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Non-Prog CD Reviews

UFO

The Best of a Decade

Review by Gary Hill

Here’s a compilation of tracks from the more recent UFO albums. It’s a combination of newer studio pieces and live classics. It all has a definite UFO sound and it’s a great disc. It would be an excellent way for people who have followed their most recent stuff to catch up.


This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2010  Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
The Wild One

This smoking hot rocker reminds me of something from 1980’s UFO. It’s got a bit of a Bad Company vibe, too, but is really very much in keeping with a fairly classic UFO sound. There’s a cool drop back to acoustic modes later.

Hard Being Me
A bluesy rocker, there’s a killer groove to this one.
Lights Out
Here’s a smoking hot live rendition of an old UFO classic tune.
Saving Me
A killer intricate acoustic motif leads this off and the vocals come in with a balladic style. It’s very bluesy and retro rock in texture. They fire out into a real bluesy stomper after a while. We get a killer acoustic blues slide guitar section later.
Daylight Goes To Town
Here’s another straight ahead and fairly typical UFO rocker. It’s a great tune.
Let It Roll
We get another live rendition of a classic old UFO cut.
This Kids
Here we get another live tune. It’s a smoking, metallic rocker. They drop it back for a talk box, harmonica and piano based section that’s very bluesy.
Heavenly Body
This is really a metal cut. It reminds me a bit of 1990’s Black Sabbath.
Helldriver
Based on a killer riff, this is a straightforward rocker that has quite a bit of metal in the mix.


Too Hot To Handle
Somehow, this live rendition doesn’t seem to work as well for me as some of the others did. That said, it’s got a smoking hot guitar solo section.
Mr. Freeze
There’s something about the character and musical texture on this one that just makes it stand up above the rest to my ear. It’s got a classic UFO sound and some seriously dramatic elements built into it. I love this cut.
Shoot Shoot
Here’s a real fiery rocker. It’s classic UFO.  It’s another live one.
Black And Blue
Another studio piece, this one has a pretty classic UFO feeling to it. It’s a good cut, but not really a stand out by any means.
Can't Buy A Thrill
Here’s another with a killer sound and texture to it. I like it a lot. It occupies territory between ballad and rocker. The later sections of the tune are particularly tasty. It even turns a bit towards progressive rock, but vintage UFO had that sort of leaning at times.
Baby Blue
Speaking of progressive rock, the acoustic guitar based motif that makes up the early parts of this really makes me think of Steve Howe. The music continues with pretty over-elements added. The vocals come in over this balladic motif. It’s a great piece of music. 
Doctor Doctor
We get one more live classic added into the set. This is another of those songs with some serious prog rock, particularly on the keyboard based introduction.
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