A new showing of classic rock from UFO
Featuring all the cheesy in-set banter and endless guitar soloing that you could possibly wish for, you are welcomed to an evening of live entertainment with UFO.
With a history dating back to 1969 and their reputation for live shows cemented by countless gigs and previous live record 'Strangers In The Night' (considered the best of a vast amount of concert albums), this new release showcases a line-up that the band promises is their tightest and most rocking yet.
For a live record, it has a very clean sound; the backing vocals come across sharply with the lead riffs hitting the spot nearly all the time.
For the classic rock fan, there are plenty of noodling, short guitar fills - of course, its all clinically done and it may hint at a band going through the motions but for talent and proficiency, there can be no real complaints about the fare provided. It's a record that plays to its strengths and its own fan base and is unlikely to disappoint any existing UFO fan.
For more modern music fans looking foran act to compare UFO with, if you're a fan of the Darkness music, but maybe find the tongue in cheek humour and unfunny material to be off putting, you could do worse than check out this record.
Compared to other bands of the 1970's era, history has probably judged UFO unkindly with some of their peers. With the lack of a massively sampled track, they haven't had the opportunity to come over to a new generation of kids in the way that other bands have.
That said, the songs are all of a certain similar standard, either fast galloping rock song with strained vocals and thunderous drums, provided by Jason Bonham, son of the legendary John Bonham or soft-rock ballads, perfect for lighter waving.
'Let It Roll' is a perfect example of the former with its fast fretwork and repeated vocals with 'Baby Blue' being the other kind of song with its finger picked guitar and impassioned vocals recalling former loves and musing on where it all went wrong. And anything else is just a variation on these themes with only the kicking guitar riff and effects taking the songs to a different place.
With classic early 70's tracks such as 'Rock Bottom' and 'Doctor Doctor' receiving a good reaction from the crowd and being two of the most upbeat and driving songs of the set, its obvious there are good songs on this record but there is the feel of it being a historical piece as opposed to being a must have for anyone nowadays.
Some of the introductions are funny, with it becoming clear that the lead singer is unaware of what album any track is taken from. No doubt every member of the audience knows every track inside out.
The thing is, your either going to like this album, or your not, there isn't going to be two ways about it.
Its big, pompous cheesy rock played extremely well and it has a nice big shiny production all over it. If you think that music was better in the 70's, then this record is for you. If not, then just walk right on by.