Unique & Underrated – 83%
Sabbath1776, December 24th, 2009
Stormbringer is no doubt the most interesting Deep Purple album ever put out, it has a weird mixture of funk, soul, and blues. Stormbringer has got to be the most unique Deep Purple album. It’s unique because of the combination of the different genres, and because if somebody heard this album, but didn’t know what band it was, Deep Purple would most likely be the last band they would think of when quizzed about it.
When people think of Deep Purple, this is definitely the last album they would imagine to be apart of the Purple discography. Every band has that one album where it sounds nothing like something the band would normally produce. Stormbringer is definitely that album for Purple. It’s a shame that most people, when a band experiments with a new style/sound, automatically disown it and refuse to acknowledge it as an album from whatever band. Albums like Stormbringer, obscure part of Purple’s discography, deserved to be acknowledged and listened to, because it shows a different side of Purple that really shows that Blackmore is a versatile guitarist.
The first time I heard this album, I was immediately turned off by the intro keyboards on the title track. It was just too weird and funky for me to appreciate. After listening to the album several times after that, I realized it’s a great album with some masterful song writing that perfectly combines the elements of funk, soul, blues, and rock.
The title track, is the strongest song on the album. It has a catchy riff, great melodies and great song structure. The solo is melodic and it really fits with the song wonderfully.
I wouldn’t really say that there’s a really weak track on this album. Every track is different as it jumps around with different elements of the genres already mentioned in this interview, being the forefront for each different track. The track ‘Hold On’ sounds like it would be something from some old school motown band. ‘You Can’t Do It Right’ is definitely the funkiest song on the album, the bass really stands in the forefront and has a real funk bass lines. ‘Soldier Of Fortune’ is definitely one of the best ballads ever and it’s a great way to close the album. Most bands put ballads in the middle of an album, which sort of ruin the flow of it if the rest of the album isn’t ballad-like, but ending the album with a ballad, is a good way to close an album.
Stormbringer is a very interesting, unique, and truly underrated masterpiece from a line-up that doesn’t seem to get enough love like it deserves. Both Burn and Stormbringer are amazing albums.
This album definitely is for a more established Purple fan, rather than someone just getting into it, because they could very easily be turned off by it. It doesn’t have the heaviness that traditional Purple albums have. Stormbringer is a great album to just relax and get stoned while listening. Stormbringer is the perfect stoner album.
rafazardly 