There was a time when Deep Purple was the biggest band in the world. A time when they would be forced to play two shows in the same venue and sell out twice. While throughout lineup change after lineup change their popularity has waned in the United States, they maintain a significant fan base in many European countries and in Japan. There had been speculation about a new Deep Purple album for a while but no confirmed reports until the band themselves confirmed they they would be recording a new album with producer Bob Ezrin. This is the band's first album with Ezrin, after the departure of their last producer Mike Bradford. And now in 2013 they have released their 19th album Now What?! making it their first since 2005's Rapture Of The Deep. So, do Deep Purple still have what it takes to make a great album? Time to find out.
The first track is called A Simple Song, and despite it's name, it is anything but simple. It starts if slow, but with lyrics like "Time, it does not matter, but time is all we have, to think about", it really makes you think about the meaning. Then it switches to a heavy rock sound with guitar from Steve Morse, and keyboard from Don Airey. Ian Gillan has one of the best voices of any 67 year old I've heard (as is demonstrated on many other tracks). A great way to start the album.
Track two is called Weirdistan (did Stephen Colbert write that title?), and it sort of reminds me of Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles. Strange lyrics and similar key, just heavier. Were the lyrics supposed to be senseless like Black Knight, or is there some hidden meaning I'm not seeing? I believe the keyboard was sped up like on at least one Beatles song. The parts where Ian Gillan sings over a track of his vocals are more obvious on this song and less harmonious (with himself).
Track three is called Out Of Hand, and it starts out sort of creepy and ambient, but then strings, and then rock. Gillan sings about a "dirty business". This can be interpreted multiple ways, but I would say he's talking about crime, and the "you" he's singing about just wanted to get in, but things have gotten "out of hand". I could be way off though. Many of Steve Morse's solos are smoother on this album and less quick note switching. This one is a bit of both.
Track four and one of the two lead singles is Hell To Pay, and this song sounds like it's about a badass rebel, from a simpler time, which makes me think he just spit on a sidewalk or two. But the song is fun, and Morse has a pretty cool solo. And remember what I said about Ian Gillan having a great voice for being 67? Well this is a perfect demonstration of that. There's also a keyboard part with Don Airey that they cut out of the radio version. They probably argue that it's unnecessary, but fans aren't listening to hear a quarter of the song cut out of the song.
Track five is called Body Line, and it's a song about a girl, but it's proof that a song about a girl doesn't have to be crap. It's got a cool riff, a solo from Morse, and it gets the point across without having to have a stupid dance beat or autotune. Hear that R&B singers? A 67 year old sings better without autotune than you do with it. Of course that's why they don't get radio play anymore.
Track six is called Above And Beyond. This is a tribute song to Jon Lord, their former keyboardist, who passed away last year. I love this song. It's a tribute to their former bandmate and friend, but it's not depressing. Plus it's got a lot of keyboard, which makes sense, because it's a tribute to a keyboardist/organist. The lyrics are great "I may be leaving, but I won't be gone/I'll be there when you want me, above and beyond". A great tribute to Jon Lord.
Track seven is called Blood From A Stone. It starts out like a slow blues song, with Roger Glover's bass in the background, but the chorus is heavier and a lot more like Deep Purple. I interpret it as being about having everything taken from you by someone you cared about. The lyrics are great, while sort of sad, but it's a very bluesy rock song, and it's a good one.
Track eight is called Uncommon Man. Bob Ezrin had said he wanted to capture the greatness of a Deep Purple live show, and that is displayed in this seven minute song which starts out with a Deep Purple-esque intro with slow guitar from Morse, before Paice's drums and Airey's keyboard transition it into a heavy song that would be twice as good as it already is if played live. The lyrics are pretty good, but this song was really made to be played live.
Track nine is called Apres Vous. This sounds like a song they were writing during Bananas or Rapture Of The Deep, but couldn't finish. Of course it would've been one of the better songs on those albums. It's good, but I feel like it's almost out of place on this album.
Track ten, and the other lead single is called All The Time In The World. This is the Deep Purple song that just about any Purple fan can sing, as Ian Gillan gives his voice a rest on this song. It's very different, but not different from anything they've done before, and not so different that Purple fans won't enjoy it.
Track Eleven and the final track on the album is called Vincent Price. This is their attempt at a horror song and they did a great job. It's creepy, has an eerie riff, and the song is about Vincent Price coming back from the dead. "It feels so good to be afraid/Vincent Price is back again". The vocals sound like something off of The Battle Rages On, and it's a great way to end the album.
Overall this is an album fans of Purpendicular will love, but if you were expecting Machine Head 2, you're setting yourself up for disappointment, and if you're one of those who can only like Deep Purple if Ritchie Blackmore is in the band, then I have no sympathy for you. This is a great album that true Purple fans will like. I personally give it an 8 out of 10. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to listen to Dead By Sunrise. If you didn't like this review, go find Smoke On The Water on YouTube.
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