Five years after making one of their best efforts in over a decade with 2013's Now What!?, the Purple ones returned to the studio in hopes to add another impressive chapter to their already legendary catalog. The result of their efforts is InFinite.
Despite its seemingly politically-charged opener and brilliantly epic Time for Bedlam (which is somewhat reminiscent of The Spanish Archer), InFinite is actually a fairly carefree rock album. Perhaps there's no more appropriate proof of that than their cover of The Doors classic Roadhouse Blues. The cover seemed to be suggested by their producer Bob Ezrin. He told them to go in and just play a song they liked and they settled on that one. It makes for a strange inclusion on the album since they haven't put covers on their album since their early days, but it is by no means a bad one. I liked their cover. Although I can't help but wonder what kind of fire they'd put into this song if they had done it back in the day.
Johnny's Band (and its humorous music video) is about a rock band that once hit it big and then fell down in epic fashion. Although, the music video is certainly a reference to the Purple ones and their history, I felt more as if the song itself was a reference to one hit wonders... which Purple most certainly are not. I do think the song is a bit of fun poked at the fact that people sometimes claim they are one when they mention Smoke on the Water as their only "hit" and they were finished after they had it. Still, the song is fun and something to not take too seriously regardless.
All I Got Is You is probably my favorite song from this release. It's some of Gillan's best vocals on the album (next to The Surprising) and the band really does kill it with the musical breaks between verses. And I personally think the lyrics are beautifully vicious. Hip Boots and On Top of the World are a bit silly
When I finished listening to this album I was really glad that Deep Purple had managed to release another stellar album, but I admit that this one didn't quite have the same punch as Now What!?. Part of that could be because the emotions felt by Jon Lord's passing made Now What!? a bit special. It was a glorious tribute album to him and songs like Above and Beyond and Uncommon Man were just so damn beautiful. InFinite doesn't quite reach that level, but I don't think we should expect it to. I also don't think anyone should expect this to be Fireball Part II or Machine Head Part II. If you are still waiting for that you'll be waiting a long time yet.
This is Deep Purple for the modern day and they are still kicking ass and they do it quite well.
Time for Bedlam 4:35
Hip Boots 3:23
All I Got Is You 4:42
One Night in Vegas 3:23
Get Me Outta Here 3:58
The Surprising 5:57
Johnny's Band 3:51
On Top of the World 4:01
Birds of Prey 5:47
Roadhouse Blues 6:00
Line-up: Ian Gillan, Steve Morse, Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Don Airey
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