DOWN TO EARTH

First Rainbow album under new musical directions. After Dio left the band a year prior this relese after the excellent Long live rock n' roll , Blackmore tries to bring a new musical aproach in the Rainbow music more mainstrem with even in places some AOR leanings. He hired Graham Bonnet, who is not a bd vocalist, not by far but doesn't have the power and charisma of Dio, that's for sure. So with a new vocalist and a new keyboard player the famous Don Airey and a new (old) member Glover on bass, Rainbow sounds like they want to conquer new grounds, new fans, more comercial attitude, but as i said not really bad. The music on some tracks has the same felling like the previouses releases, strong guitars riffs and excellent solos and harmonies on 6 strings made by the main man of the band Richie Blackmore - like on Eyes Of The World, Lost In Hollywood for example, the rest are good but nothing special. Even a piece is composed by one of the most renowed musician Russ Ballard ( ex Argent , and many colaborations with many bands like Uriah Heep, Aerosmith, etc) - Since You Been Gone. So a good album, but nothing special, quite far from previouses 3 , and even less intristing than next one's with John Lynn Turner on vocals, maybe the most unenjoyble Rainbow album. 3 stars for Down to earth, but rounded up.