MACHINE HEAD

Whether or not Deep Purple is prog, they are a fine hard rock, as solidified when they released their 1972 album Machine Head. Perhaps I'm a bit biased because it was the very first album I ever purchased (back when I was in seventh grade), but Machine Head is arguably Deep Purple's finest (studio) album and one of the greatest 70s hard rock albums ever.

The album opens with the blistering "Highway Star" which is full of excellent solos and high- tempo playing. With the subject matter on cars (at least), it makes for a dangerous song to drive to. The pretty average but nonetheless rockers ("Maybe I'm A Leo" and "Pictures Of Home") follow, displaying the band's powerful rock abilities. From this point, the album gets more progressive with tracks "Lazy" and "Space Truckin," the former with wonderful guitar and organ play in the beginning.

It would be a travesty not to mention the most classic song on Machine Head- "Smoke On The Water." With great band performances and probably the most instantly recognizable rock riff ever, it's a classic for a reason. Something that's pretty interesting is the song's contrasting verse-chorus form, making an awesome song a bit more interesting.

Overall, Machine Head is an essential album for any fan remotely interested in rock music and even for prog fans who like a little progressiveness in their average rock music.