Search - Ian Gillan :: 30 Massive Rock Tracks

An inexpensive hodgepodge

Worgelm | United States | 08/16/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"(2.5 stars) This generous budget-line collection, nearly 140 minutes of Gillan here over two discs, throws together selections few of the lesser-known elements in Gillan's catalog. The first four tracks are from the _Cherkazoo and Other Stories_ rarity compilation, and quite frankly, regardless of their individual merits, these innocent psych-pop songs sound far out of step with the rest of the sounds on this collection. The rest of the disc is comprised of cuts from _Clear Air Turbulence_ and _Scarabus_ recorded with the Ian Gillan Band. The vicious, frenetic "Money Lender", and an excellent jammy live cut "My Baby Loves Me" are the strongest cuts, and while these albums - which flirt heavily with prog, funk and fusion - are not regarded by critics as representative of Gillan's best work, they are generally hard rockin' and are the most satisfactory tracks on the record.



Most of disc 2 consists songs from _Accidentally on Purpose_ (1988), credited to Ian Gillan/Roger Glover, and _Naked Thunder_ (1990). These keyboard-heavy songs are not typical refined hair metal, but are slick, teeming with prototypical late-80's production and a variety of electronic textures, and sound very dated. "No Cane on the Brazos" is an interesting, atmospheric, lengthy cut worth looking at from these sessions. The final tracks from _Toolbox_ (1991) are stronger and sound very much like the back-to-basics hard rock Gillan is more well-known for, and while they don't really reach out from the time when they were recorded, they are the strongest group of songs on this disc.



In summary Ian Gillan's solo work is probably better regarded in his late 70s/early 80's work released under "Gillan", such as _Mr Universe_, _Glory Road_ and _Future Shock_. I know the low price is tempting, and you do get a lot of music, but unless you are a Gillan fan and want a taste of these albums not in your collection, I would look elsewhere for a representative sample of the man's work."