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Deep Purple - Purpendicular Audio CD

A fair review of the Deep Purple "Purpendicular" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Deep Purple reviews here, or go back to the Deep Purple tabs.

Deep Purple Band: Deep Purple
Title: Purpendicular
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-04-16
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Ted the Mechanic 2: Loosen My Strings 3: Soon Forgotten 4: Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming 5: Cascades: I'm Not Your Lover 6: Aviator 7: Rosa's Cantina 8: Castle Full of Rascals 9: Touch Away 10: Hey Cisco 11: Somebody Stole My Guitar 12: Purpendicular Waltz

Pur-fection !
This record emerged after Blackmore sulked and walked away, and Steve Morse has injected energy, wit, musical "coloring" and a stunning new approach to both guitar work and composition. Many other reviews have said what I'd say. Remembering what happened when Blackmore left the first time - a decent record but a stylistic mismatch that ended tragically with the departure and death of Tommy Bolin - I was apprehensive. I own everything DP has done in the studio, and a stack of live recordings from every incarnation. This version of the band is fantastic, and any DP fan who rejects Morse as a legitimate successor to "Blackers" simply is stuck in the past.

What's more, the follow ups " Abandon ", " Bananas " and " Rapture Of The Deep " each approach the quality and lustre of this one, while falling a small step short. "Purpendicular" places easily in the top 5 DP records of all time, and one of the best hard rock records of the 90's IMHO.

DP is not a band living in the past. They are kicking asses and taking names with superb original music well into the 21st century, and we rock fans from back in the day are better off. . . way better off. . . because they refuse to give up the ghost.


Twelve Years Later - Still Breathtaking!!!
Oh, I'd have eventually had to check it out, already being a Deep Purple afficionado, of course, but how long would I have waited knowing that they had a new guitarist that had once been in Kansas (shudder)? There are still aspects of Steve Morse's style that are just too 80's for me, but he had to be the guitarist for this album - it appears that he was an important part of the creative effort and he did extremely well. When I recall what a chance encounter it was that led me to buy this album (a copy of a local music news rag left on a table at a technical conference I attended at the hotel in Orlando's Florida Mall in 1996, which had an interview with Steve Morse on the front page), I absolutely dread to think that I might have missed even one or two years of knowing this music. I'm not saying he was THE shining star of the effort, of course, because it took all of the band to do this and I'm especially glad that Jon Lord had not yet departed the group. Bottom line - I could play this every day and it would never sound stale. I literally have 3 copies of the disk - I bought 2 extras at used CD stores when I realized I was in danger of wearing my first copy out. Thankfully, in recent years I've stored the album on my computer and MP3 players, so the music is now safe and sound. I'm relieved to see that there are other reviewers able to hear the genius in this album - even though it does not appear to have ever been discovered by the masses, those who love it do so intensely! My only regret is that I didn't see Deep Purple when they toured for this album.


Worth a listen but far from great
But once I heard the more recent Purple, Purpendicular-Rapture Of The Deep, it left a bad tatste in my mouth. Deep Purple was one of the greatest hard rock bands at one time and i became a pretty huge obssesive fan of theirs. Bananas and Purpendicular we very highly praised and I had heard Bananas ranked with albums like Machine Head. Well I went out and bought Bananas hearing all the hype and I couldn't belive people actualy worshiped that album. it's bland but anyway see my review for that album. For this review I'm talking about Purpendicular which at most is nothing but a guilty pleasure. There are some really good songs on this one and dwonright embarrasing ones. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, The Aviator and A Touch Away are all winners on this album but Vavoom: Ted The Mechanic is so bad that it makes Deep Purple look like a joke. Not much else on the rest of this album. It's pretty hit and miss. The three songs are very good musicaly along with Losen My Strings which has good playing in it. this album is worth checking out but don't get anything after this album. You will be sorry you did. Everything after this album is progressively worse and it proves that Deep Purple are now just washed up has beens. This is probably the reason John Lord left.


Fantastic!
I've listened to this CD probably at least three hundred times (in my car as I drive) and I can say that honestly that it is probably my favorite rock CD that I own. I bought this CD because Steve Morse is my favorite rock guitarist, at least more so than being a fan of Deep Purple. I never get sick of it, all the songs are different and don't all sound the same (like some groups), and Steve Morse rocks! I never knew Deep Purple could sound so good!.


Impressive Changes
Replace Blackmore? Yes, they did. . and it worked out well this time. Steve Morse has always been a favorite of mine, and his soaring technical abilities allow the musicians alot more freedom without limitations. Whether it's Morse's superior technical ability or overall nicer attitude as a person that allows this freedom, I dunno. But the band sounds reborn; The tracks are lively, skilled, and varied. Morse channels the essence of Blackmore in many of is leads, yet he is def. his own man; The production is excellent, and there is alot of melody on this album; This is an album by a band having fun again. I was very happily surprised, and recommend it as the best Morse/Purple collaboration. .


You can see a complete list of all Deep Purple discography, or go back to the Deep Purple tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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