most of these songs are average at best, with a great guitar player just playing his chart. You get the feeling that Vinnie Moore is taking a bit of a stroll here. I'm reminded of Steve Vai's brief stint with Whitesnake, and his performance on their Slip Of The Tongue record. Even with his amazingly distinctive sound and style, you couldn't tell Vai was the guitarist, it could have been anyone. This is a similar situation with Vinnie Moore sounding like just a hired hand playing what was put in front of him. They are decent pieces, but nothing memorable or inventive.
Next question: If you can't get former drummer Andy Parker to do the record, who do you call? Well, the boys gave "the prodigal son" Jason Bonham a jingle. Again, not a bad choice. I would even say that this choice yielded much more fruit to the feast. You know it's not Andy Parker. Jason plays his own style, with his sharp snare sound and incessant cymbal work, this is a fresh new drum sound for the group; not necessarily a better sound, just a new sound.

Whenever a band puts their best efforts as their first tracks, I just get the feeling that they were lacking for material. Whether this is true or factual, I don't know, but that's the case here. When Daylight Goes To Town is a simple, well written rocker with a solid guitar part and worthy contributions all around. We even get to hear Jason Bonham chime in on backing vocals. Nice stuff.
All the best tracks rise to the top of the set list here. The next track, Black Cold Coffee is a furious, rumbling track that is definitely one of the highlights of the record. After that we get three more tracks that rock steady, and are slightly better than the average. It's when we get to the center of the record that it starts to suffer. With Slipping Away sounding like they stole it from Def Leppard's smelly locker, it's just not what we come to expect from our beloved UFO. Sympathy or Baby Blue are better attempts at a ballad, but still just average at best. Yeah, I know, too many ballad attempts, ...I agree. We are treated to what I think is the best track on the record, here in the second half, though. Mr. Freeze is old school UFO. This is really a magical track. Something came over the entire band on this one. Check out the jaw-dropping guitar solo on this one. You could put this one on the Lights Out or Obsession lp's, and it would not sound out of place really.
The musicianship is great in this band. These are some of the best players rock music has to offer, without a doubt. I think the songwriting is what's lacking here. These songs are average at best. With Phil Mogg sounding as great as ever though, he gives the hapless tracks enough spark to leave them bearable.

All in all, I get about six keepers out of twelve here. Six was half of twelve when I was in school, and five was half of ten, so .....it only makes sense....

OVERALL RATING: 5 (1-10 scale)
For more Dr. Music reviews, visit http://DrMusic.new-sounds.com

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this album, September 10, 2007

By 

1964_GTO (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Are Here (Audio CD)

I tend to not like much new rock. But this UFO disc that came out in 2004 rocks. I go back to the UFO from the late 70s and 80s. "Too Hot to Handle", etc. But this disc kicks. You wouldn't find an A&R man in the US OK'ing this CD (because it sounds "too 80s"), but leave it to the Germans to produce this. It has the classic vocals of Phil Mogg and the bass of Pete Way, with enough new blood of Jason Bonham and Vinnie Moore to give it some great energy. The tone is tight and contemporary. But the grooves are very tight. Allot of riffing, ala 70's and 80's hard rock (That is a compliment). I listened to this disc while on a 4 hour road trip to Omaha. And was impressed with every song. From my perspective this is classic UFO. UFO was "British Metal" before the term existed. A great band, along with Bad Company and Thin Lizzy, that came out in the 70s. Check this disc out, then go back and explore some of the older UFO from their library. "Lights Out", "Too Hot to Handle", "Rock Bottom", etc.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stare At The Sky And See UFO Again!!!, December 26, 2004

By 

Ken Pierce "Editor, PiercingMetal.com" (Brooklyn,, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: You Are Here (Audio CD)

From www.MaximumMetal.com

Legendary rockers U.F.O. have returned with a kicking piece of rock and roll for the world to enjoy. Singer Phil Mogg still has one of the more pure voices in rock music and he has held up over the years quite well. Some of the CD reminded me a little more of Bad Company style than that of earlier UFO, yet this is not a bad comparison to hold.

Membership has changed in UFO over the years. While this band once had the provincial Michael Schenker on lead guitar, it now is the home for Vinnie Moore who's style and speed are a welcome addition to the band. On the drums is Jason (son of the Legendary John) Bonham. I feel he plays some of his best drumming on the piece. Nice and solid throughout. Original members Pete Way (bass) and Paul Raymond (keyboards) comprise the rest of the lineup and touring structure. However the USA Fans would see Barry Sparks playing bass on the shows due to VISA issues that were faced by Way at the onset of the visit to these shores.

Numbers of note on the CD right away to me are "Black Cold Coffee" (fast and hard rock filled piece), "Daylight Goes To Town" (a good radio single if they tried one), "Mr Freeze" (nice work in it and feel). There is also a semi-power ballad called "Baby Blue". Quite honestly as far as rock records go the whole piece is a constant when it comes to listening to it. There are no tracks that you will find yourself skipping to get to the next at all. I feel this is always a good thing. I recommend this piece for the die-hards and new fans as well.