Perfect Strangers Review
Band | |
---|---|
Album | ![]() Perfect Strangers |
Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
Released | November 12, 1984 |
Genres | Hard Rock |
Labels | Polydor, Mercury Records |
Length | 39:37 |
Ranked | #16 for 1984 , #1,751 all-time |
Album rating : 87 / 100
Votes : 19 (3 reviews)
Votes : 19 (3 reviews)
April 3, 2024
Growing up in the NWOBHM era and discovering that trend in the early 1980s, Deep Purple was nothing more than a name for me at the time, which sometimes appeared in the conversations of more experienced music listeners. However, I got the impression that the band was very important in the history of heavier rock, but their music was by no means familiar. And I have to admit that when I heard "Smoke On The Water" for the first time, it sounded pretty dull, when the comparison was, for example, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, who are constantly on the turntables. Was this the signature work of heavy music that everyone knows? Didn't make an impression. A somewhat inexperienced ear still understood at that stage.
In 1984, the headlines of music magazines were full of news about the return of Purple, which had broken up in the latter half of the 1970s, and a new album was in the works. The "Perfect Strangers" in question was the first album from the band for me, and that's why I can say that the album is THE Deep Purple album for me. Under the magnifying glass is now specifically the original album version, which contains eight songs. Later, there have been different versions that have included more stuff.
The album starts with the mystical bass and keyboard intro of the song "Knocking At Your Back Door", which slowly, taking the drums along, grows to the main riff of the song played wonderfully by Ritchie Blackmore's guitar and Jon Lord's Hammonds. Vocalist Ian Gillan, who later received a lot of criticism, sings like in his best days. The song is long, but only the moaning at the end sounds a bit unnecessarily stretched for my current taste. "Under The Gun" hits a bigger gear and the song is strongly built around the guitar and the intro and verse riff played together by the Hammonds. The third song "Nobody's Home" groovs beautifully, driven by Ian Paice's cowbell accompaniment. In the chorus, Blackmore's guitar, Roger Glover's bass and Lord's Hammonds pull in a sleepy sono following Gillan's vocal melody. Nice effect and works great. In my opinion, "Mean Streak" is the closest thing to filler song status. It's a bit of a blues-tinged, hip-hop-rock, but it also fills its place.
The album's title song "Perfect Strangers" is unlikely to require more accompanying words for many people. The song begins in a way in the same spirit as the opening track of the album, i.e. the Hammonds roar strongly in the intro and slowly other instruments join in. The main riff played by the guitar and keyboards is brilliant in its simplicity and the vocal melody on top of it is great. The chorus also works beautifully and the song can be considered one of the most recognizable in rock music without a shadow of a doubt. "A Gypsy's Kiss" that plays next is the album's go-to rally and it has something similar to Rainbow's "Spotlight Kid". Special mention must be made of the harmonic ear candy playing between the guitar and organ solos played by Blackmore and Lord together. "Wasted Sunsets" is the album's "mandatory" ballad, but there is no other feeling of necessity in the song. The calm and beautiful song seems to prepare the end of the album before "Hungry Daze", which concludes the whole, whose catchy intro melody stays in your head long after the end of the album. Otherwise, "Hungry Daze" doesn't offer any surprises and I think something else could have been added as the ending song.
The Deep Purple 1984 model was built big. The album rocks irresistibly right from the first bars and shows that the new arrival was not in vain. Ritchie Blackmore's guitar and Jon Lord's Hammonds rumble irresistibly from song to song. A special mention must also be given to the rhythm group. I have always recognized Ian Paice's drumming as high quality, but now that I have listened to this record with an even more careful ear, Roger Glover's bass playing is absolutely fantastic. He mixes in his basic playing with melodies and runs that support the vocals, which may not stand out all the time, but you would definitely notice their absence. And Ian Gillan sings brilliantly throughout the album. So the package is complete in every way.
The dinosaur, which once fell to big egos and rattling horns, sounds fresh and airy on the debut of its new arrival. The group plays for the band and not for themselves, and that is also heard on the record. Recorded in the era of analog recordings, the soundscape of the album is distinctive and organic, exactly as it should be for a band like Deep Purple. The fade out endings of several songs should be mentioned as a small minus. Could it be that the songs were half-finished when they went to the studio and they didn't have time to finish the songs anymore? Despite a few near-misses ("Mean Streak" and "Hungry Daze"), the rating of the album as a whole is almost commendable. The album was a strong indication of the state of the band at that moment, which had updated and modernized its sound. It's a shame that after "Perfect Strangers" the orchestra hasn't released an album of the same quality, and knowing the current mood, it's unlikely that they ever will again. Regardless, it's always nice to return to this classic.
In 1984, the headlines of music magazines were full of news about the return of Purple, which had broken up in the latter half of the 1970s, and a new album was in the works. The "Perfect Strangers" in question was the first album from the band for me, and that's why I can say that the album is THE Deep Purple album for me. Under the magnifying glass is now specifically the original album version, which contains eight songs. Later, there have been different versions that have included more stuff.
The album starts with the mystical bass and keyboard intro of the song "Knocking At Your Back Door", which slowly, taking the drums along, grows to the main riff of the song played wonderfully by Ritchie Blackmore's guitar and Jon Lord's Hammonds. Vocalist Ian Gillan, who later received a lot of criticism, sings like in his best days. The song is long, but only the moaning at the end sounds a bit unnecessarily stretched for my current taste. "Under The Gun" hits a bigger gear and the song is strongly built around the guitar and the intro and verse riff played together by the Hammonds. The third song "Nobody's Home" groovs beautifully, driven by Ian Paice's cowbell accompaniment. In the chorus, Blackmore's guitar, Roger Glover's bass and Lord's Hammonds pull in a sleepy sono following Gillan's vocal melody. Nice effect and works great. In my opinion, "Mean Streak" is the closest thing to filler song status. It's a bit of a blues-tinged, hip-hop-rock, but it also fills its place.
The album's title song "Perfect Strangers" is unlikely to require more accompanying words for many people. The song begins in a way in the same spirit as the opening track of the album, i.e. the Hammonds roar strongly in the intro and slowly other instruments join in. The main riff played by the guitar and keyboards is brilliant in its simplicity and the vocal melody on top of it is great. The chorus also works beautifully and the song can be considered one of the most recognizable in rock music without a shadow of a doubt. "A Gypsy's Kiss" that plays next is the album's go-to rally and it has something similar to Rainbow's "Spotlight Kid". Special mention must be made of the harmonic ear candy playing between the guitar and organ solos played by Blackmore and Lord together. "Wasted Sunsets" is the album's "mandatory" ballad, but there is no other feeling of necessity in the song. The calm and beautiful song seems to prepare the end of the album before "Hungry Daze", which concludes the whole, whose catchy intro melody stays in your head long after the end of the album. Otherwise, "Hungry Daze" doesn't offer any surprises and I think something else could have been added as the ending song.
The Deep Purple 1984 model was built big. The album rocks irresistibly right from the first bars and shows that the new arrival was not in vain. Ritchie Blackmore's guitar and Jon Lord's Hammonds rumble irresistibly from song to song. A special mention must also be given to the rhythm group. I have always recognized Ian Paice's drumming as high quality, but now that I have listened to this record with an even more careful ear, Roger Glover's bass playing is absolutely fantastic. He mixes in his basic playing with melodies and runs that support the vocals, which may not stand out all the time, but you would definitely notice their absence. And Ian Gillan sings brilliantly throughout the album. So the package is complete in every way.
The dinosaur, which once fell to big egos and rattling horns, sounds fresh and airy on the debut of its new arrival. The group plays for the band and not for themselves, and that is also heard on the record. Recorded in the era of analog recordings, the soundscape of the album is distinctive and organic, exactly as it should be for a band like Deep Purple. The fade out endings of several songs should be mentioned as a small minus. Could it be that the songs were half-finished when they went to the studio and they didn't have time to finish the songs anymore? Despite a few near-misses ("Mean Streak" and "Hungry Daze"), the rating of the album as a whole is almost commendable. The album was a strong indication of the state of the band at that moment, which had updated and modernized its sound. It's a shame that after "Perfect Strangers" the orchestra hasn't released an album of the same quality, and knowing the current mood, it's unlikely that they ever will again. Regardless, it's always nice to return to this classic.
![](/img3/like-off.png)
Track listing (Songs)
title | rating | votes | video | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Knocking at Your Backdoor | 7:04 | 95.5 | 12 | Music Video |
2. | Under the Gun | 4:38 | 88.1 | 8 | |
3. | Nobody's Home | 3:59 | 87.2 | 9 | |
4. | Mean Streak | 4:21 | 87.2 | 9 | |
5. | Perfect Strangers | 5:28 | 98.8 | 14 | Music Video |
6. | A Gypsy's Kiss | 5:12 | 91.7 | 9 | |
7. | Wasted Sunsets | 3:55 | 92.8 | 11 | |
8. | Hungry Daze | 4:58 | 92.9 | 7 |
Line-up (members)
- Ian Gillan : Vocals
- Ritchie Blackmore : Guitars
- Roger Glover : Bass
- Ian Paice : Drums
- Jon Lord : Keyboards
10,216 reviews
cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | From Mars to Sirius Review (2005) | 80 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Virgo Review (2001) | 85 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Burn My Eyes Review (1994) | 85 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | 90 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 | |||
![]() | ![]() | Failures for Gods Review (1999) | 80 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Excalibur Review (1999) | 85 | Jul 26, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Power Plant Review (1999) | 85 | Jul 26, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | A Sombre Dance Review (1999) | 90 | Jul 26, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Dreamscape//Kaleidoscope Review (2024) [EP] | 95 | Jul 26, 2024 | 1 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Sonic Brew Review (1999) | 55 | Jul 26, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Pale Folklore Review (1999) | 90 | Jul 26, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Death and Progress Review (1993) | 85 | Jul 25, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Phoenix Rising Review (1997) | 90 | Jul 24, 2024 | 1 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Youthanasia Review (1994) | 100 | Jul 24, 2024 | 1 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Vol. I Review (2017) [EP] | 75 | Jul 24, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Frozen in Time Review (2005) | 85 | Jul 23, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Tomb of the Mutilated Review (1992) | 100 | Jul 23, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Time Is Up Review (2011) | 90 | Jul 23, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Heavy Metal Maniac Review (1983) | 75 | Jul 23, 2024 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Holy Land Review (1996) | 90 | Jul 22, 2024 | 0 |
In Rock Review (1970)
![level 21](/img2/m2-21.gif)
Sep 25, 2010 Likes : 4
흔히 하드록 3대 밴드라고 불리우는 밴드들이 있다. Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath 들이 이 타이틀을 거머쥔 밴드들이다. 이러한 평가는 거창한 타이틀 붙이기를 유독 좋아하는 일본 평론가들이 내린 게 아닌지 의심스럽다. 실제 영국, 미국에서는 이런 식의 평가를 내리지 않고 있다. 그러... Read More
Fireball Review (1971)
![level 21](/img2/m2-21.gif)
Apr 7, 2015 Likes : 3
Deep Purple의 가장 빛나는 시기하면 어느시기가 꼽힐까? David Coverdale과 Glenn Hughes과 합류했던 3기를 거론하고 싶은 사람도 분명 있을 것이다. 하지만, 록 팬들의 다수는 2기 시절의 Deep Purple을 최전성기로 거론한다. 이 시절의 밴드에는 Ian Gillan과 Roger Glover가 기존 멤버들을 대체했던 시기로 De... Read More
Made in Japan Review (1972) [Live]
![level 17](/img2/m2-17.gif)
May 26, 2013 Likes : 3
락/메탈 라이브 역사상 최고의 명반중 하나로 여겨지는 이 음반, 딥퍼플 라인업중에서도 최고로 일컬어지는 다섯명의 멤버가 만들어낸 연주와 보컬은 정말 흠잡을 곳이 없다. 원곡들과 비교해도 완벽에 가까운 명 연주와 이안 길런의 자신감있는 샤우팅과 컨디션, 거기에 현장감을 더하는... Read More
Made in Japan Review (1972) [Live]
![level 9](/img2/m2-9.gif)
Mar 5, 2021 Likes : 2
My most played album #372. Deep Purple - Made In Japan. In many ways the Live is better than the studio, this is really true with "the Purple" This album rocks I would listen to it more but I burned it out in the 70's and 80's. 7 songs on four album sides I enjoyed the Queen movie but I thought it was strange they made such a big deal out of long songs can't be played on the ra... Read More
In Rock Review (1970)
![level 12](/img2/m2-12.gif)
Aug 1, 2015 Likes : 2
자켓에서부터 러쉬모어의 큰바위 대통령형상을 본따 멤버이미지로 차용할만큼 음악적 자신감이 충만하다. 다소 오만해보일수도 있지만 내용물을 접하는순간 누구나 고개를 끄덕일수밖에없는 열정과 에너지로 가득하다. 70년대에 이만큼 강렬한 하드락의 기운을 쏟아낸 밴드가 얼마나 될... Read More
Made in Japan Review (1972) [Live]
![level 12](/img2/m2-12.gif)
Dec 3, 2014 Likes : 2
Led Zeppelin의 강력한 대항마로 70년대 하드락의 양대산맥이었던 딮퍼플의 모든 에너지를 생생하게 체험할수있는 귀한 보석같은 라이브 명반이다. 팬들과 평론가들이 이구동성으로 최정예멤버라고 일컫는 2기 딮퍼플(기수따지기 좋아하지 않지만 어쩔수없이ㅠ)이 출범한후 하드락 역사에 길... Read More
In Rock Review (1970)
![level 17](/img2/m2-17.gif)
Dec 4, 2011 Likes : 2
딥 퍼플이라고 하면 회자되는 앨범은 바로 이 앨범과 머신헤드 앨범이 아닐까?
딥퍼플은 사실 좋아하게 된지 상당히 오래걸렸다. 그렇다. 2010년은 되서야 조금 귀에 익고 올해초에
귀가 뚫리면서 너무너무 좋아지게 되었다. 마치 레드제플린에 대한 거부감도 비슷했던것 같다.
거친 헤... Read More
Burn Review (1974)
![level 21](/img2/m2-21.gif)
Dec 17, 2010 Likes : 2
바로크 메탈의 완벽한 효시를 이룬 기념비적인 작품이다. 타이틀곡인 Burn에서 리치 블랙모어는 바로크 모드를 규칙적으로 연주하는데, 이런 타입의 연주 방식은 80년 중반에 잉베이 맘스틴에 의해 더욱 세련화되었다. 존 로드 역시 클래시컬한 화성에 기반한 진행을 통해 바로크 기법의 완... Read More
In Rock Review (1970)
![level 2](/img2/m2-2.gif)
Dec 17, 2005 Likes : 2
필자가 헤비메탈을 처음 접하게 된 것은 중학교 3학년 무렵이었다...그러니까 그해는 우리나라에서 올림픽이 개최되던 해였고 국내에 직배라는 개념이 처음 도입되던 시기였다... 직배...말그대로 해외에 본산지를 둔 기업이 국내에 지점을 설립하고 상품을 직접 배급한다는 개념이었다...... Read More
![Perfect Strangers](/thumb/album2/2005/10/1/1739.jpg)
▶ Perfect Strangers Review (1984)
![level 3](/img2/m2-3.gif)
Apr 3, 2024 Likes : 1
Growing up in the NWOBHM era and discovering that trend in the early 1980s, Deep Purple was nothing more than a name for me at the time, which sometimes appeared in the conversations of more experienced music listeners. However, I got the impression that the band was very important in the history of heavier rock, but their music was by no means familiar. And I have to admit tha...
Burn Review (1974)
![level 9](/img2/m2-9.gif)
Mar 16, 2021 Likes : 1
Album of the day #1089. Deep Purple - Burn. The eighth studio album was released in February 1974. With the amazing David Coverdale on vocals and Glenn Hughes on bass and lead vocals powerful! Number 1 in 4 countries, #9 in America sold 500,000 in the U.S.. Two singles from the album "Might Just Take Your Life” and "Burn". "Mistreated" Is one of Deep Purple's best songs ever.... Read More