Post by cammythemortonfan on Sept 5, 2020 10:24:05 GMT
Remarkably, a whole year has passed since the release of Backbone.
It seems so long ago in some ways, in others it’s flown by. That’s what I call the paradox of time.
I thought it would be interesting to look back at my initial views to see if I still feel the same.
And I find that my initial impression is still the take I have on it now, albeit perhaps I was harsh on Running Out of Time . It still doesn’t float my boat and I feel it ends the album on a bit of a dampener.
Plus, I find it frustrating that Face the Music wasn’t on the album proper and still isn’t available on iTunes .
Here is the review :
rall very enjoyable for me but not as good as Heavy Traffic as I don’t feel it has the same impact or the same amount of belting songs.
There’s only two songs out of the 13 I don’t like ( or one out of the 11 on the album proper) so for me that’s a very good return. I had nowhere near that on Thirsty Work for example.
Anyway, here are the votes from the Campbell Jury:
1. Waiting For a Woman: 8.5/10. I loved this from the first time I heard it on getreadytorock.com ahead of the album release. It’s laid back with a great groove and riffs.....there’s something Canned Heatish about the lead break for me. A track i’d describe as nifty .
2. Cut Me Some Slack 9/10. I’ve heard this in concert and it pounds along live- I love it. I like that bluesy riff rock that Quo sometimes do .
Since 1999, Rhino has co written some top songs with both Rick and Francis. Can’t See for Looking is perhaps the only song he is credited with that I’m not keen on.
I’m really glad the track ends as it does live and the riff is given a full workout, bashing into your head. The only thing I’d question is Francis’ vocal sound on this one. But I’m nit picking there.
3. Liberty Lane 8.5/10 . I love the chorus on this and the way the vocals sound on the chorus. Again, Rhino and Francis work well together ( albeit not at the same time in the same room).
4. I See You’re In Some Trouble 8/10.This has the potential to be annoying .....but I love it!!
The acoustic start works because when they all crash in the song really gathers momentum . I like the way the song doesn’t let up and I like the drum sound on this one . I keep going back to it and can’t help myself singing along.
5. Backing Off 7/10 . This is a strange one on that I don’t love it but I can happily listen to it. I have a feeling that had it been on Perfect Remedy, I’d have hated it. What saves it is that there are little bits which just lift it and add interest ....I like the intro and the outro and the “whenever you come near “ parts are melodic. The chorus is made more powerful by the instrumentation after each line. It’s an interesting track as opposed to one I instantly love like CMSS.
6. I Wanna Run Away With You 6.5/10. Bog standard Quo....Rossi’s vocals are well down in the mix....I like it but it’s not spectacular. Not bad either.
7. Backbone 7.5 . This is something different and think it works well on this album . I can’t help singing along to it- especially the bit in the middle where I try and do all bits at the same time !!!! Overall I like it .
8. Better Take Care 8.5/10. Love the groove, the guitars and the singalong chorus.
9. Falling Off the World 8.5/10. This could have been really bland.....but actually I love it as although on the surface it’s deceptively simple, there are lots of different elements to give it a lift. I love the verses, I love the spacey bridge , the instrumental bit into the lead break and shuffle is really good. My only criticism is that the end instrumental could have gone on for a few bars more as that bit is really good .
10. Get Out of My Head. 8/10. This means business .... rocks along really nicely and good to hear Richie singing. A welcome addition to the album .
11. Out of Time 2/10. Bland , boring, it’s this album’s Money Don’t Matter. I just can’t get into this at all.
12. Crazy Crazy. 1/10. Awful. This should have been kept for Francis’ country album . People are comparing it to Burning Bridges . I love Burning Bridges but this is more akin to All Around My Hat for me, which I’m also not keen on. Hate Rossi’s opening vocal ....dear oh dear.
13. Face the Music. 9.5. Oh my god, yes!!!!! Richie Malone, take a bow. As you may have read on my topic about this, I love this song. The opening riff is catchy, the guitars are crunchy, it’s strong melodically , the chorus stays in your head, it’s a great lead break...it’s magic, this track. The only thing that stops it being a ten for me is that at the end , the riff could have gone on for a few more bars as it’s very hooky...it ends too soon. This track is totally wasted as a bonus...it’s radio friendly and should have been part of the first eleven.
Overall then a solid album for me. Apart from two tracks there’s nothing I dislike , with a couple of absolute highlights .
One footnote...Rhino and Andy had a song called Never too Old( to rock and roll). Looks like Francis didn’t like it as it didn’t make it but this would have been a welcome addition to the album as it’s a shuffle and live it would have worked really well as there’s a call and response which even if you are hearing the song for the first time you pick up on it really easily.
Hopefully it will make the next album .
It seems so long ago in some ways, in others it’s flown by. That’s what I call the paradox of time.
I thought it would be interesting to look back at my initial views to see if I still feel the same.
And I find that my initial impression is still the take I have on it now, albeit perhaps I was harsh on Running Out of Time . It still doesn’t float my boat and I feel it ends the album on a bit of a dampener.
Plus, I find it frustrating that Face the Music wasn’t on the album proper and still isn’t available on iTunes .
Here is the review :
rall very enjoyable for me but not as good as Heavy Traffic as I don’t feel it has the same impact or the same amount of belting songs.
There’s only two songs out of the 13 I don’t like ( or one out of the 11 on the album proper) so for me that’s a very good return. I had nowhere near that on Thirsty Work for example.
Anyway, here are the votes from the Campbell Jury:
1. Waiting For a Woman: 8.5/10. I loved this from the first time I heard it on getreadytorock.com ahead of the album release. It’s laid back with a great groove and riffs.....there’s something Canned Heatish about the lead break for me. A track i’d describe as nifty .
2. Cut Me Some Slack 9/10. I’ve heard this in concert and it pounds along live- I love it. I like that bluesy riff rock that Quo sometimes do .
Since 1999, Rhino has co written some top songs with both Rick and Francis. Can’t See for Looking is perhaps the only song he is credited with that I’m not keen on.
I’m really glad the track ends as it does live and the riff is given a full workout, bashing into your head. The only thing I’d question is Francis’ vocal sound on this one. But I’m nit picking there.
3. Liberty Lane 8.5/10 . I love the chorus on this and the way the vocals sound on the chorus. Again, Rhino and Francis work well together ( albeit not at the same time in the same room).
4. I See You’re In Some Trouble 8/10.This has the potential to be annoying .....but I love it!!
The acoustic start works because when they all crash in the song really gathers momentum . I like the way the song doesn’t let up and I like the drum sound on this one . I keep going back to it and can’t help myself singing along.
5. Backing Off 7/10 . This is a strange one on that I don’t love it but I can happily listen to it. I have a feeling that had it been on Perfect Remedy, I’d have hated it. What saves it is that there are little bits which just lift it and add interest ....I like the intro and the outro and the “whenever you come near “ parts are melodic. The chorus is made more powerful by the instrumentation after each line. It’s an interesting track as opposed to one I instantly love like CMSS.
6. I Wanna Run Away With You 6.5/10. Bog standard Quo....Rossi’s vocals are well down in the mix....I like it but it’s not spectacular. Not bad either.
7. Backbone 7.5 . This is something different and think it works well on this album . I can’t help singing along to it- especially the bit in the middle where I try and do all bits at the same time !!!! Overall I like it .
8. Better Take Care 8.5/10. Love the groove, the guitars and the singalong chorus.
9. Falling Off the World 8.5/10. This could have been really bland.....but actually I love it as although on the surface it’s deceptively simple, there are lots of different elements to give it a lift. I love the verses, I love the spacey bridge , the instrumental bit into the lead break and shuffle is really good. My only criticism is that the end instrumental could have gone on for a few bars more as that bit is really good .
10. Get Out of My Head. 8/10. This means business .... rocks along really nicely and good to hear Richie singing. A welcome addition to the album .
11. Out of Time 2/10. Bland , boring, it’s this album’s Money Don’t Matter. I just can’t get into this at all.
12. Crazy Crazy. 1/10. Awful. This should have been kept for Francis’ country album . People are comparing it to Burning Bridges . I love Burning Bridges but this is more akin to All Around My Hat for me, which I’m also not keen on. Hate Rossi’s opening vocal ....dear oh dear.
13. Face the Music. 9.5. Oh my god, yes!!!!! Richie Malone, take a bow. As you may have read on my topic about this, I love this song. The opening riff is catchy, the guitars are crunchy, it’s strong melodically , the chorus stays in your head, it’s a great lead break...it’s magic, this track. The only thing that stops it being a ten for me is that at the end , the riff could have gone on for a few more bars as it’s very hooky...it ends too soon. This track is totally wasted as a bonus...it’s radio friendly and should have been part of the first eleven.
Overall then a solid album for me. Apart from two tracks there’s nothing I dislike , with a couple of absolute highlights .
One footnote...Rhino and Andy had a song called Never too Old( to rock and roll). Looks like Francis didn’t like it as it didn’t make it but this would have been a welcome addition to the album as it’s a shuffle and live it would have worked really well as there’s a call and response which even if you are hearing the song for the first time you pick up on it really easily.
Hopefully it will make the next album .
)
