Agreed that these early albums are not good, but they present another facet of the band other than that AOR-ish hard rock... But then again, anything that came after is not either...
I'd almost vote the band as a top contender for the thread "music that doesn't live up to the album's artwork" .... They really didn't deserve those Hypgnosis artworks
UFO is a band best forgotten ... or at least best ignored
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
RE: Early UFO
I don't care for the first album all that much, the songwriting is far too weak. However, on the second album, Flying, they almost completely abandon song writing for long, languid, guitar-led jams. I enjoy it quite a bit. It's super stony. You can practically smell the bong water. But I guess its not for everyone. There isn't a lot of flash or virtuosity going on, but it has the right feel and heart as far as I'm concerned. It's certainly not for anyone looking for the powerhouse UFO became with Schenker.
Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world.
To each his own, I guess... I can name dozens of 70's bands (hard-rock or others) that will tickle my fancy much more than these guys do... They're one of the most over-rated bands in he 704s... Best proof I can think of is Classic Rock mag's onsession with these guys, along with GnR and Aerosmith... or Journey
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
I understand why people would make this post: UFO had an OK vocalist and OK songs...nothing they did musically was ever a stand out. I mentioned the albums I (personally) like and the period I like but I still don't think they were a great band: they were a good band, but not great ---- They were short an awesome vocalist and a few choice awesome memorable songs........ but it is important to remember (as opposed to being forgotten )that UFO, along with Sweet and a few others, were the reasons why the NWOBHM existed to begin with: bands like Def Leppard would have never happened had it not been for the existence of certain bands that include UFO...UFO was one of the first arena-rock bands to break the "blues-rock" mold: not a lot of pentatonics in the songwriting here and, compared to other Rock bands of the 70s, this is a very unusual and different step.....Musicians like Uli Jon Roth (who did not play for UFO), early Judas Priest, and Michael Schenker (who did play for UFO) were musicians (Roth and Schenker in particular) that were at the forefront of breaking away from the blues pentatonics Rock approach in favor of the diatonic approach in both soloing and songwriting, including borrowed ideas from classical....and this is why they should be remembered
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
Well, I'll offer the overall dissenting opinion that, for a bunch of old guys, they are just as bad-ass as ever. Here's some stuff from their latest album:
One of the most consistent bands of the late '70s/early '80s. There's a reason so many bands of that era list UFO as a major influence. Great vocals, memorable, ass kicking songs, a thumping rhythm section, and sizzling lead guitar work. Honestly, I don't get the indifference to this band from some here, but I grew up with this band so I guess they are just special to me that way. Deserved far more success than they got in my view.
Another thumbs up here for UFO right up to their last couple of albums, The Visitor in particular
The first career spanning biog of the band is released in the next month or so by rock journalist Neil Daniels
http://www.amazon.com/High-Stakes-Da.../dp/0957144261
Honestly, I'd just start with the pilot episode and go in order. There was only one season. This will get you going...
I think the reference is to the approx 95BPM groove with the bass holding down a driving single note bassline while the guitar plays a power chord riff against it - popular in the 80s but kinda new in the 70s ... I understand the analogy but, while some early Whitesnake compositions did this, they certainly weren't the only band doing that at the time
I was only speaking of that new 2012 album.... not the rest
never implied anything of the sort
and it's more than the bass anf guitar... I even find the singiing very Coverdalian... Mogg (if it's still him) doesn't sound much like his own self of the later 70's (which is my UFO reference) >>> and BTW, I don't say this as really derogatory towards UFO... I liked 70's Whitesnake and still do
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
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