Bananas [ENHANCED]

Deep Purple

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 9, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B0000CNY73
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,427 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"Have you ever had a rock that just keeps on rolling/ Ever seen a train coming down the track" Ian Gillan deadpans on the first song off Bananas. This tune gives you every single 1970s hard rock cliché at once, as it careens from cheesy guitar solo to cheesy organ solo to cheesy dual organ and guitar solo, with a gratuitous use of the cowbell effect right through the whole track. The song is a bit like seeing your grandmother in hot pants. Things do get better from there on out, though not tremendously so. Deep Purple’s first studio album in five years has new songs that for the most part sound like their old songs, which is not really such a bad thing. "Haunted," however, presents a new template for the band, a Macy Gray-style ballad. Really. The album brims with trademark DP choogling; original members Ian Paice and Roger Glover remain one of the most solid, thunderous rhythm sections in rock. If you can’t get enough of this band’s mountainous sound, with its thunderous organs, screaming guitars, and vocals that veer from ominous to operatic, this one’s for you. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, April 24, 2005

By	SteveMor "stevemor909" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

There really arent that many bands around that have been together since the 60's-70's that are putting out anything worth listening to today (or even in the 90's). Matter of fact, usually a great band are great for about 10 years or so and from then on they try to find the magic they once had (and coming up with some good songs). Even when they do, they often sound tired, monotonous, only a pale reflection of what they once were. But Deep Purple is the exception, they still ROCK!!!!! I have noticed their newer CD's (since the 90's) actually sound pretty good from what I have heard of them. Then I heard Bananas and decided to give it a go and couldnt believe how great this band sounds. Ian Gillan's vocals are great, guitar is fierce, and the energy is still fresh as ever. And most of the songs are well written (only a couple duds) in my opinion yet they even play the weaker tunes with plenty of fervor. Not even bands like Page/Plant, Pink Floyd, or McCartney have come this close to reproducing their signature sound. I plan to see this band on tour this year and I bet they have the same energy in concert that is still being displayed on the new releases. Longgggggggggg live Deep Purple, and to the true fan they are not just a classic nostalgia band like Foreigner or Steve Miller. They have some DAMN good new music to offer.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Purple Magic, October 10, 2003

By A Customer

A very solid effort by hard rock kings Deep Purple. Purple are now Ian Gillan (Vocals), Roger Glover (Bass), Ian Paice (Drums), Steve Morse (Guitar), and Don Airey (Keyboards). This is obviously Deep Purple minus guitar ace Ritchie Blackmore and the awsomely talented Jon Lord. Incredibly, after the first few notes of the rocking lead off song "The House of Pain" they are not missed for the rest of the record. Ian Gillan's voice and lyrics have not sounded this good in years. Steve Morse's guitar screams, howls, and sings when needed. Don Airey does a great job of contributing with that classic Purple sound via the hammond organ and is a perfect fit for the band. Ian Paice and Roger Glover deliver the groove and beat through-out. This album has it all...hard rocking tunes, blues, an instrumental, and even a ballad. Highlights are the rocking "The House of Pain", the ballad "Haunted", "Walk On" and the bluesy "Picture of Innocence." A superb effort by a legendary band.

Now the comparisons. This is by far the best of the Morse era albums. This is much better than their last effort - Abandon, and if you liked Purpendicular, you'll love this album. This also compares well (although I dare not call Bananas a classic) with Purple classics Machine Head, Fireball, Who Do We Think We Are, and Perfect Strangers. Clearly better than the Rainbow-like Slaves and Masters and The Battle Rages On. This album does not disappoint!

I've listened to it a few times now. I liked it right away but it is growing on me even more. The is a totally outstanding effort.....get it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sulking and Mourning is Over, October 1, 2005

By	The Punisher "Mark" - See all my reviews

Believe it or not , Ive been sulking that Blackmore left back in the 90's. Then I purchased " Come Hell or High Water" and I then realized that Blackmore was not only unhappy in the band ,he was making the rest very unhappy. It was then that I realized that
it was good that he left. Since then , 1995, I have not analytically listened to a "New Purple" cd. Man , was I missing out. The cd's pretty damn good. I thought Morse was going to be a show hog ,but in reality it's just another Purple album with all shining. Airey replacing Lord was the only person who could have fit his shoes , him coming from the same school of hard hammond sound.
I missed them on tour for this stupid reason and I regret. The only hope is that they will be out with a new cd and I will see them then. Good music all the way through.
I have lifted the ban on Purple. Purple Lives Again in me !

I give it a 4.5 and that's a lot coming from me with a Purple album.