SLAVES AND MASTERS

Deep Rainbow or something? Yes, but the chemistry is not there, the inspiration is not there... Nothing really IS there.

Let's see how DP did in their one and only album with Joe Lynn Turner, track-by-track:

King Of Dreams: Street Of Dreams was a very catchy Rainbow song, King Of Dreams is just an OK song. Nothing extraordinary.

The Cut Runs Deep: Heavy Metal riff and a "Cut Runs Deep!" shout at the chorus, exactly like the "Done Dirt Cheap!" one from AC/DC's Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, are the main strong elements of this one. Nice song overall, has things to offer.

Fire In The Basement: Common hard rock 'n' roller, with the very good guitar and keyboard solo sections being by far the best part. A mediocre song that's been saved by the Blackmore - Lord individual skills.

Truth Hurts: Sounds like a rehearsal, like an idea that they would work further, but somehow ended up in the album half-done. Absolutely mediocre.

Breakfast In Bed: What is this guys? Is this Deep Purple quality? Come on... That's a filler! Next!

Love Conquers All: Oh! Violins? Good! Let's see what they will build here. Well it's a very nice love ballad, but ordinary. No more violins or any other special element after the intro.

Fortuneteller: Lack of power, lack of ideas, lack of creativity. Filler at best.

Too Much Is Not Enough: Uplifting song, but with absolutely no guts. And what's that cowbell for? What happened to them? Who told them they should play so weak? Were they afraid they would awake someone sleeping next door or something? Sigh...

Wicked Ways: The most interesting song of the album. It begins as a hard rocker and it slows down significantly in the second half, only to climax back to the fast tempo after a solo. The fact that it keeps you interested is very crucial in this album, as most other songs fail. A good song, maybe the second best after The Cut Runs Deep.

RATING: Very disappointing. They composed almost all songs as a team, but the result is nothing close to the DP standards. Lord, Glover and Paice don't recognize it as a true Deep Purple album, but that seems hypocritical. Mk V is 4/5 MkII. MK III was 3/5 MkII. But they are OK with Burn and Stormbringer, and not OK with this one. I guess it depends on how successful the album is, and not the persons behind it... 2 stars for the worst DP album so far.