Album Rating: 3.5

"plus Moore's larger than life tone"



I remember reading an interview where Gary was asked about the secret behind his masculine tone. His answer was that he used the same fat tone he applied on his Hard Rock days, because he wanted to keep that Rock n Roll intensity.

Great review, enjoyed reading it a lot. Pos.

A couple of points I'd like to add something to:

"Those who have heard Gary know that the Irish was a guitar shredder. The albums he recorded in the 80’s showcased a musician obsessed with the musical trends of that era. And even if the Blues element was always there, the distinguishing feature of his guitar playing was hyperbolic speed and fluffy aggression."

I don't fully agree with what you're saying here. Many of his best moments from his hard rock era showed his appreciation of playing fewer notes and putting an emphasis on feeling and emotion. Apart from Corridors of Power and Victims of the Future (and the live album We Want Moore) he only really "shredded" on a few occasions. He could shred with the very best of them but he still more often than not favoured a more melodic approach.

"He formed a short-lived band before recording his first solo album in the 80’s."

Technically Back on the Streets (1978) was his first solo album but Corridors of Power was the album where he really took off as a solo artist.

What Twort said

Album Rating: 3.5

"Apart from Corridors of Power and Victims of the Future (and the live album We Want Moore) he only really "shredded" on a few occasions."



Of course he did. Dirty Fingers anyone ?



"he still more often than not favored a more melodic approach"



Gary didn't accidentally discover his melodic side on the 90's, that's for sure. But to me, Still Got the Blues was the album that he really started pursuing a slower approach. He recorded The Messiah on After the War album (one of my favorite GM guitar solos), but I have no memory of him trying to slow down on his other albums. That being said, I still haven't heard Run for Cover and Corridors in its entirety, so I might be mistaken.



And one more thing. I used the word "shredding" and "shredder" to overemphasize the difference I see in his playing. Gary wasn't the type of shredder like let's say, Yngwie Malmsteen, but still, he was playing very fast especially in his first solo albums. Everything changed, however, after that meeting with Albert King.

Great review here, always good to see Gary getting a review. I have no shame in saying I cried when I found out he'd died.

""Dirty Fingers" anyone ?"

My bad, I should have said Dirty Fingers instead of Corridors of Power as the latter only has two tracks in which he shreds.

Moore laid down the blueprint of his signature sound with Parisienne Walkways in 1979 and songs like Still Got the Blues are simply a variation of that sound but in a bluesier style. His 80's material has more occasions that find him utilising his trademark melodic style (albeit in a hard rock setting) than it does him shredding. Even in some of his heavier songs like Military Man it's all about his less is more approach, particularly that middle section.

There were certainly occasions in the early 80's where he showed his shredding prowess but I don't think speed was ever a huge factor in his playing even if there were a handful of songs where he did go all out (End of the World, Murder in the Skies, Dirty Fingers etc.).

Albert King may well have encouraged him to ditch his faster/hard rock playing altogether and go back to his roots so that part of this review it's certainly a valid point, I'm not denying that.

Album Rating: 3.5

"I have no shame in saying I cried when I found out he'd died."



That's ok man, there is no shame in mourning a person you feel connected to. I too felt emotional when I was writing the last lines of this review.





Well said Jamie.

Album Rating: 3.5

I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know is incredible.

Album Rating: 3.5

In terms of feeling, and playing mood, I don't think anyone can top that ballad. Incredible cover.

Album Rating: 3.5

10 years without Gary. May he rest in peace.

Album Rating: 3.5

Had much more to give.

Album Rating: 3.5

Definitely