BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY

I have always found difficult to analyse solo albums from artists who were part of one of my beloved bands. This is the reason why I will only review one Peter Gabriel album on this site. The deception was major, and so for lots of great men in rock music.

Ken is part of these persons for whom I have the deepest respect for their work, but while he was one of the key players (without play on words) in the great Heep, I was not really moved with his solo output. Such masterpieces he wrote! Such superb Hammond organ parts he played! While in the Heep, though.

This last album to date is somewhat more rocking than usual (which is a very good news), but the AOR style takes the lead for the majority of the songs; and you might know that this is not my cup of tea, at all.

You can find some good rock songs, some good melodies, some good guitar breaks. Yes. You can find these?But don't expect any masterpiece song on this album. Decent FM rock music ("You've Got It") is not too bad but didn't we expect more from the man? At least, I was; even if I consider this "Blood On The Highway" as one of his best studio albums ever released.

Good rock ballads ("It Won't Last"), weak ones ("Think Twice") or syrupy ones ("There Comes A Time"). These three songs really form a rather weak middle part which is fortunately saved by an excellent and quite dynamic "Okay". Fully in the vein of the great "Easy Livin": this is my preferred song from this offering (but I'm biased). Even some "Highway Star" feel can be noticed at the end.

I was quite excited to listen to the great Glenn Hughes on two tracks from this album, but I have to say that I was not really thrilled by the song writing available druing "What You Gonna Do". His input is much more worth during the excellent remake of "The Last Dance".

I rate this is album with three stars (which is slightly upgraded to be honest). There is no prog relation to be found, but some good good rock moments for sure.