A compilation of rare Tommy Bolin tracks, some of which scream defiantly, some of which suck miserably
Tommy Bolin was the guitar virtuoso who was asked to join Deep Purple after the departure of Ritchie Blackmore, the band then moved in a direction that tended towards a much more funky region than anything they'd previously released and their album 'Come Taste The Band' left their fanbase perplexed and a bit disappointed. However that year also saw the release of Bolin's solo effort 'Teaser', which was received with rapturous praise and approval, within the next year he was dead.
'Whips and Roses 1' is the first volume of a two-part series compiling previously unreleased Bolin tracks and alternative versions of some of his most memorable songs. It's an eclectic mix of well-written numbers, astonishing guitar acrobatics and pure prog indulgent wank. There are moments on the record that have obviously given birth to some of the fantastic ideas that groups like The Mars Volta have incorporated into their records, but at the same time there's lengthy nonsensical solos that leave the listener feeling nonplussed at best and painfully bored at worst.
The opener 'Teaser' is a true hard-hitting pop song, it's as rock as rock can be and sounds divine, as does the well-crafted 'Wild Dogs', both these tracks featuring vocals from Bolin and his voice does hold its own very well against the superb musical backdrop. 'Wild Dogs' in fact sounds as fresh or even fresher than half the tracks produced today; it's got a modern vibe about it and is a pleasure to listen to.
A shame that can't be said of all the songs on this album, some of it sounds very dated, obviously belonging to that time when it all went very wrong and 'fusion' was born; bits of 'Fandango' and 'Flyin' Fingers' are reminiscent of the trying Mahavishnu Orchestra and convey nothing more than a man's ability to move his fingers fast on a fretboard. Hendix had an emotional attachment to his guitar, his soul was intertwined with it, Bolin seemed to have mastered it in a much more clinical sense. There are flashes every now and then of everything coming together, 'Just Don't Fall Down' being the perfect example of this, but the very core of his being doesn't seem quite so intrinsic in his playing.
Altogether, it's worth a listen, but is definitely a release for the hardcore die-hards that can't get enough of Tommy Bolin. It displays his song writing ability and also displays how easily he wandered from the comprehensible music path and went off on fifteen minute diversions that leave only a taste of indifference in the mouths of people who want songs. But that's what the seventies were all about, pompous, pretentious nonsense, thank fuck for punk. That said, it's nice to know Tommy Bolin could write a scorcher when he put himself to doing so and out of the music that he's left there's some cracking stuff...