purpletemple
Purple fan
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 8972
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
My review of Memories in Rock II
My review about Memories in Rock II changed a bit after a few listens.
At first I thought it was just great and a solid performance from the band and Ritchie. Where it is true at some moments, it is far from being true all the way.
In fact, I made a "best of" both cd's for my mp3 player, and ended up putting mostly songs from CD2.
There are a lot of songs that are stiff (Spotlight Kid, I Surrender, Perfect Strangers, The Bonnet songs).
I really wish that Romero would learn the lyrics to the songs, it was "cute" the first time around (his accent and some of his interpretations), but now it's getting insulting. After all, these songs are rock classics and he should really make the effort of learning to sing the right words (Soldier of Fortune, Smoke on the Water, Perfect Strangers-apparently the dP repertoire is not his forte!).
On the other hand, some of his interpretations are really good (mainly the Dio songs and Mistreated).
Some soloing is just atrocious as well, and not just from Blackmore: What's with the keyboard solo in Difficult to cure? It sounds like a kid trying the different sounds of a newly bought keyboard. It's slow, boring, un-interesting.
What's with Ritchie's solo in Child in Time? Is that even a solo or some rhythmic noise?This said, it's an overall good version of the song.
But then, there are the great-really great solo: the middle part of Mistreated, the soloing on Catch the Rainbow, Carry on Jon and even Smoke on the Water.Emotions are felt, there's a lot of variations.
There are also great moments of band playing as in Lazy or Temple of the King or 16th Century Greensleeves wich display great emotion too.
Then there's the plodding songs, that are neither good nor bad: Since you Been gone, Black Night (drum solo is ok), All night Long, Stargazer.
My main problem with this record is that I feel like I'm walking on egg shells when I listen to it, that the song is just ready to break anytime and that some songs are just simply wrong for that band (Perfect Strangers, Man on the Silver Mountain).
The other problem I have, is that when I think about the record, I just want to listen to it, I just want to love it, and there are moments of greatness all over it, but so many weaknesses too, that it really leaves me feeling unfulfilled.
Therefor I made myself this best of MiRII, adding the 2 studio tracks (I Surrender and Waiting for a Sign-which are very good except for the drum-machine!).
My selection is:
Mistreated, 16th Century Greensleeves, Child in Time, Stargazer, LLRnR/ Lazy, Catch the Rainbow, Carry on Jon, Temple of the King, Waiting for a Sign (Studio), I Surrender (Studio). I would have added Difficult to Cure if it wasn't for the Keyboard solo disaster and SoTW if the vocals had been correct.
--- "Did you know you have hairs up your nostrils?"
|
10/4/2018, 19:12
|
Link to this post
Send Email to purpletemple
Send PM to purpletemple
|
Desperateheart
Purple fan
Registered: 09-2013
Posts: 2291
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
I've now watched the dvd......which I think is excellent, basically a documentary of the Birmingham show. the only part I dislike is the RB interview at the start. it was done at a BN show last august I believe. he seems tired, looks old and uninterested. whereas in the sound check footage he looks in great shape, is funny and seems happier.
|
12/4/2018, 9:20
|
Link to this post
Send Email to Desperateheart
Send PM to Desperateheart
Blog
|
doggone
Purple fan
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 2293
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
After a month of listening to this, here is my review: The band sound much more rehearsed than they did in 2016 and RB seems less nervous and more self assured. Highlights are numerous. Favorites to me are a very good versions of Mistreated and Stargazer! Black Night and SOTW sound fresh, with the organ solo on Black Night replaced by a drum solo. The only low point to me is Perfect Strangers because the keyboards sound thin and weak, just like the current DP versions do(maybe Jon is the only one who can get the power into this song). As for the new studio track "Waiting for a Sign", I love it. If RB won't be allowed to play one more show with DP, he should record a new studio album with this line up! I've listened to this live CD much more than I've listened to the last few live DP CD's. It was money well spent!
|
14/7/2018, 12:50
|
Link to this post
Send Email to doggone
Send PM to doggone
|
ptr
Purple fan
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 3365
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
Honestly? I have to respect anyone who is able to listen it as whole. I cant get through first CD as weak it is.
|
14/7/2018, 13:31
|
Link to this post
Send Email to ptr
Send PM to ptr
|
VleeMouse
Purple fan
Registered: 12-2015
Posts: 159
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
I'm with you ptr, music isn't music unless it has IG croaking to death.
|
14/7/2018, 15:42
|
Link to this post
Send Email to VleeMouse
Send PM to VleeMouse
Blog
|
doggone
Purple fan
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 2293
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
|
14/7/2018, 16:08
|
Link to this post
Send Email to doggone
Send PM to doggone
|
ptr
Purple fan
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 3365
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
quote: VleeMouse wrote:
I'm with you ptr, music isn't music unless it has IG croaking to death.
? It´s instrumentally weak. They sound like unrehearsed garage tribute band playing Rainbow stuff for the 2nd or 3rd time together.
|
14/7/2018, 21:20
|
Link to this post
Send Email to ptr
Send PM to ptr
|
Witchy Nightmare
Purple fan
Registered: 03-2005
Posts: 3396
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
quote: ptr wrote:
It´s instrumentally weak.
Ah, you seemingly have recognized that this band has a decent vocalist.
|
15/7/2018, 8:16
|
Link to this post
Send Email to Witchy Nightmare
Send PM to Witchy Nightmare
|
ptr
Purple fan
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 3365
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
quote: Witchy Nightmare wrote:
quote: ptr wrote:
It´s instrumentally weak.
Ah, you seemingly have recognized that this band has a decent vocalist.
I always said that Romero is "ok" - but very generic. Good in Dio stuff, acceptable in Bonnet/ JLT songs, weaker in Gillan stuff.
|
15/7/2018, 11:23
|
Link to this post
Send Email to ptr
Send PM to ptr
|
lightintheblack0
Purple fan
Registered: 07-2006
Posts: 6405
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: My review of Memories in Rock II
quote: ptr wrote:
quote: Witchy Nightmare wrote:
quote: ptr wrote:
It´s instrumentally weak.
Ah, you seemingly have recognized that this band has a decent vocalist.
I always said that Romero is "ok" - but very generic. Good in Dio stuff, acceptable in Bonnet/ JLT songs, weaker in Gillan stuff.
I actually agree that RR is a bit generic ,i dont feel he has a uniqueness to his voice like Gillan,RJD or DC had .But hes most certainly not weaker than the Ian Gillan of today on the Gillan material.
|
16/7/2018, 20:52
|
Link to this post
Send Email to lightintheblack0
Send PM to lightintheblack0
Blog
|