GLENN HUGHES – Resonate (2016 Frontiers Japan)
Glenn Hughes has been consistently prolific since a mid-90s comeback. Lean, clean n’ mean, Glenn Hughes has reclaimed his title as The Voice of Rock. His latest solo album Resonate made numerous top albums of 2016 lists. The only reason he didn’t make ours is that we were holding out to get the Japanese version with the exclusive track. In Japan they call him “The God of Voice” and this CD easily demonstrates why.
It is pointless to break this CD down song by song. They are all incredible. They represent the kind of hard rock that Deep Purple made famous: riffs, heavy organ, and incredible lead vocals. In the Deep Purple days, it seemed Glenn’s soulful croon didn’t always fit in with heavy rock, which made them that more unique. Today, Glenn sounds at home. Resonate is consistently heavy, and impressive at every turn. There are no big star names in his band, but Glenn’s old buddy Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers has two guest shots: “Heavy” and “Long Time Gone”, the opener and closer on the standard tracklist. Smith is always a joy to listen to, and when he works with Glenn, it’s the heaviest Chad Smith gets. Glenn on bass and Chad on drums: it seldom gets better than that.
Everyone will pick their own favourites, but one that we can’t put down is “Landmines”. The funky electric boogie is one of the album highlights; a real hard rock dance number to get down to. On “Landmines”, Glenn’s current self meets his 70s persona. That should create a time travel paradox, but it doesn’t. All it fuels is one hell of a boogie woogie oogie. Runner up: “Steady”. But any of these songs can slide in and out of the top spot on a given day.
The Japanese bonus track is an acoustic version of the ballad “When I Fall”. In some respects it’s better than the album version, but it’s all just a matter of taste. The Zeppelin-like mellotron is delightful. The only bummer is that the Japanese version doesn’t have the song “Nothing’s the Same”. That’s OK; the domestic version of Resonate has that and a bonus DVD. It’s a killer acoustic cover of a lesser known Gary Moore song, and it is worth buying the album again for. It doesn’t matter which version you go for. Resonate kills.
4.5/5 stars
Chad Smith’s a terrific drummer – doesn’t have to be flashy, just always seems to play the right drum part, sounds like they’d make a formidable drum/bass pairing here!
And I agree, with those albums where every track’s a winner, it’s tough to go track-by-track.
Did I correctly read that the Japanese version is missing a track? Is this perhaps the first time the Japanese version didn’t get all the best stuff??
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Not the first time Geoff, and not the last. Basically any time you see me owning multiple versions of the same album, then the Japanese did not have all the bonus tracks. It’s actually fairly common. The last TWO Whitesnake albums were like that.
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I listened to most of this online and it seems like a solid effort. I went through a phase of buying lots of Glenn’s stuff but I don’t have much of a hankering for his solo stuff these days. If I get that back I’m sure I’ll buy this.
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It’s the kind of thing that was an important record for 2016. If that matters to you then get it. But if you have lots of Glenn? This is more Glenn :)
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Great album! Definitely one of my favs from last year. Glad you finally got to listen to it. I knew you would like this one
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Your review was one of many convincing ones!
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I’m very interested in this one, but still on the fence about picking it up. I thought Heavy was great, but I wasn’t too keen on Long Time Gone. I’ll check out Landmines and Steady before deciding whether to go for it!
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Lemme know what you think of Landmines! Just killer, dude!
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I was listening to the album via YouTube while doing some stuff. Landmines is indeed a cracking track!
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Nice! Glad you dug that song. I wish there were more like it on there. I could dig more of that.
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Initial impression of the album was that it’s really pretty strong, so it’s on my list!
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Right on. I still haven’t listened to Hughes/Thrall but I’ll get there.
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I need this. I’m not sure why I don’t have it yet. A 4.5 from Lebrain for a 65 year old dude is pretty awesome.
According to Discogs there is a Japanese, limited version that has 13 songs and the dvd.
I may buy the domestic dvd version since I don’t get the Lebrain discount.
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13 songs? Got a link? I have my doubts that such an animal exists.
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https://www.discogs.com/Glenn-Hughes-Resonate/release/9262906
Glenn Hughes was speaking to Geddy Lee and Gene Simmons and they both told him to release another Japan import 5 minutes after you buy, since you will need to buy it as well.
;)
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http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/searches?term.media_format=&q=glenn+hughes
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This one looks legit. I didn’t buy it because the DVD doesn’t do me any good in this region. So I have the Canadian edition on order with the Region 1 DVD.
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This listing is wrong. It’s the same CD I have. Nothing’s The Same is not on it.
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Now you just need a multi region dvd player and buy that Glen Hughes Japanese pressing. I am sure 3 Glen Hughes albums are better than1.
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I have a multi-region, a lot of people don’t know this, but most generic DVD players that can buy for $20 at Canadian Tire have no region codes. Only thing is, it’s a shitty player. But it does the trick. I will always buy a domestic DVD when available, since I can play it anywhere.
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Boo! More 1537 interviews, less of this sort of thing! Boo!
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We could do a Part II. But it would have to be the Godfather Part II, not Ghostbusters 2. Know what I’m saying?
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Umm, you don’t want us to be played my women second time around?
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That’s the third movie dude!
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BOO. That’s B.S.
BOO………….B.S.
BOOB.S.
BOOBS
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You’re gonna love tomorrow’s post.
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Please refrain from all this titillation. Some things are breast left to the imagination, Mike.
On a side note, cans you refresh my mammary by flashing your high beams, what ZZ Top album was Pearl Necklace on?
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1537 interview!!!!!! WHY THE F DID I NOT THINK OF THAT!!!!!!
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Your wish is my command!
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I am going to interview him, ask the same questions, but include one bonus question, and ask the question in Japanese. Therefore I will have the much rarer interview.
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I guess you could say this album really Resonated with you…
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Still does several days later, it’s a winner for sure.
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What a monster of an album this is. In my opinion, this is Glenn’s finest album to date. His solo career has been like a roller coaster when it comes to the quality of the songs but he has never sounded so focused and honest ever.
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Yeah man, really focused. Like a laser. Just a great album I keep enjoying on every play.
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Just seen the video for Heavy. Have not listened to the whole cd yet.
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Lemme know what you think! It definitely grows per listen.
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