Deep Purple - Bananas
	Released: 2003 Label: EMI Cat. No.: 7243 5 891048 29 Total Time: 51:30
	Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, October 2003 So you think the new Deep Purple album may be something to go Bananas over? I was wondering how this new album would sound with the loss of longtime keyboard player Jon Lord. When it all was over, I was quite impressed with their ability to keep their sound intact regardless of the major change they experienced. They have always managed to hold down the fort and continually sound like Deep Purple no matter who was in or out of the band. Steve Morse, guitar player extraordinaire, whose other gigs include Dixie Dregs, Kansas and several prolific solo albums, is truly amazing and helps makes their sound original and strong throughout the entire session. The album kicks into high gear immediately with their single release “House Of Pain,” and from that point forward you get a varied selection of tracks, they dig down into their grab bag of tricks that have accumulated over the years and briefly remind you of the Blackmore era DP at times. “Walk On” is blues-rock at its very best, illustrating beautifully how the band has never forgotten its roots, I was glad to hear them play with such spirit and determination. Don Airey (Jon Lord’s replacement) does a nice job, but he is no Jon Lord; well there is only one Jon, we all know that. All of that aside, I tip my hat to Mr. Airey for stepping up and filling some very big shoes. Ian Gillan is in good voice; the years have been good to his pipes. He has lost a little but not much, considering how long he has been at it. Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Paice (drummer) are a familiar rhythm section that still knows how to lay down a strong bottom line for the rest of the group to follow; they remain the anchor that keeps the DP ship afloat. This is a better than average album, no question about it. Keep in mind that this is Deep Purple 2003 not 1972. I was not disappointed in the least bit, I really enjoyed this album, and it is a hell of lot better than most of the mainstream crap that is selling millions of copies today that is for sure. Rating: 4.5/5 [See also Bobo's review - ed.] More about Bananas: Track Listing: House Of Pain / Sun Goes Down / Haunted / Razzle Dazzle / Silver Tongue / Walk On / Picture Of Innocence / I Got Your Number / Never A Word / Bananas / Doing It Tonight / Contact Lost Musicians: Ian Gillan - vocals Ian Paice - drums Roger Glover - bass Steve Morse - guitars Don Airey – keyboards Contact: Website: www.deep-purple.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Shades Of Deep Purple (1968) Book Of Taliesyn (1969) Deep Purple (1969) Concerto For Group And Orchestra With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (live) (1970/2002) Deep Purple In Rock (1970) Fireball (1971) Machine Head (1972) Purple Passages (1972) Made In Japan (live) (1972/1998/2001) The Best Of Deep Purple (1972) Who Do We Think We Are (1973/2002) Burn (1974/2004) Stormbringer (1974) Come Taste The Band (1975) 24 Carat Purple (1970-1973) (1975) Made In Europe (live) (1976) Powerhouse (1978) The Singles A's & B's (1978) The Mark II Purple Singles (1979) Deepest Purple (1980) In Concert 1970 - 1972 (live) (1980) Live On The BBC (1980/2004) Deep Purple Live In London (live '74) (1982) Perfect Strangers (1984) The Anthology (1985) The House Of Blue Light (1987) The Best Of Deep Purple (1987) Nobody's Perfect (live) (1988) Scandinavian Nights (live) (1988) Slaves And Masters (1990) The Anthology (1991) In The Absence Of Pink (Knebworth '85) (live) (1991) Purple Rainbows (1991) Knocking At Your Back Door (1992) The Battle Rages On (1993) Progression (1993) The Deep Purple Family Album (1993) Live In Japan (3cd) (1993) Come Hell Or High Water (live) (1994) Child In Time (1995) Purpendicular (1996) California Jammin' (1996) Live At The Olympia (1996) The Final Concerts (1996) Abandon (1998) In Concert With The London Symphony Orchestra (2000) Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2000) This Time Around: Live In Tokyo '75 (2001) New Live & Rare: The Bootleg Series 1984-2000 (2001) In Concert: 1970-1972 (2001) In Profile (2001) Singles Box Set (2002) 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Edition (2002) Listen Learn Read On (2002) The Essential (2003) Gold (2003) California Jam 1974 (2003) Bananas (2003) The Platinum Collection (2005) Who Do We Think We Are (24kt Gold reissue) (2005) Rapture Of The Deep (2005)
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