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Bananas
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Amazon UK
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Classic Rock Revisited
Moe Cullity
Robert Daems
Electric Basement
Rich Franz
Fabricio Geo
Robert Gloria
Rasmus Heide
Tracy Heyder
Dave Hodgkinson
Paer Holmgren
Benny Holmström
Ted Hurst
Ed 'Janx' Jankauskas
Fredrik Jiglund
Dennis Karlsson
Martin Karski
Mark Dorson King
Stefan Krüger
Christer Lorichs
Don Love
Jeremy Marples
Melodic Rock.com
René Mikkelsen

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Jon Lord's Bananas
Does Jon Lord like Bananas?
Charting Bananas
Associated Press
Bananas in Berlin
The pros of Bananas

Related sites
Roger Glover's website
Ian Gillan's website
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Bradford's Purple Banana

So Ian Gillan felt that this could be Deep Purple's "Sergeant Pepper's" album, and management has been hyping it as the big, mainstream comeback album for years. Is it all that? Not in my opinion, and this raised some other soul-stirring questions:

Does Don Airey fit in? Yes, to my relief, but do I miss Jon Lord? As Jon was always my personal favorite member, I almost hate to write this, but for me, Bananas validates Don Airey in the same was Purpendicular validated Steve Morse back when I thought I could never accept DP without Ritchie.

Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes, in most places, No in others, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Is it better than Purpendicular? Not in my book. Better than Abandon? Too close to call yet.

Does Michael Bradford make a difference? Yes, I think he was good for them. He does squeeze some interesting music out of the band. The production is good, but not perfect to satisfy my audiophile penchant.

After a dozen spins, what are my impressions? This album hit me strangely, like I didn't know whether to like it or not, but then I realized that some songs I absolutely love, some I like, and some I find uninteresting. So I started thinking about each song and looking at it with similar criteria, so I reviewed each track in that way.

1. House of Pain - Overall Impression: 2.5 / 5 Bananas - The weakest opener that I can remember. Fairly predictable, and Gillan's vocal treatment (no matter how much we may like it as fans) does not fit for mainstream radio, so it would never work as a single.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes
Passes the commercial test: No

2. Sun Goes Down - Overall Impression: 3 / 5 Bananas - Sounds like something from Abandon to me, sort of a natural progression.  I like it, but it is not outstanding.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes
Passes the commercial test: No

3. Haunted - Overall Impression: 2 / 5 Bananas - A fairly predictable ballad, and again as Gillan's nasal vocal treatment does not fit in mainstream radio, it doesn't work as a single, but maybe that's why management seems to think it's good idea. ;-) Probably my least favorite track.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? No
Passes the commercial test: No

4. Razzle Dazzle - Overall Impression: 3.5 / 5 Bananas - Now were picking up. I think the stronger tracks begin here.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes
Passes the commercial test: No

5. Silver Tongue - Overall Impression: 4.5 / 5 Bananas - Nice funky synths, and a progressive feel ala House of Blue Light and Purpendicular. Good vocals on this one too.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes
Passes the commercial test: Possibly

6. Walk On - Overall Impression: 4.5 / 5 Bananas - The stronger of the 'slow' songs. Nice vocals, lyrics, and playing all around. Purple plays the blues, in the tradition of Blind Man and Soldier of Fortune.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes
Passes the commercial test: No

7. Picture of Innocence - Overall Impression: 4.5 / 5 Bananas - A track that reminds me of Rosa's Cantina and Evil Louie, but that has it's own identity.. Music, lyrics, vocals, and chorus all kick.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes
Passes the commercial test: Possibly, in the VH-1 market.

8. I've Got Your Number - Overall Impression: 3 / 5 Bananas - Lively in parts, but slightly predictable. Sounds like it could have been designed as a radio track, but it probably wouldn't make it.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes
Passes the commercial test: No

9. Never a Word - Overall Impression: 4.5 / 5 Bananas - A truly beautify song that could have appeared on one of Steve's or Gillan's solo albums. This is different in the tradition of The Aviator and A Touch Away. Gillan's vocals are soul stirring.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? No, in a Purpendicular kind of way.
Passes the commercial test: Yes, in the same demographic they are trying to reach with Haunted, if they can edit the long intro and get to the vocals quicker. It's short enough for radio too.

10. Bananas - Overall Impression: 4 / 5 Bananas - A rocker that has some great lyrics, harmonica, and fun music all over the place.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes, but with a distinct flavor of Gillan's solo stuff.
Passes the commercial test: No

11. Doing it Tonight - Overall Impression: 5 / 5 Bananas - My favorite track. I can't get it out of my head, so I know it must be so! ;-)
Does it sound like Deep Purple? Yes
Passes the commercial test: Yes, this is the best hope of the lot, so I'm sure it won't ever be considered. ;-)

12. Contact Lost - Overall Impression: 5 / 5 Bananas - stunning, but as my 3 year old daughter said, 'Daddy, this is a sad song' as she listened and asked me to play it again. I explained why it was a sad song, telling her of the brave astronauts that sacrificed their lives. She then echoed my other sentiment on this track, by innocently asking me, "Daddy, is this a short song?" I smiled and agreed with her, but it also seems just right, ending too soon, just like the fateful shuttle mission.
Does it sound like Deep Purple? No
Passes the commercial test: No

Adding all bananas and averaging them with the twelve tracks, I calculate a total of 3.5 / 5 Bananas.

Favorite tracks: Silver Tongue, Walk On, Pictures of Innocence, Never a Word, Bananas, Doing It Tonight, and Contact Lost. That's 7 / 12 tracks that really 'do it' for me, and a few of them are very unlike trademark Purple.

So my final self-probing thoughts: Is it worth buying as a Purple fan? Absolutely, there is no way to be totally disappointed. Will it be their big comeback album? I hope so, but highly doubt it. At least in the US, the typical lack of pre-release information and promotion seemingly assures failure once again, but as I do love this band, I wouldn't mind eating those bananas, um, I mean, words! ;-)

Ed 'Janx' Jankauskas
http://janx.com

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