Now what?! — first review
Jens Johansson and Timo Kotipelto of Finnish/Swedish metal band Stratovarius provide us with the first (to our knowledge) public review of Now what?! Que lots of Nordic restraint.
Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.
![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/glover1.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/morse2.jpg)
Jens Johansson and Timo Kotipelto of Finnish/Swedish metal band Stratovarius provide us with the first (to our knowledge) public review of Now what?! Que lots of Nordic restraint.
Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
This is a silly thing .
March 22nd, 2013 at 19:10Hardly any review at all.
Great! They said Rainbow,Dixie Dregs cannot wait !
March 22nd, 2013 at 21:05Zoink!
March 22nd, 2013 at 21:12A textbook example of how to speak for almost 4 minutes and say pretty much nothing.
March 22nd, 2013 at 21:22I remember jens johannson from his band with his brother called “silver mountain”, it was released in 1985. He also played keyboards for malmsten on his dragon and castles albums, jon lord was a huge influence on him.
March 22nd, 2013 at 22:02l remember jens johannson from his band with his brother called “silver mountain”, back in 1985 .He also played keyboards in malmstens band, jon lord was a huge influence on him .
March 22nd, 2013 at 22:45Little coffee first?!
Kidding aside, they seem to like it.
March 22nd, 2013 at 22:56I would have given these guys I few more minutes to talk about the album per se and not just the incredible musicians who recorded it. Can’t wait to hear it myself!
March 23rd, 2013 at 03:34OK??? This is not a review but interesting that they are fans and state it’s the best album since PS. My hope is it sits along side Purpendicular.
March 23rd, 2013 at 07:33A lot of bullshit!! Silly! And they don’t talk,they read from a paper…..Who’s idea was it to do this??? 🙁
March 23rd, 2013 at 07:39That’s no review. They don’t even remember the tracks.
I think to do a review in the office of Edel is a good idea, but please do the reviews with real Deep Purple fans (mabye from a fanclub) and give them a change to listen more than twice.
Thats the way to make the other fans curious.
Karl-Heinz
March 23rd, 2013 at 08:06Let me say: tipical finnish!
March 23rd, 2013 at 09:58The guy on the right in the video was asked about the new Deep Purple, and instead, he goes on to tell us his whole life story
March 23rd, 2013 at 13:38Great review ! According to them, at last DP got superplayers in the lineup AND Steve Morse is on it too ! I will buy it !
March 23rd, 2013 at 13:56Makes me want to reach into the video & snatch the damn disc out of his hand. It was a little goofy, but great to hear someone who has heard the the thing front to back. I had a dream about it last night. I guess that officially makes me weird. 34 more days.
March 23rd, 2013 at 13:57Labelmates, huh? Very telling indeed, but that was already the most revealing part of this so-called “review”. Guess we’ll have to wait a few more weeks before we can form our own opinions.
March 23rd, 2013 at 14:16This is NOTHING.
March 23rd, 2013 at 14:16You get a Stratovarius ad for their new cd at the end(…)
Not really a review at all. Just a couple of fans that apparently like the album overall. “Best album in 15-20 years since Perfect Strangers” was stated…. Hmmm. So then it’s slated to be better than THOBL, S&M, TBRO and all the Morse era albums according to these guys. Funny how in another subject I was expressing that I’d like to see Malmsteen in BCC and that he kept the Purple Torch burning back before the reunion in 1984. Jens Johansson & Timo Kotipelto are Purple worshippers and Johansson and his brother were part of the Malmsteen Force that kept Purple music ALIVE. I think it’s pretty cool to see these accomplished, successful players whom have been there and done that, played all over the world and played along side a huge amount of other huge players, slobbering over Deep Purple like young fans that are just fans and not famous musicians themselves. That says a lot about Purple and I hope their enthusiasm and praise of the album holds water and is what they say it is. Really looking forward to the Album version of ‘ATTITW’ since this promo is not only edited, but is also a radio mix version meaning that the total song will have a different vibe. Most likely a harder edge. If that’s the case, it will be a great track. It already draws me in and is hard to stop humming. The hook is already locked in. Every time my wife or anybody says something regarding a time restraint or that they or I am late, I just think about the tune and I respond by singing….”Don’t worry, there’s no hurry…here we are with all the time in the world” Man I love that shit!!!!
CheerZ?!
March 23rd, 2013 at 14:36Ha,ha they are huge Scandinavian fans of Purple.. and yes Finland is part of Scandinavia even if they don’t know it just yet. “All the time” is the best Purple single I heard since the seventies, only competitor I can think of is “Bad attitude” from ’87 or “Anya” from ’93.
March 23rd, 2013 at 17:46If the album carry on like this it could be the new “Purpendicular”! I hold my thumbs.
Sorry, but I hear a lot of bla bla bla …
🙁
LLRnR
kraatzy
March 23rd, 2013 at 17:48This “review” is very suspect.
“It’s the best album since Perfect Strangers.” “We are label mates.” “We are in the Edel offices in New York City.” “We like it a lot.” “I have no idea of the tracks.” All this in addition to the constant mention of “classic” albums, including Rainbow (!) make this “review” unconvincing. What we want to hear are the specifics.
Enough with the references to Perfect Strangers and Made in Japan. This band has virtually no sonic connection with those works. Tell us about *this* album and compare it with *this* version of the band. I would be more “sold” if they’d said this is the best thing since Purpendicular.
EVERYONE should buy this album. I feel it is historically significant as a very late opus in the history of Deep Purple and may very well be their final recorded statement. In addition, new Deep Purple studio albums do not come out every day, nor do they grow on the proverbial trees.
Most people on this site collect Deep Purple music in various formats, including the re-packaged, re-recorded, re-mastered, ultra super deluxe extra special editions (and with the extra wide Japanese artwork with Deep Purple misspelled). For those people, this will be a necessary part of their collection.
For everyone else, they should buy this album because it is an integral part of the catalog. And, while opinions will be varied, some of you will love it–some will hate it–some will play it until the CD gets grooves in it–some will play it once and never play it again. It doesn’t matter.
Buy the record!
As for reviews, despite my very long history as a Deep Purple fan–and the fact that as a musician, I learned to play several instruments because of Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord–and have spent a great deal of my life trying to emulate their style, I will not give the band a pass simply because they happen to be the greatest hard rock group of all time. The band still has to “earn the right” instead of “assume the right”. There have never been “bad” Deep Purple albums–but some are much, much better than others. I expect that trend to continue.
Here is my review of the single.
Despite Roger Glover’s assertion that anything Deep Purple records is a Deep Purple song, the band is most closely associated with the hard rock sound. Historically, Gillan-led versions of Deep Purple are not known for ballads, with the Purpendicular album being a notable exception, nor are they adept at a commercial sound–but they keep trying.
“All the Time in the World” shows that after over 40 years and umpteen personnel changes, Deep Purple remains alive and well and is still capable of producing a “single”. This song is upbeat and aesthetically pleasing to the ear–easy to listen to–and could make an impact on the airwaves if only DJs and program directors elect to play it.
Stylistically, “All the Time in the World” has connections with previous works associated with current members. The chorus “Mmm…don’t worry… Relax–there’s no hurry… Here we are with all the time in the world” is similar in feel to the Dreamcatcher album–an Ian Gillan solo effort. Steve Morse’s choppy blues riffs were right at home on some Bananas tracks and give this song the proper punctuation. Most telling, however, is the solo whose vibe comes straight off of Purpendicular–universally the best-like of the Morse-era Deep Purple albums. This is a good sign.
This song is no Japanese-era live “Smoke on the Water” or In Rock’s “Bloodsucker”–but then it is not supposed to be. References to previous line-ups by the record company are ill-advised. Rather, the song is more analogous with more recent efforts by a group at a very difference phase in their career.
I hated this song the first time I heard it. “This is not Deep Purple,” I thought, and there is merit to the argument. However, after repeated listenings in its edited format, the song sticks in one’s head in a pleasant way, and Morse’s playing is in line with more celebrated Deep Purple offerings.
I still feel this is very much an Ian Gillan “solo” song, but music is a business, and “All the Time in the World” could be the “compromise” of which Roger Glover so often speaks. One song does not an album make. We will have to wait to see what the rest of the album is like.
As it is, “All the Time in the World” remains better than some of the dreadful attempts at ballads, one which included female singers and overly-commercialized punctuation that can ruin an otherwise decent song. Better, “All the Time in the World” improves with each listen. If this is the “worst” song on the album, then we certainly have something to look forward to.
“There is still a long way to go…hmmm don’t worry…”
The album will be out soon.
March 23rd, 2013 at 18:35Nothing like a bit of PR marketing for yourselves guys. Funny indeed, go on guys, you know you want to ‘leak’ that disc online, go on, I bet you could leak it & no one would ever know! Well, there the sort of things I was thinking in between the comedy laughter! That wasn’t a review, ‘what is the name of the songs again, hang on I will just have a look at this piece of paper here’! At least they have ‘themselves’ out there, good stunt indeed!
March 23rd, 2013 at 22:31Bunch of a**holes on this site! Why on earth do half of you bother spending all your time on here when you seemingly hate all things Deep Purple!
Some of you are ready to spout negativity regardless of what is said or released. I’ll never understand the agenda some of you appear to have but I’m sure it’s compensating for some shortcoming in your lives!
Well, I look forward to enjoying what is an excellent album, I feel for those of you that can’t allow yourselves to do so.
Peace.
March 23rd, 2013 at 23:18I read a lot of nonsense in the comments here.
People get too exited over nothing.
And why, I VE ALREADY WRITTEN THAT IN 2006, are people still thinking Deep Purple might score a top 40 hit?!
March 23rd, 2013 at 23:25It beats me why certain people go on about Perfect Strangers’ being such a great album? For the first album after an extended break, it is a poor effort indeed! Take 4 decent songs off it & well, it is third rate for aMK2 album! MK2’s poorest album period! THOBL & TBRO are much stronger albums, much more interesting songs excepting the odd weak song! Other Purple fans I know said the same thing with the comeback reunion album, they thought it weak & ‘over rated’ as well. Usually when a lineup of a great band gets back together after a while, the first album is the strongest, fresh new ideas, members getting along, a new enthusiasm etc. Oh well, history never repeats, & we have moved on!
March 24th, 2013 at 02:25hi Purple People.
i got two tracks from a friend – this records sounds great! I grew up with this band, and don’t have any preconceived ideas about what they ‘should’ sound like – but I like this very much.
March 25th, 2013 at 11:26Perfect Strangers seems to get a lot of flack nowadays.
I like HOBL but is badly produced and has at least 2 crap songs on it. I HATE Call Of The Wild.
Mad Dog I kinda got attached to but it is a weak song.
The main problems with the 80’s :
Gillan’s voice live.
Paicey not drumming(Think This Time Around and earlier and you should spot the difference!!!)but sounding like a drumcomputer, justy bashing away like Vinnie Appice.
I like Vinnie but compared to Paicey, Bonham, Powell and Rondinelli…he is nowhere.Just 80’s metal bashing for a stupid audience that welcomed every single bash with great enmthusiasm.
Way not enough Lord and hammond, also on HOBL.
Blackmore came out quite well here and there but he also did a 80’s experiment which I tried to grasp but never really did.
Both PS and HOBL have great songs but where PS sounds fresh HOBL sounds overproduced.
Gillan is much better on PS.
Ditto Blackmore.
But still I love DEARLY Strangeways, Bad Attitude ,Dead Or Alive and The Unwritten Law.
Not to forget Spanish Archer with multiple Ritchie solo’s!!!
Sp despite the mentioned annoying 80’s crap I kinda like it.
But did they really think they were being progressive?
Be honest, everything between 68 and 75 is filled to the rafters with VARIATION, VIRTUOSITY,GREAT PERFORMANCES, EXCELLENT VOCALS, DRUMS, GUITAR and HAMMOND.
Not to forget their trademark which they have tried to abandon(…)since reuniondays : the unique extended improvisation pieces.
A fan who dont like extended tracks IMHO is not a real Deep Purple fan.
There are so many bands that sound almost the same on stage as on the records.
DP was one of those that set a whole new standard with their early live performances.
Back to PS :
I agree that Meanstreak, Hungry Daze and Nobody’s Home may sound dubious(I always hated the synth solo for the last one. HAMMOND GODDAMN, HAMMOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
But hey, SOA, PS, A Gypsies Kiss, Wasted Sunsets, KAYBD!!!??????
UNDER THE GUN!!!!
For christs sake…..
But even those 3 songs I really enjoy, espescially compared to what came later.
I f you really think that anything on ROTD is superior to PS you are insane.
March 25th, 2013 at 12:31@ 23 Some people are just like that, bitter and envious. They need to get a life..
March 25th, 2013 at 17:58@25
I will go on forever on how Perfect Strangers is a great album. It is my favorite from DP. To me it is perfection. Not a single filler track included. All great tracks.
I only wish there was more.
March 25th, 2013 at 20:09Oh and btw, I m NOT responsible !!!
March 26th, 2013 at 11:59@26 you got some fans here too!
March 27th, 2013 at 13:02I remember tony carey with Rainbow 1976 Live at the Santa Monica Civic thanks for being part of that greatest live concert ever Tony. Whatever gear you were using that night was astonishing. The band was DIALED IN that night, that night, those two years. Oh back to Purple, going to agree with the majority here Perfect Strangers was and still is incredible, and besides the slightly lesser recording quality HOBL had some stellarmoments. Not sure why it was mixed so differently. had Roger been up to his DOWN TO EARTH recording mastery then maybe all of us would feel different about it today. Still think Made In Japan is the greatest album Purple ever did and probably anyone will have ever done this side of Rainbow in Germany.
April 1st, 2013 at 04:11purrfect stranger @ 32 – as great a ‘live’ album Made In Japan is, it isn’t an album release like a studio album. So I cannot see how it is their greatest album. It is recordings of certain live performances, not new material in a studio somewhere! It is one of the greatest ever put together recorded live albums, being from different nights & hopefully doesn’t have any studio added trickery on it anywhere, as so many live albums do! I can think of other better Purple albums, it is just how I look at live recordings that’s all. Cheers.
April 2nd, 2013 at 06:58Still working my way througl oder Darker Than Blue back issues I ordered some weeks ago.
I must have forgotten how the data might have changed again since then but…..
In 1991Tony Carey comes to the fore saying ALL the keyboardwork on Long Live Rock and Roll is his!!!
I must admit I have forgotten how this subject was tackled later on.
Anyway in 1991 he is reported to have gained nothing financially from that album.
He appearantly tried to get his righs in court for 2 years but stopped, getting enough of it.
Weird, knowing david Stone sold his rights for having written the mid section of Gates Of Babylon to Ritchie.
I hope reported stories about Blackmore doing a KARMA ” Earl” thing by patching up things he did wrong in the past.
April 2nd, 2013 at 15:58Supposedly triggered by Candice’s mother!!!
MacGregor @ 33
You are so right about live albums being tampered with and redubbed so we may never know if MIJ was really completely live but somebody knows Either way I would still take it if I was on an Island with a bottle of rum and Kate Moss. Maybe In Rock or Machine Head get more votes but MIJ outdid both the studio version of Highway Star and also the studio version of Child In Time. Blackmore was completely Lights Out.
Purple Priest @ 34 that Tony Carey information with regard to LLR+R is an eye opener to me. Is that really Tony on Long Live and not Dave Stone. All I know is when I saw them on the tour supporting that album Dave Stone was there and I have not heard from him since.
Might I be one of the first to say——————-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
April 14th, 2013 at 04:52RITCHIE BLACKMORE
@5: saw them live that year, sorry to say – they sucked; got outplayed by 2 bands called “axewitch”(!) & “torch”. xlnt technically, NO stage presence whatsoever. guess they learned da hard way & got it right further on.
May 3rd, 2013 at 09:39@34: have a listen to the “rough mixes” on the LLR’n’R “SuperDeluxeHiTechExtraSpecialHiQualityGottaHaveIt” edition. nuff said.
if that ain’t carey, purple ain’t deep.