Deep Purple Album: “Bananas”

A very solid effort by hard rock kings Deep Purple. Purple are now Ian Gillan (Vocals), Roger Glover (Bass), Ian Paice (Drums), Steve Morse (Guitar), and Don Airey (Keyboards). This is obviously Deep Purple minus guitar ace Ritchie Blackmore and the awsomely talented Jon Lord. Incredibly, after the first few notes of the rocking lead off song "The House of Pain" they are not missed for the rest of the record. Ian Gillan's voice and lyrics have not sounded this good in years. Steve Morse's guitar screams, howls, and sings when needed. Don Airey does a great job of contributing with that classic Purple sound via the hammond organ and is a perfect fit for the band. Ian Paice and Roger Glover deliver the groove and beat through-out. This album has it all...hard rocking tunes, blues, an instrumental, and even a ballad. Highlights are the rocking "The House of Pain", the ballad "Haunted", "Walk On" and the bluesy "Picture of Innocence." A superb effort by a legendary band.

Now the comparisons. This is by far the best of the Morse era albums. This is much better than their last effort - Abandon, and if you liked Purpendicular, you'll love this album. This also compares well (although I dare not call Bananas a classic) with Purple classics Machine Head, Fireball, Who Do We Think We Are, and Perfect Strangers. Clearly better than the Rainbow-like Slaves and Masters and The Battle Rages On. This album does not disappoint!

I've listened to it a few times now. I liked it right away but it is growing on me even more. The is a totally outstanding effort.....get it!

I approached this album with uncertainty about how it would sound, fearing it could be a hollow work from aging rockers but I was pleasantly surprised. Yeah, it's nothing like Fireball or Machine Head but still good and enjoyable, even more since features some stylistic departures that, instead of sounding out of place, are so welcome (Haunted, Never a Word and Contact Lost).

As Roger Glover said in a recent interview: 'Change is good, change is life'. The band sounds fresh and having fun, which they surely missed during most of their time with the long departed Ritchie Blackmore. Steve Morse sounds so great that the man in black is no missed at all.

I had the chance to see the current lineup in concert last summer here in Madrid and they were awesome. Two magical hours. Hard for me to say this but Don Airey and Steve Morse fill perfectly the gaps left by both Lord and Blackmore.

To sum up, a cool and enjoyable album. Favorite songs: Haunted, Walk On, Picture Of Innocence (Interesting lyric about political correctness and how much it sucks), I've Got Your Number, Never A Word, Bananas, Contact Lost and House Of Pain.

All I have to say is carry on guys!!!

Really can't understand the negative review from Classic Rock magazine on this one. If only other -big name- artists (Rolling Stones, AC/DC, ZZ Top, etc.) could record an album this enjoyable, maybe the music industry wouldn't be in such a predicament. On the other hand, UK magazine "Guitarist", gave it a 4 star review, calling it a "damn good album, made to enjoy".

In addition, other musician magazines have given Bananas the thumbs up. Personally, those are the important reviews, since it's based on the music, rather than a soapbox review, from a bitter old critic preaching about Blackmore not being there, or Purple being too old, or yearning about the good old days. Hey it's the 21st century man and people change and...even grow!

Now that I got that off my chest, let me tell you about Bananas. The worst thing I can say is the title bugged me, but even that has grown on me. A lot of these songs only took a couple listens before I was hooked. I'm still not partial to one track, Razzle Dazzle, a little too commercial for my ears. Anyway, the rest of the disc is outstanding and with excellent musicianship, great lyrics and some first-class production.

House Of Pain, the song that opens this album is their new Highway Star, a killer track with great musical interplay. Ian Gillan sings powerfully, belts out a couple cool screams and plays a ripping harmonica solo for good measure. Other songs like, I Got Your Number, Silver Tongue, Sun Goes Down, Bananas (title track) and Picture of Innocence are among the best rockers they've done since the reunion.

There is vintage guitar and organ interplay from Steve Morse and Don Airey respectively, that ensures with dignity that this renowned band will carry on with that wonderful spirit. Plus, the rhythm section of Roger Glover and Ian Paice brings a precise dynamic that is Deep Purple.

The last Deep Purple studio album (1998 Abandon) left me a little hungry. Not the case with Bananas, it left me feeling content, like a satisfying meal. The one appalling thing I can say about this album is the packaging. The lyrics and track listing are both in the wrong running order, which made things very confusing at first. My advice would be to just play the CD and not worry about reading the lyrics. If you must, then jot down the actual running order from Amazon. Besides that packaging gripe, any fan of Rock music will appreciate this CD. As a UK Amazon critic wrote, "Bananas has some instant favorites and some others that will grow and grow and grow on you".

A legendary band like Deep Purple is something to be treasured.

Banana is one fruit I never get tired of, the kings of 70's rock presents 12 tracks and gives it a name "Bananas". Initially the album did not interest me at all but when I listened to it, I was in for one of the most wonderful surprise. Each time I listened the album, I liked it more than the previous. There are a few mellow tracks like orchestral "Never a word" and "Contact lost" (in memory of astronaut Kalpana Chawla who carried Deep Purple discs to space). Both of them are good specially "Never a word", the orchestral arrangement is not usual hard rocking Deep Purple but it is certainly one of the best track of the album. The other 10 tracks are more or less Deep Purplish. Among these songs like "Pictures of innocence" is easily one of the best song by them (including the 70's). "Sun goes down", "Haunted" and "Walk On" are emotive and brilliant proof of their mastery. "Razzle Dazzle" had some silly lyrics but still entertaining. Overall a brilliant return to form by them. To me it has to be the best Purple album without Blackmore.

It may not be as good as "Machinehead", "Fireball" and "In Rock" but it is better than Mark II lineup's 2nd phase albums like "Perfect Strangers" (a very good album) and "House of the blue light". I would even go on to say "it is a very good starting point to Deep Purple"...and if you are already a Deep Purple fan and open to like albums after 70's or without Blackmore, get it. You should be amazed.

Definitely 5 stars.

This is the most Purple sounding album in a long, long time. House Of Pain is the standout track. Ian Gillan can still hit the high notes and Morse treads water between Blackmore-esque riffs and his own virtuoso styling. Walk On shows more of a grown up Deep Purple sound while Haunted is... well...haunting. The song I Got Your Number has the classic guitar and keyboard interplay of the days of old. The songwriting is strong throughout the entire album.

Don Airey (former keyboardist for Ozzy and Blackmores Rainbow) takes over for Jon Lord. He gets an A+ for being new to the group and is killer from the get go. Of course, Ian Paice and Roger Glover provide the monster rhythm with the power of a tank. There is no better rhythm section in hard rock/metal. Steve Morse is the supernatural being of guitarists but if you are reading this review then you already know!

It appears that the production of Bananas was done in such a way to prevent overproduction. In other words, they wrote the songs, rehearsed them and went into the studio to make an album. What comes across is a very Deep Purple sounding endeavor. There may not be a Highway Star or a Woman From Tokyo, but the album is rock solid all the way through. And who knows in another thirty years time?!

There is a live feel about this album. They are not going through the motions like so many other artists. The band is very much into these songs and they deliver big from the opening swagger of House Of Pain to the Morse instrumental Contact Lost that concludes the album. Now, if we could just figure out who are those guys on the album cover!