Deep Purple - Machine Head Review

Deep Purple Machine Head

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Tracklist:
1. Highway Star
2. Maybe I'm A Leo
3. Pictures of Home
4. Never Before
5. Smoke On The Water
6. Lazy
7. Space Truckin'

Ranking: #6 for 1972

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4.3
superb

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other reviews

sunsinger (4.5)
...

Charles Montgomery Burns (4.5)
Sure, it has Smoke on the Water, but Deep Purple's sixth carries much, much more than just that....

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On 19 Lists

4.5
superb

Neoteric EMERITUS (104 Reviews)

2006-06-30 | 9 comments | 1,258 views

Deep Purple are a real rock and roll band and coming from the early 70s, they were one of a kind. But looking back, people aren’t going to care about the other songs on the album, the only ones they would know about is Smoke on the Water, even seven year olds know the riff to that song just because Jack Black played it in school of rock. It is grossly overrated, mind you, it is a good song on its own, but it’s just that every one overrates it. That song is Deep Purples’ Smells like Teen Spirit, with casual listeners only listening to that song and not delving deeper as the album Machine Head does have better songs on it.

For instance, Highway Star is a kicking tune, a great rock song with old school lyrics like, “ain’t nobody going to take my car, and drive it to the ground!", it’s a great song and shows some of Ritchie Blackmore’s best parts. It’s easy to say that Ritchie Blackmore is one of the most influential guitarists of the 70s (not just with this band but also his work with Rainbow and Dio I think). He has some great rocking riffs and old blues solos (which to be honest is where most solos these days come from). Ian Gillan is a good vocalist and has a low, rusty voice. It fits with the band’s sound perfectly. Roger is an underrated bassist; he has some really good lines in the songs which go under appreciated in a lot of songs. The drummer is quite special, not for fast fills and such but for his simple beats that drive the songs to the end.

Pictures of Home is a sweet song, with an almost country riff and some of Ian’s greatest vocals. Ritchie’s guitar parts are brilliant and always show some rocking riffs. Smoke on the Water is a classic to the casual listener. It is a good song and the main riff has inspired millions of young guitarists. The thing is that everyone plays the riff wrong; it is finger-picked, not strummed people! The verses are a bit stale for me but the chorus brings it up a notch, it is ultimately catchy. The solo is a very bluesy piece (which again is where a lot of these solos are driven from). The solo really fits the song and the keyboards (at least I think that’s what it is) add a texture to the song. Maybe I’m A Leo could be taken from a Led Zeppelin album, the groove is so similar by what Robert Plant and company do. That it would be so simple to point out. This is amazing classic rock and sadly was buried by all the other bands out at the time. This is still held as a classic though and shows great musicianship and some great rock songs. I recommend this to anyone into 70s rock and those who are Ritchie Blackmore fans. This isn’t absolutely life-changing but it still is a great record none the less.

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