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August 29, 2008 |
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GLENN HUGHES - Soul Mover
Sanctuary (2005) |
7/10 |
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01. Soul Mover
02. She Moves Ghostly
03. High Road
04. Orion
05. Change Yourself
06. Let It Go
07. Dark Star
08. Land Of The Livin' (Wonderland)
09. Isolation
10. Miss Little Insane
11. Last Mistake
12. Don't Let Me Bleed
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It can be argued that DEEP PURPLE was one of the original heavy metal bands and are considered an influence by many, many bands. Though they are not really 'metal' by today's standards, they were considered very heavy back in the day.
To some people, the only voice of DEEP PURPLE is Ian Gillan, in much the same way that OZZY is the only voice of BLACK SABBATH. That doesn't mean that the other vocalists that have been in the band haven't done a great job. Just look at Ronnie James Dio's work in SABBATH! Glenn Hughes did some great work during his time with DEEP PURPLE and is an important part of their legacy, having performed on such albums as "Burn" (1974), "Live In London" (1974), "Stormbringer" (1974), "Made In Europe" (1975), "Come Taste The Band" (1975), and "Last Concert In Japan" (1976). Plus, when you look at the fact that the man has been able to sustain his career as a solo artist and collaborator for this long, you know he must be doing something right.
After leaving DEEP PURPLE in 1976, Hughes went on to record a number of solo albums and appeared as a guest on several projects, including work with (amongst others) George Lynch, Steve Salas, MÖTLEY CRÜE, Jeff Scott Soto, Nikolo Kotzev's NOSTRADAMUS project, and also wrote/co-wrote songs for several artists. Most recently, he has teamed up with vocalist Joe Lynn Turner in HTP (HUGHES TURNER PROJECT), releasing "HTP" in 2002 and "HTP II" in 2004 to very good reviews.
"Soul Mover" is the latest solo offering from the vocalist/bassist, this time teaming up with RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith to produce an album of slick, soulful bluesy rock tunes that showcase Hughes' great voice. The songs are straight-ahead, few-thrills rockers with a couple mid-tempo tunes thrown in to the mix for good measure. The title track opens the album up with Hughes' voice sounding as strong and as confident as ever, and Dave Navarro's guitar solo completely compliments the song. "She Moves Ghostly" grooves it up a little more; however the chorus is a little slow. "Orion" would have fit perfectly on DP's criminally underrated "Purpendicular". On the other hand, "Change Yourself", for me just doesn't work for me. I think it's the lyrics that turn me off and this isn't the only song that does that. "Let It Go" seems to be about Glenn giving up his partying ways and finding a higher power.
While that's all well and good for him, and if he's happy, then it's cool, but I'm not particularly interested in hearing a song about it. "Dark Star" gets things back on track with some really wicked guitar work courtesy of J.J. Marsh, but the joy is short lived as "Isolation" has a painfully slow intro. When the song picks up, it works, but that intro is just too long, as is the ending for "Don't Let Me Bleed". It seems to go on forever and ever...I didn't think the song was going to end and when it finally did, I was somewhat relieved, which is not the best way to finish off an otherwise solid disc.
Glenn Hughes and company have offered up a solid disc. Though not really a metal album, "Soul Mover" is a strong showcase for a voice that was there at the beginning of metal - a voice that has no doubt influenced a lot of today's vocalists. "Soul Mover" is a good addition to the extensive and impressive, 30 year plus Glenn Hughes catalog.
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