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Celtic Legacy Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 1992
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"Churning out the same old stuff?"


...to quote a certain Ian Gillan.

I posted in the Rapture section that I felt that the new album didn't cut it and also seemed to be very unsinspired, pedestrian and with a bit of a 'going through the motions' feel about it. Well I've had a chance to listen to this album a bit more extensively now and my opinion hasn't changed at all. To my ears there is absolutely no excitement in the music whatsoever.

There are only three songs that really stand out from the pack: Rapture Of The Deep, Clearly Quite Absurd and Before Time Began. Other than that there is nothing on the album that holds my attention the way previous albums did. Nothing to get the adrenalaine going, nothing at all.

And if I have to listen to the same Morse guitar solo again I'll throw something at the stereo. Honestly, four albums in and the guy is boring the !@#$ out of me. I thought Ian Gillan was the one who always wanted 'progression'. Well he should have a serious chat with Steve on that issue.

Now I'm not one to casually slag off my favourite band, lord knows they've given me years of pleasure and musical inspiration; but that crucial element of spontanaity and unpredictability that made DP's music such a trademark went out long ago. And while I don't want to ignite another 'come back Ritchie' argument, at least there was always something different in what he did. His very personality and love to improvise translated to the stage and while in latter years with the band this was self destructive, it can't be denied that when he left, he took a huge part of the band's appeal with him.

With Morse it seems that before you buy a Purple album, you already know what the guitar solo is going to be like and the guitar is no longer to the forefront of the tracks anyway. That totally kills the music IMHO. Also, his guitar sound NEVER changes and there just doesn't seem to any passion in his playing which Ritchie had in abundance. It all seems very technical and precise but without any spark or even a single note that would send shivers up your spine. Same with the live gigs. I saw them for two nights running on last years UK tour and came away thinking that this wasn't what Purple was all about. There was no fire, no jamming, even Ian's between song banter was identical on both nights. I would have given my right nut to have seen DP with Ritchie, but I never got that opportunity. I've seen Purple with Morse on 4 occasions and at every show, I felt something was missing.

I'm just ranting here in case no one noticed emoticon and of course I'll continue to buy and releases the band put out, but I've found myself wondering whether this was out of a sense of loyalty to the band and the need to keep my album collection intact, rather than any genuine affection for the music.

Anyone else want to argue/agree/insult?

Last edited by Celtic Legacy, 1/11/2005, 11:03


---
If you can't laugh at yourself...
...somebody else will
1/11/2005, 10:44 Link to this post Send Email to Celtic Legacy   Send PM to Celtic Legacy
 
Big J Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 6083
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


I would agree with all that CL has said, apart from the opinion of the new album.

Yes, Morse's tone and soloing is getting very tedious, but it's outweighed by the excellent material on ROTD and the performance of the other guys. How can someone that can be so creative in the songwriting department (Clearly Quite Absurd is clearly very Morse-ish) have such a dull tone and repetitive soloing technique?

I had similar feelings about the last tour too. I only caught one gig (Glasgow) but I felt too that Gillan's banter was very predictable and rehearsed-sounding, and the whole band lacked a spark or an element of danger that was usually there in Blackmore-led line-ups. Where's the improvisation gone?

Last edited by Big J, 1/11/2005, 11:31
1/11/2005, 11:29 Link to this post Send Email to Big J   Send PM to Big J
 
Celtic Legacy Profile
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Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 1992
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


quote:

Big J wrote:Where's the improvisation gone?

It's gone with Ritchie I'm afraid!


---
If you can't laugh at yourself...
...somebody else will
1/11/2005, 12:26 Link to this post Send Email to Celtic Legacy   Send PM to Celtic Legacy
 
redglenn Profile
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Registered: 09-2005
Posts: 33
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


I have to disagree, I think he is an excellent guitarist and as for improvisation, its there on ROTD, far more so than any of the Ritchie reformation albums which were safe, safe, safe!

1/11/2005, 13:44 Link to this post Send Email to redglenn   Send PM to redglenn
 
happy hammond Profile
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Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 187
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


I was a bit worried the first listen but ROTD has been a definite "grower" for me. I find myself humming little snippets of it.

I'm a huge fan of this band, and Steve Morse as well, although, I have to agree some of Steve's licks sound very familiar.

I wondered if Michael Bradford's production style may have had something to do with it?

From some of the interviews I've seen, most of the stuff was done in a couple of takes. That's fine if you want "spontaneity" but was Steve relying on his tried and trusted patterns to get the basics of the track down before overdubbing a different solo, only to find that MB said the take was OK?

I would never presume to tell Steve Morse how to play! emoticon

When I'm playing (keyboards) with my band, I hate to repeat myself during improvised sections but, if all else fails there's one or two licks I always use. If I find myself repeating them too often then it's time to look for a new song.

Having said all that, listening to the latest "hit single" from Blackers and Candice, the guitar solo seemed to contain licks that he was doing 10-12 years ago.

I'm much happier that we still have Deep Purple and how the hell does Don Airey get that sound on the intro. Wonderful things Hammond organs!

---
There’s nothing remarkable about it.
All one has to do is hit the keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.
- Johann Sebastian Bach
1/11/2005, 13:52 Link to this post Send Email to happy hammond
 
Eirik Solum Profile
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Registered: 09-2004
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


I agree with a lot of Celtic Legacy's points. There is very little fire, very little energy or danger on ROTD. It's no "progressive hard rock" album.

And a the reasons are
1) Steve Morse's flat tone and predictability.
2) Gillans "lazy"/ easy going singing.
3) The prodution. As someone said in a review of the Mexico Sity gig; the new songs sound a lot heavier live! Some of DP trademark energy got lost with Bradford, I think!
4) Most of songs are not interesting or good enough. Exeptions: ROTD, CQA, Befor Time Began. Maybe Money Talks.

And then there is the sound, it's not good enough either on the album - but that's another story... emoticon
1/11/2005, 14:01 Link to this post Send Email to Eirik Solum   Send PM to Eirik Solum
 
Celtic Legacy Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 1992
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


I don't think it was a case of laying down guide solos on ROTD at all or the producer not letting him elaborate a bit more. There just seems to be certain patterns that find their way into the majority of the solos, which becomes hugely tedious after you've heard the same licks and runs the first few times.

Having said that, I'm not a fan of the latter Blackmore albums either, even Ritchie seemed to be doing a helluva lot of recycling both on solos and riffs going back to the last couple of Rainbow albums too. I guess there's a time when you've done pretty much everything and things start to sound like previous pieces.

Kudos to Don Airey though, he really shines on this album. I think he's more comfortable on this album than on Bananas.

---
If you can't laugh at yourself...
...somebody else will
1/11/2005, 14:09 Link to this post Send Email to Celtic Legacy   Send PM to Celtic Legacy
 
Eirik Solum Profile
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Registered: 09-2004
Posts: 2477
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


quote:

Celtic Legacy wrote:

There just seems to be certain patterns that find their way into the majority of the solos, which becomes hugely tedious after you've heard the same licks and runs the first few times.

Kudos to Don Airey though, he really shines on this album. I think he's more comfortable on this album than on Bananas.



Agree on both. Airey does a good job on this one.

And the solos are overdubs, as I've understood it. They used a week for overdubs and solos.

I'm not impressed with Morse in Purple in general, so this album just makes it even clearer to me that he is not right for my "vision" of what Purple should be about...
1/11/2005, 14:17 Link to this post Send Email to Eirik Solum   Send PM to Eirik Solum
 
jond Profile
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Registered: 12-2003
Posts: 1790
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


quote:

Eirik Solum wrote:
I'm not impressed with Morse in Purple in general, so this album just makes it even clearer to me that he is not right for my "vision" of what Purple should be about...



(Sharp intake of breath...) It's always going to be a difficult one this. Should Purple dump Morse, or is it too late in respect of the age of original (MK2) band members? Thinking about it, they might also LIKE him!

He's the relative spring chicken although I've argued in the past that they should get someone in who's older and more hairy - ZZ Top could supply a stisfactory candidate.
2/11/2005, 15:20 Link to this post Send Email to jond   Send PM to jond
 
Speed King Profile
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Registered: 05-2004
Posts: 1025
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Re: "Churning out the same old stuff?"


It wouldn't matter who they got in now if they were to ever replace Morse. Deep Purples BEST days are long gone and with all due respect to any great guitarists out there, they will never get back to the hard rockin' days of old. They are all old men now. Morse is as good as it gets and I am happy to have the guy around. (still prefer Blackmore though, doh!!) emoticon
2/11/2005, 15:29 Link to this post Send PM to Speed King
 


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