Author: mikeladano

Metal, hard rock, rock and roll! Record Store Tales & Reviews! Grab A Stack of Rock and more. Poking the bear since 2010.

REVIEW: Queensryche – Road to Promised Land (1995 EMI promo)

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QUEENSRΕΈCHE – Road to Promised Land (1995 EMI promotional “best of” CD)

20 years ago, good buddy T-Rev let me know this little treasure had arrived in his store (first discussed in Record Store Tales part 120). Β Released to promote the 1995 Promised Land tour, Queensryche’s Road to Promised Land AKA Arrived! was a neat little greatest hits package released well before their actual Greatest Hits several years later. Β This is a promo CD released by EMI in the United States, and it covers every Queensryche release to date.

From the original EP is not “Queen of the Reich”, but “The Lady Wore Black”. Β The ballad starting the set is an odd but explainable choice. Β Queensryche were playing “The Lady Wore Black” on tour, but Geoff Tate didn’t enjoy singing “Queen of the Reich” and tried to avoid doing so. Β Being so full of powerful metal drama, even as a ballad, “The Lady Wore Black” can work as an opener. Β Then “Take Hold of the Flame” follows, one of the best Queensryche songs of all time (from the first LP The Warning). Β Unfortunately that is the only inclusion from The Warning, although it is certainly a must. Β Geoff Tate used screams as a art form on this song like no other. Β You want metal drama? Β They opening tracks are Metal Drama 101.

Two tracks are selected from Rage For Order, and they are fairly obvious choices: Β “Walk in the Shadows” [“WALK WITH MEAT!“] and “I Will Remember”. Β It is a given that both are high quality songs, from an album that can be difficult to pick individual hits. Β The opening part of the CD feels rushed, with the critical first EP and two albums giving up only four songs. Β Keep in mind that these albums now make up a large bulk of Queenryche 2015’s set, although that wasn’t the case in 1995 with their original singer.

From the brilliant landmark concept album Operation: Mindcrime are three selections: Β “I Don’t Believe in Love”, “Eyes of a Stranger” and “Revolution Calling”. Β Once again these are fairly obvious choices, being the three singles from the album. Β Strangely, “Eyes of a Stranger” was not edited down and is the full 6:39 cut, complete with album outro. Β Their most successful LP yet, Empire, was also give three inclusions. Β “Best I Can”, “Jet City Woman” and “Silent Lucidity” were three great singles. Β I wonder why the title track “Empire” wasn’t used? Β I think it’s more identifiable than “Best I Can”.

Rolling into Promised Land for the final three tracks, it is plain sailing to hear the evolution of the band over their first decade. Β Although the metal got tuned down in favour of more drama and radio-friendly elements, one thing that never changed was their urge to experiment. Β Indeed, the first Promised Land single “I Am I” features plenty of daring sounds. Β (This version of “I Am I” fades out rather than skipping directly into “Damaged”.) Β From cello (by Chris DeGarmo) to tribal percussion to innovative vocal effects, “I Am I” proved that Queensryche could rock progressively in the increasingly alternative 1990’s. Β Lyrically, they were as serious as ever but more personal. Β The ballad “Bridge” was about DeGarmo’s relationship with his father. Β Finally, the heavy-as-plutonium “Damaged” closes the CD abruptly. Β That’s the problem with these record company assembled promo CDs. Β They are not designed to play as an album. Β They are designed for radio use and store play. Β In other words the only real consideration is including all the individual tracks you want to plug. Β Like “I Am I”, “Damaged” too was edited for radio. Β They shaved three seconds off in fades, because normally these songs flow together on album.

Rating a CD like this is kind of pointless, because it was never meant to be sold. Β But let’s say you don’t own any Queensryche, and you saw this used while wandering the shops. Β Would it be a good Queensryche purchase for somebody looking for a good overview of the classic years?

Yes. Β Absolutely.

3/5 stars

#447: Fist Fudge

GETTING MORE TALE #447: Fist Fudge

What’s the biggest musical rip off you’ve ever seen?

The Nine Inch Nails unofficial Fisted box set comes to mind.

This set, supposedly limited to just 1000 pieces, retailed for about $200 in the mid-90’s. It included fiveΒ CDs:

  • Fixed (EP)
  • March of the Pigs parts I and II
  • Closer to God parts I and II

Those singles are available on their own, for much less. The box also included an unauthorized T-shirt that said β€œFIST” on the front, and β€œF%@#” on the back. No Nine Inch Nails logos anywhere to be found on that. It came in a cheap black plastic box with the Nine Inch Nails β€œn” logo and the word β€œFisted” on top…except it’s not really the Nine Inch Nails “n” logo. Β The official one is backwards. Β This is just a normal “n”. Β They were hoping you wouldn’t notice that. Β This package was assembled by Phantom Imports, who must have been laughing their asses off at the ridiculous amount of markup.

This is a great example of a collectible that is not. The artist labels had no involvement and certainly did not set the pricing. The shirt and box have no logos on them. Anybody can go and print a T-shirt that says β€œFIST” and β€œFUCK” on it. All this for $200. Even if you were missing those five singles (which any real Nails fan was not) there is no reason to buy this.

We had an incomplete copy of this come into one of our stores, but it was missing the shirt and the other goodies. Looking to make a few extra bucks, we stuffed the box full of other albums and singles and jacked the price up. That was a decision made by a franchise owner. I don’t think he had an easy time selling this box, which was really just a plastic box with a random selection of CDs in it by the time we put it up for sale. A rip off box set made even more so.

FISTED

I’ve seen others just as irritating as this. One was a β€œdeluxe” version of Pink Floyd’s The Wall. This was the 2 CD set, packed into a wooden carving of a wall. It looked cool, but it also looked like something a skilled woodworker could make in his or her shop at home. It was painted white with the Wall logo scrawled across it. AroundΒ $200 for that too, somewhere at a store in Hamilton ironically called Cheapies.

Probably made by the same company was a commemorative Beatles single for β€œReal Love”. It came in a red box with a heart on it, withΒ a button β€œReal Love” inside that looked like a cross between a heart and an apple. We ordered this one in, new, and our cost was about $40. It sat and sat and sat there for months. It wasn’t authorized any more than the Nine Inch Nails box was. Β We didn’t realize we’d brought in a lemon until it was too late. Β We had to be told by a customer who was a Beatles collector. Β “These things aren’t worth anything,” he said. Β “They’re not issued by the Beatles. Β It’s a made-up collectible.” Β We should have known, but it’s hard when you’re ordering this shit from a distributor’s catalogue.

Have you ever run across a rip off like these in your travels? Β Or worse, have you ever bought one?

REAL LOVE

Can you guess my next series?

Happy Saturday, folks. Β Hope you’re having a rocking weekend.

I have been working diligently on a new series of reviews. Β I’m very excited to bring you this next artist. Β But can you guess who it is, just by the haircuts below? Β Leave your guess in the comments and prove who knows their rock!

 

QUIZ

Hmmmm?

 

 

 

REVIEW: Feel – This (1994)

FEEL – This (1994 Feel)

Russian Blue followed their critically acclaimed demo tapes with a full length CD, but perhaps it was the long wait that killed their chances. Β Between 1991 and 1994, the entire musical landscape had turned itself upside down. Β A name change was in order to suit the new climate, and after using the name Deadmoon for a little while, they settled on Feel. Β Simple: one word, one syllable, and trendy. Β Would they be able to maintain a level of quality over a full-length CD?

Almost. Β There is very little dead weight on Feel This.

“I Become You” is brutalizing, menacing, grooving detuned grunge. Β TheΒ presence of the bass is felt on this heavy recording. Β What Feel had that was different from other bands was the Axl-like screech of frontman Jo E. Donner. Β Indeed, when Donner multi-tracks his high voice with his lower register, the overall feeling is very Axl. Β Donner bellows forcefully, blowing out the speakers but not without help. Β Guitarist Richard Gauci and drummer Mike Willerding were capable of playing challenging rock. Β The drum patterns are busy and and Gauci is able to both shred like a hero, and also create the kind of noise that you needed to do in the 90’s. Β The band were between bassists. Β Robo was no longer in the band, so there are a couple session players on the CD.

Several smouldering tracks in a row occupy the first half of the album. Β “What You Made of Me”, “Wild Eye” and the lengthy “Brotherhood” all boast heavy guitar and vocal hooks. Β Wimps need not apply; Feel go for the throat even with a slower tempo. Β The songs sound well thought out, with attention given to every shriek and guitar noise manipulation. Β The bass grooves are absolutely key to all of this. Β Rumbling and shaking like a good Soundgarden line, they deliver the bass chills that fans of such sounds love. Β But was it all too similar to the chilly winds that had blown in from Seattle? Β Feel had been growing heavier and groovier on the demo tapes already, so I believe this to be a natural evolution that happened independently from the Seattle scene. Β Witness other Canadian bands such as I Mother Earth, who also evolved on their own into something that fit into that 90’s box.

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The centerpiece of the album has to be “I Am Your Mind”. Β Long with a droning, irresistible chorus and cool lyrics — what’s not to like? Β This tune takes only one listen to bore its way deep into your medial temporal lobe. Building dramatically, every guitar hook will sink in hard, only for Donner to hit everything home with his powerful larynx. Everything is perfect — a song of this quality could easily have been onΒ Badmotorfinger or Superunknown. Hyperbole? I don’t think so.

The second half of the CD has fewer highlights. After being slammed in the face with so much heaviness, Feel were wise to put on an acoustic number next. “Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong” is good, and shows off the band’s Zeppelin influences especially in the vocals. It’s just that Feel unplugged doesn’t have the kick that Feel does fully electrified. On the other hand, another listener might say it’s the best track. The first skipper is “Under My Wing”, too slow and boring. Not enough Sabbathy slow, just stuck in the wrong gear. Back to the groove is the killer “Drip Sweet Blood”. Making use of trendy 90’s vocal distortion, Donner blows the speakers especially around the 3:15 mark with another hair-raising bellow — just awesome. “Stand on Walls” sounds something like a Skid Row outtake. It’s nothing outstanding, but it’s only 3:38. Closing the disc is “All”, which was formerly known as “Black” on the second Russian Blue demo. The psychedelic intro from the demo was axed, tightening up the song and amplifying its power. Alternating from soft to loud, “All” kind of does have it all, at least for 1994.

Feel could have got themselves off to a great career with This as a debut album. Unfortunately I think by 1994 it was already too late.

3.5/5 stars

#446: SLOW DOWN! (An announcement)

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GETTING MORE TALEΒ #446: SLOW DOWN!

Since March 2012, LeBrain hasΒ been bringing you the rock on a daily basis.

I’ve been writing about music for a long time.Β  Over the years, I accumulated an immense catalogue of music reviews.Β  I saved them up, and gradually expandedΒ and polished them up for publishing here at mikeladano.com.Β  On top of that, I also had an incredible stock of Record Store Tales to post. Β Some of these had been gathering dust for well over a decade. Β Including new content I’ve stirred into the mix, it took over three years to burn through all the old reviews and stories.Β  I am now dry.Β  I had a few movie reviews left in the hopper, but these are abandoned now, because thisΒ is (mostly) about the rock.

It’s much easier for me to revise and expand an old review, than it is to write a new one.Β  It’s actually an enjoyable process for me to revisit and fix up an old writing.Β  You’d be hard-pressed to tell an old polished up review from a brand-new one unless I pointed it out.Β  The huge amount of stuff that I had built up to publish enabled me to post content every day.Β  In fact, in my old β€œtheme song” video I boasted that mikeladano.com was β€œupdated daily!”

I can no longer keep going at that pace.Β  It’s just not possible; not if I want to maintain a level of quality.Β  Listening to music takes time, articulating thoughts into words takes more time, and adding the photos, videos and anecdotes takes even more time.Β  I love writing about music and sharing my music collection with you.Β  I can’t deny that this hobby is hard work, albeit a labour of love.

So, without any shame, I am now announcing that the pace of new content here is slowing down.Β  I don’t plan on using a schedule, but you can count on new reviews and stories here about one every other day.Β  I hope you continue to read and enjoy.Β  This will hopefully enable me to spend more time posting and responding to comments.

Music is an important part of my life, and yours too, I’ll wager, or you wouldn’t be reading this.Β  Coming home from work every day and sitting down to review music because I β€œhave to”, to keep up the pace, isn’t what I wanted to do.Β  I don’t want to work on reviews because I β€œhave to” maintain an inhuman pace.Β  You might not have noticed but I feel the more recent reviews I’ve written have been rushed.Β  I think the quality may have suffered in favour of quantity.

No longer.Β  You can count on the same brand of music reviews, the same kind of stories, and the odd β€œWTF” here and there…just not on a daily basis. Β I’m taking tomorrow off!

Shit.Β  I guess this means I need a new theme song video.

See??Β  The work never ends!

REVIEW: Dio – Strange Highways (1994)

Scan_20151011DIO – Strange Highways (1994 Reprise)

Black Sabbath had a very acrimonious split with Ronnie James Dio in 1993. Β Sabbath were asked to open for Ozzy Osbourne at his “farewell” concerts in Costa Mesa. Β At the end there was to be an original Sabbath mini-reunion. Β Ronnie James Dio outright refused to perform and left the band immediately afterwards. Β Sabbath were forced to get Rob Halford, not so far away in Pheonix, to fill in (the first of two times he would have to do so in Black Sabbath, the second time due to an Ozzy illness). Β Halford did so admirably under the circumstances. Β After the show, drummer Vinnie Appice joined Ronnie in a new version of Dio.

The new Dio lineup was a four-piece for the first time since album #1. Β On bass, Jeff Pilson (ex-Dokken), also helping out with keyboards and backing vocals. Β Pilson was always capable of singing the high parts in Dokken songs, and with Dio he adds a little bit of melodic accentΒ by harmonizing with Ronnie. Β On guitar, controversially so, was Tracy G (Griljalva) from the band WWIII, which had also included Appice at one point. Β Dio described his mood as “pissed off” during this period and it certainly came out in the heaviest Dio album yet.

The thing with Tracy G was that he had an abrasive, atonal drony guitar sound, although certainly fitting to the new angry Dio sound. Β It was very different from the slick neo-classical bent that guys such as Vivian Campbell added to their solos. Β It was a brutally heavy and edgy change that should have earned Ronnie some credit rather than criticism. Β “Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost” opens the album on a speed metal approach, showing off the new guitar player. Β Tracy G was like the mad man’s scientist heavy metal guitar player crossed with Steve Stevens from Billy Idol’s band. Β If you want to check out what Tracy G did within Dio, just crank up “Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost”.

Admittedly, a whole album of Tracy G’s razor blade guitars can make one weary, but fortunately Dio albums are usually varied in song tempo and style. Β “Firehead”, the second track is a slow metal groove that suits Dio well. Β Arguably, the Dio lineup with Pilson on bass is more adept at this Sabbathy path than any other. Β Pilson has always been one for the low end, and his bass has an elastic thud that is similar, but different from ex-Dio bassist Jimmy Bain. Β Slower and heavier still is the title track “Strange Highways”. Β Ronnie has always stated that he liked to hear the space between the instruments, and that’s “Strange Highways”. Β This really was a great lineup for the band.

“Hollywood Black” is based on a lyric that Ronnie wrote for the sessions of Black Sabbath’s Dehumanizer album. Β Maybe it’s even the same melody; the original has never been leaked. Β This is a strong mid-tempo slog; the most mainstream Dio song yet in this collection. Β Side closer “Evilution” (love that title) is even better; nastier and snippy.

I have a funny story about this song. Β I bought the cassette while out on a road trip with my buddy Peter, who was always a much bigger OzzyΒ fan than Dio. Β We put the tape in the car deck. Β TheΒ wordsΒ at the end of the songΒ baffledΒ us both, but it was a case of mis-heard lyrics! On Peter’s overdriven, bass-heavy car system, we heard the closing words as:

“Hello, good night, it’s me,
I’m open again,
Come back, come in, goodbye,
Wear clothes!”

The actual final line is “We’re closed.” If you play the song and pay attention…you can hear it too, can’t you? “WEAR CLOTHES!” Misheard lyrics…or hidden message?

As if there was any question from the first side of the album that Ronnie was in a bad mood lately, then “Pain” should settle. Β “Take the water and wash your face with pain!” Β Or, “Take the hammer and pound yourself with pain!” Β My favourite, “Bury my bones on the moon, if they ever should find me it would be too soon.” Β It was hard to find Ronnie’s usual positivity in some of these words. Β  But listen to that one floor tom hit at 2:00 in! Β Holy drums, Batman! Β I love that one hit, it’s my favourite part of the song, which is actually pretty good.

“One Foot in the Grave” is a lot more upbeat than you’d expect by the title and it too is pretty decent. Β Notice these songs are not “great” — they are just shy of whatever quality makes a song great. Β Then “Give Her the Gun” is the Dio power ballad, but thematically it too stark and real for some tastes. Β Child abuse, gun rights? Β In a Dio song? Β All power to the man for speaking his mind, but even the most ardent supporter must concede that this is an unusually blunt song for him.

Onto “Blood From a Stone”, back to metaphors once again, and back to blazing hot Tracy G shreddery. Β Back to insuppressible Pilson bass. Β There are some 80’s-isms in some of the guitar licks, but blink and you’ll miss ’em. Β Then, rock out to “Here’s to You”, which sounds like a blazing hot celebration of the rock, or the “masters of the universe”, or something. Β But according to Ronnie, “The wheel goes ’round, so here’s to you!” Β Sounds like by this point in the record, Ronnie has worked out whatever bitterness he had left seething in his system. Β Finally “Bring Down the Rain” ends the album on a very Dio note, with all the majesty and power he can inject into a closing song. Β It’s just heavier than before. Β “Put out the flame”, sings Ronnie, his leathery lungs never more impassioned nor powered.

Perhaps Dio still had much anger left in him after all, since the next album was the aptly-titled Angry Machines. Β But that’s another review.

Strange Highways in a good album bordering on great — but not quite.

3.5/5 stars

#445: An Orgasm For the Brain

GETTING MORE TALE #445: An Orgasm For the Brain

The Boss at the Record Store used to have a little office in the back of one of our stores. Β The walls seemed paper-thin. Β You could figure out what he was doing back there from the sounds, especially when he had a cold. Β His sneezes were epic. Β  They were monolithic in scale, and sounded like they were a tremendous relief each time.

“AHHHHHHHHH-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Β Woo!” Β Something like that.

One afternoon, he was having a particularly active bout of the sneezes, and the frequency and strength of them combined were impossible to ignore. Β One of my customers noticed and chuckled.

“Sounds like that guy is having a good time back there,” said the man.

I know the feeling a good, refreshing sneeze too. Β “Yeah,” I replied. Β “He’s had a cold all week but he’s really good at sneezing.”

“No, seriously,” the man persisted. Β “A sneeze is like an orgasm for your brain. Β That guy back there is basically having a whole bunch of brain orgasms right now.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I answered, “Wow. Β I did not know that!”

“You learn something every day!” said the man, who went on to do his music shopping.

Is there any truth to this? Β Or is this just one of those wild tales that customers used to tell me?

The folks over at livescience have the answer. Β “This myth isn’t worth the price of a tissue,” they say, but also add, “Connections do exist, however.”

For one, a sneeze may release endorphins. However, “Although supporting literature remains sparse, cases have been reported of men and women who sneeze when sexually aroused. Doctors suspect that the phenomenon might arise from a case of crossed wires in the autonomic nervous system, which regulates a number of automatic functions in the body, including β€œwaking up” the genitals during arousal. The nose, like the genitals, contains erectile tissue.”

I was not aware of that. As my old customer said, you learn something new every day!

REVIEW: Glueleg – Heroic Doses (1994)


GLUELEG – Heroic Doses (1994 Page Publications)

Any band that can handle an instrument as beastly as the Chapman Stick is worth listening to at least once. Glueleg, from Toronto Ontario, were once such band. They boasted not only the Stick but also a horn section with sax and trumpet. If that wasn’t enough to garner them some local praise, a few people turned their heads when they hooked up with James Stewart (cousin of The Cult’s Jamie Stewart) to produce their first CD, Heroic Doses. Prior Glueleg releases were cassettes…CD was the big time.

The title track was the first single/video, and entered rotation on MuchMusic and several rave reviews. Guitar player Ruben Huizenga sings this immediately infectious track. The hypnotic vocals, the punchy horns, the Stick, that low-as-fuck rib-busting riff…this track is perfect in every way. “Heroic Doses” nails it completely and there is no wonder that it garnered some serious attention. The end result of this was a record deal with EMI, but nobody can accuse Glueleg of being commercial on “Heroic Doses” even so.

“Pollo” (“Chicken”) is rapped and sung by Stick player Carlos Alonzo. He has an interesting voice, able to do a rap in a Beastie-like style but with his own spin. He can also sing quite well. He also sings “Mister Pink”, another manic groove. The horns deliver consistent punctuation, and that Stick just thumps. “Lilies” has a droney riff/groove combo that stoner rock bands today love to utilize. “Spiderman” is an original, an instrumental, but it certainly recalls the classic cartoon theme. Glueleg songs don’t tend to adhere to convention song structures. They have more in common with Mr. Bungle than the Chili Peppers, but much more accessible. Their songs have the complexity and chops of Bungle, but are direct. There are also grunge elements, a-la Alice in Chains.

The sonics of this album are really quite good even today. The Stick has a snap to it, and the horns have depth. Having two singers enabled them to play different styles of songs even within the confines of what Glueleg were doing. “Dust” is a dirge, for example. Then the next track “Pampa De Chooch” is completely different, at times almost sounding like Kyuss with horns. “Park Alien” might be Zappa-esque progressive jazz. “I Saw You Joja” is then something else again. Perhaps there’s a lack of focus, or maybe it’s just that Glueleg were so bursting full of ideas, but some songs come off as scattershot.

Biggest surprise of the album: the closing track “Red”, the King Crimson instrumental. What a drum tour de force performance this is, by Christian Simpson. Simpson is no slouch; he later went on to play with Saga for several years, as well as David Usher and Edwin.

I like all of it. Heroic Doses is one of those discs that are indicative of their times, and has nostalgia value, but also plenty of musical chops to keep you busy. If the songs had been tightened up a bit more I think you’d have a serious classic here. Unfortunately there are some songs that are just not quite there.

3.25/5 stars

REVIEW: Whitesnake – The Purple Album (2015 Japanese & deluxe editions)

WHITESNAKEΒ – The Purple Album (2015 Frontiers, Β Japanese & deluxe editions)

One old school buddy of mine, Rob Vuckovich, was a huge David Coverdale fan back in the 1980’s, but mostly a Deep Purple fan. He took great pride in telling me that he went to see Whitesnake on the 1987 tour. He held aloft a sign that said “PLAY PURPLE”. David reportedly acknowledged his sign by saying, “We’re not doing any of that!” What changed?

Jon Lord’s dying wish to his friend David Coverdale was to somehow reform Deep Purple MkIII. “Life’s too short and too precious to hold any animosities,” learned David after Lord’s passing. He reached out to Candace Night, wife of Ritchie Blackmore, and eventually spoke to the Man in Black about a Lord-less reunion. Blackmore was intrigued and David started working on updated arrangements for the tunes. He didn’t want toΒ singΒ them in the same way that he did in his 20’s. The situation with Ritchie didn’t work out, but David did not want the work he had gone to on the new arrangements to go to waste. He approached his band and asked them what they thought about a Deep Purple covers album. The response was instant. Joel Hoekstra (guitar) in particular was pumped.

The result is The Purple Album. Sourced from Coverdale’s three albums with Deep Purple (Burn, Stormbringer, and Comes Taste the Band), 15 songs were selected. It’s hard to argue with the selection, either. There are chances taken. “Holy Man” is a damn hard song to sing, and it was originally performed by Glenn Hughes, not David. And four, count ’em, four songs (on the deluxe) from Come Taste the Band, perhaps the most underrated album in the Purple canon.

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The sound is “Snaked up” as David says, which means modern guitars and technical shredding. To his credit, David really let his band play instead of copying Deep Purple. Joel Hoekstra is a hell of a guitarist, able to shred. He has brought some soul back to Whitesnake that I felt was missing from their two studio albums with Doug Aldrich. Other songs are stripped down, such as the now-acoustic “Sail Away”. This song is dedicated to Jon Lord and it’s certainly among the best songs on The Purple Album. It’s very “live” in the studio.

Is it necessary? Hell no, but David’s entitled to do what he wants. Nobody else is keeping these songs alive except for Glenn Hughes now and then. Jon Lord would be delighted with the quality of it, but he would surely be saddened that Deep Purple MkIII has never reunited. Since that was indeed the case, David and Whitesnake worked very hard on plenty of new parts and licks for their own arrangements. Reb Beach sings many of the Glenn Hughes lead vocal parts (quite well), and finally Whitesnake feels like a real band again. It’s odd that it happened on a Deep Purple cover album, but the band sound like a real band, on album for the first time in ages. Hopefully the injection of passionate young blood in Hoekstra and new bassist Michael Devin will result in new music some day.

The deluxe edition of The Purple Album comes with two bonus tracks and a loaded DVD. “Lady Luck” and “Comin’ Home” from Come Taste the Band are actually two of the best selections. It’s rare that bonus tracks are album highlights, but just because these songs are not as world-renowned as “Burn” does not mean they are not as good. They’re awesome. “Comin’ Home” is very different from the original, having a new and very Whitesnake (circa Slide It In) riff installed.

Japan usually get exclusive bonus tracks and this time it’s a different mix of “Soldier of Fortune”. The reason for the alternate mix (according to the documentary DVD, which we’ll get to) is that David was somewhat torn on which version heΒ liked best. The original concept was a straight acoustic version, with just David’s voice and an acoustic guitar — one guitar, like in Deep Purple. That version didn’t make the album. In a last minute decision, David chose to record bass and other embellishments, and that is what you hear on the standard album. The lucky fans in Japan (or those who wish to shell out for an import!) get the original concept as a bonus track. Delightful.

The bonus DVD is a nice treat, for the 30-minute “Behind the Scenes” feature. It’s great to see the band get so much face time, talking about their love of Deep Purple. Things like this aid in your appreciation of the final album. Observations: Reb Beach does a hilarious Coverdale impression. Tommy Aldridge is still an unstoppable beast of a drummer, even today. Indeed, the new Whitesnake lineup comes across as an inspired band. It is a brand new era for Whitesnake, according to David. He is happier with their sound than he has been in years.

Then there’s the fluff, the Whitesnake EPK (electronic press kit) which is just a condensed version of the main feature. Added to this are four music videos. It’s almost amusing that Whitesnake made music videos today, but again the band get a lot of face time and that’s cool. In the music videos,Β it really seems like Whitesnake are a bandΒ regardless of the lineup changes. The videos are glossy, a little cheesy, but a nice little add-on.

The original rating for this album was going to be 3/5 stars. Cover albums just can’t be judged by the same yardstick as an album of original material. Having seen and heard how much passion and work Whitesnake put into The Purple Album, I’ve grown to appreciate it more. Therefore:

3.5/5 stars