PERFECT STRANGERS

Let's see how DP reclaimed their throne 9 years after their last effort, track-by-track:

Knocking At Your Back Door: THEY-ARE-BACK. The second most famous song of the album, and a fantastic album opener! So good that it still surprises me every time i realize it lasts over 7 minutes. A famous Greek rock 'n' roll musician named Yiannis Yiokarinis (Γιάννης Γιοκαρίνης in Greek) "loaned" the verse vocal melody of this one and sang the same way on one of his best hits, "Evlabia" (Ευλαμπία).

Under The Gun: Heavy metal song close to the AOR genre, but a bit darker, as the whole album. Very heavy, bold, powerful, with a small "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1" part at the 2:30 mark! Should I expect the "Macho Man" Randy Savage to enter my house? Hahaha! Anyway, we have another powerful song here, and a very promising continuation to the album.

Nobody's Home: Too radio friendly for my taste, and the cowbell that Paice uses always irritates me. A good enough song, but relatively weak for this album. It was chosen as a single, I would choose the next one instead.

Mean Streak: It could easily be a Scorpions song from Lovedrive or Love At First Sting. It's fun, it has some very good keyboard and guitar work, but it's not outstanding. Better than the previous, but beware of the next...

Perfect Strangers: One of the last gigantic rock hymns, not only by DP, but by the great classic rock bands in general. Sublime riff, outstanding melody, incredible vocal lines and lyrics, unbelievable musicality. Goosebumps!

A Gypsy's Kiss: Fast and furious, the "Burn" of this album. The solos by Blackmore and Lord are fantastic, maybe the best they 've played since "Burn"! Really great song, I totally enjoy it and it has the quality to be ranked as a classic!

Wasted Sunsets: By far the best DP ballad with Ian Gillan behind the microphone. Guitar melodies that cut like a razor, simple but effective performances by the rest of the band. Ideal for teenage parties, I've seen many classmates dance to this one (I've done my parts too...)

Hungry Daze: Interesting Neoclassical riff, very nice Blackmore solo, but nothing truly special otherwise. Bad choice to close the vinyl version of the album, thankfully the CD had one more track.

Not Responsible (CD version bonus track): A Blackmore composition from the Rainbow era? It sounds very much like one. The riff sticks to your mind like glue, I listened to it many times over and over because I couldn't stop playing it over and over again in my mind! I don't see why it was left out of the "basic" vinyl release, take out Nobody's Home and put this in, there you have it!

RATING: This album has five songs that could be part of an extended Deep Purple Anthology. Five. KAYBD and PS would be easily included in a 2CD version of it, while particularly PS is a league on it's own. No need to say more, solid 4 stars!

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