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Unhealthy Firm – Desolation Angels
Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy
Loopy Circles
Gone, Gone, Gone
Evil Wind
Early within the Morning
Lonely for Your Love
Oh, Atlanta
Take the Time
Rhythm Machine
She Brings Me Love
Lifting its title from that of a Jack Kerouac novel by which the Beat Era creator documented his rising disenchantment with Buddhism, Unhealthy Firm’s fifth album discovered the blues-rock giants operating out of inspiration considerably, their muscular meat-and-veg strikes (which on the primary three albums had splendidly transcended their limitations) carried solely by Paul Rodgers’s voice, which was itself going by means of the motions.
A final-ditch try to not less than attempt to transfer the band’s music ahead a notch (even the band thought 1977’s Burning Sky wasn’t superb), the fabric was extra mature and fewer uncooked than earlier than.
The usage of a guitar-synth, giving a suggestion of freshness to opening salvo Rock’n’Roll Fantasy, is retrospectively hailed as radical, however general this seems like a band out of time, treading water in hobnail boots. They’d taken a “tax 12 months” out; punk had occurred. Gone Gone Gone has a sure rock-to-drive-to momentum, as does Evil Wind. Oh Atlanta has appeal by affiliation since Alison Krauss reinvented it in 1995. The ballads need to trace at plaintive gospel, however stall at plain-clothes Godspell. Burn-out had begun.
The album additionally contained their first hit single (within the US, however not the UK) for 3 years in Rock’n’Roll Fantasy. In consequence, the album took the band again into the US Prime 5 and the UK Prime 10.
Each week, Album of the Week Membership listens to and discusses the album in query, votes on how good it’s, and publishes our findings, with the goal of giving folks dependable evaluations and the broader rock group the prospect to contribute.
Different albums launched in March 1979
- Roxy Music – Manifesto
- Frank Zappa – Sheik Yerbouti
- Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Angel Station
- The Solely Ones – Even Serpents Shine
- Eddie and the Sizzling Rods – Thriller
- Chrome – Half Machine Lip Strikes
- Motörhead – Overkill
- The Seaside Boys – L.A.
- Van Halen – Van Halen II
- Ian Hunter – You are By no means Alone with a Schizophrenic
- Supertramp – Breakfast in America
- Triumph – Only a Recreation
- Journal – Secondhand Daylight
- Badfinger – Airwaves
- U.Ok. – Hazard Cash
- The Tubes – Distant Management
- Bachman–Turner Overdrive – Rock n’ Roll Nights
What they mentioned…
“By the point Unhealthy Firm launched Desolation Angels, it was evident that even Rodgers and Ralphs have been getting uninterested in their ’70s-styled, conveyor-belt model of rock & roll, so that they determined so as to add keyboards and a few minor string work to the majority of the tracks. Though this variation of musical surroundings was a slight breath of contemporary air, it wasn’t sufficient to offer Desolation Angels the much-added depth or distinction that was meant.” (AllMusic)
“That is supposedly a return to kind after Burning Sky, and it could be. I am going to simply say that if I would by no means mistake them for Free anymore, I would by no means mistake them for Foreigner both. I do not suppose. P.S. Are these syndrums on Evil Wind? Naughty, naughty.” (Robert Christgau)
“Unhealthy Firm’s small, sincere breakthrough does make them credible and even sympathetic at a time when both the post-boogie puffery of Foreigner, Styx, Kansas et al., or the austere aggressiveness of punk would appear to have rendered their second-generation onerous rock all however out of date. As an alternative, Unhealthy Firm has discovered salvation, inspiration and balls in utter desolation. (Rolling Stone)
What you mentioned…
Mike Canoe: Hmmm…I am not not a Unhealthy Firm fan however it’s been onerous to get enthusiastic about Desolation Angels. Except for radio mainstays, Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy and Gone, Gone, Gone, the one track that raises my pulse is the Paul Rodgers-penned Evil Wind. There’s an easygoing shuffle to the remainder of the album that is too easygoing for my ears. Except for the three songs I discussed above, nothing is as attention-grabbing because the story that is advised by the chic Hipgnosis album cowl.
Gary Claydon: I all the time discovered it troublesome to get enthusiastic about Unhealthy Firm. Not that I dislike them, it is simply that, compared to Free’s earthier and downright sexier blues rock, Unhealthy Firm have been all the time a bit too clean, a bit too polished, a bit too, nicely, 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦. Which just about sums up Desolation Angels. By no means been satisfied it was an precise return to kind, both however coming after the low level of Burning Sky it could not assist however appear that means.
No, Desolation Angels is what I would name ‘serviceable’. Mid-tempo, bluesy AOR that neither reaches any heights or plumbs any depths. Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy, Gone, Gone, Gone and Evil Wind are all respectable sufficient. Lyrically, it shares an air of melancholy with the novel that offers it its title however there’s a distinct feeling of sameness about all of it.
Backside line, I feel the band had run out of concepts by this level and the glory days of the primary three albums have been nicely behind them. Desolation Angels noticed some affordable chart motion within the UK however I strongly suspect this was all the way down to the prevailing, sizable (and constant) fan base. I would be amazed in the event that they have been selecting up any new followers on the time, particularly provided that the musical panorama had shifted in a means that, in 1979, made Unhealthy Firm one thing of an anachronism.
Adam Ranger: A well-produced album with nice enjoying and nice vocals (as an apart, outdoors of rock circles, I by no means actually felt Paul Rodgers obtained the kudos he deserved as one of many nice rock vocalists).
It is a strong album with some nice tracks, some nodding to Free together with my favorite, Oh Atlanta. There are some good riff-driven tunes resembling Gone Gone Gone and Earth Wind. Lonely For Your Love harks again to earlier albums with its shout-out refrain.
Nonetheless, a number of the tunes are maybe a bit bland resembling the only Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy. A strong album – probably the final constantly good Unhealthy Firm file – however it lacks the sting of these first three albums and does not actually have any memorable tracks. The album ends nicely with the choral crescendo of She Brings Me Love.
Greg Schwepe: Proper now on any Midwest U.S. FM traditional rock station, you’ll be able to in all probability hear one thing from this week’s choice; Unhealthy Firm’s Desolation Angels. And if not from that album, something from their different releases. And why is that? It’s as a result of Unhealthy Firm are the epitome and definition of “traditional rock.” Memorable songs, vibe, angle, swagger, and a band that appears to be a bunch of amicable guys. Plus, I don’t suppose I’ve ever heard of anybody saying “Man, I don’t like Unhealthy Firm and so they’re a bunch of jerks.” Of the drawerful of band t-shirts I personal, my Unhealthy Firm shirt will get essentially the most feedback out of another; “Wow… cool shirt, I like Unhealthy Firm!” Not kidding.
Which brings us to Desolation Angels. Whereas not their swan track on Swan Track, in hindsight, it gave the impression to be their final respectable album. Sandwiched between Burnin’ Sky and Tough Diamonds, that is the meat within the sandwich. Burnin’ Sky is perhaps an instance of a band on their means down, then Tough Diamonds is an instance of a band on their means out. These two albums will not be those a Unhealthy Firm fan would pull out to play first.
And so, you open Desolation Angels with sure, a traditional rock anthem in Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy. Once more, you’ve heard this on the radio 1,000,000 occasions and also you in all probability by no means tire of it, proper? Nice singable lyrics, nice temper; type of exemplifies every little thing we like about rock’n’roll.
Loopy Circles follows with an acoustic vibe, not in contrast to Seagull from their debut. Unhealthy Firm present they aren’t all muscular sing-along rock.
However the principle riff of Gone, Gone, Gone exhibits they are often muscular sing-along rock. Would possibly really be my favourite track on the album. Evil Wind follows and exhibits why Mick Ralphs is underrated as a guitar participant. Tons of memorable riffs and licks. I imply tons.
Over the entire album you have got the vocals of Paul Rodgers, arguably among the finest within the pantheon of rock vocalists. He can deliver it down a bit of (Early In The Morning), belt it out (Lonely For Your Love), or deliver that regular heat vibe (Oh, Atlanta). And let’s not overlook the strong drumming of Simon Kirke and bass of Boz Burrell, who additionally penned just a few tracks on this album.
For the common music fan who doesn’t personal each Unhealthy Firm album in existence, Desolation Angels might be the one they personal. This obtained huge radio airplay and type of introduced them again to the consciousness of the common music fan. It had a buzz on the time.
I first obtained to see Unhealthy Firm on this tour in September of 1979. A number of years in the past, I attended “Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp” (see? Even Unhealthy Firm and that track type of influenced this!) and one of many camp counsellors was none aside from Simon Kirke. Through the day, I used to be capable of get my image taken with him and have him autograph my copy of Desolation Angels.
The irony goes a bit of additional as all campers got an inventory of three songs to study for the “audition” a part of the day once they pair you with different campers so the camp counsellors may then “draft” their bands. One of many three songs was…sure, you guessed it… Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy and I obtained to carry out that with Simon Kirke and different counsellors sitting within the viewers (Evening Ranger’s Kelly Keagy took the vocals on that one!). 8 out of 10 for me on this one that may be a favorite for a lot of causes!
Philip Qvist: I feel you’ll be able to simply cut up the six albums from the traditional Unhealthy Firm lineup into two teams; primarily their first three information, which have been just about flawless, after which their last three, which had their fair proportion of flaws. That is to not say that they have been dangerous albums, even Tough Diamonds has its quite good moments, however all of them lack one thing that Unhealthy Firm or Straight Shooter dropped at the social gathering.
And that neatly brings us onto Desolation Angels. It begins off on a robust be aware with the guitar and synthesizer-driven, Paul Rodgers-penned Rock ‘n’ Fantasy, it carries on with Loopy Circles, earlier than we get to the quite good, if considerably uncommon, Boz Burrell composition Gone, Gone, Gone, with Evil Wind and Early In The Morning ending off a greater than respectable Facet One.
Nonetheless, the momentum begins slipping on Facet Two, with Mick Ralphs’ Oh, Atlanta being the one actual spotlight – full with robust harmonica enjoying from, I assume, Paul Rodgers. Though there are not any stinkers on this aspect, the songs lack one thing to make them stand out.
By all accounts on the time, the fixed grind of recording and touring was attending to Unhealthy Co and it exhibits right here. As I hinted firstly, this isn’t a foul file – however it’s nowhere close to pretty much as good as their first three albums, far much less Free classics like Hearth And Water or Heartbreaker. It is a respectable 7 from me this week.
John Davidson: I purchased this on launch and favored it nicely sufficient on the time, however aside from Rock ‘n’ roll Fantasy it isn’t an album that has caught in my reminiscence.
It will be harsh to name this company rock, however it’s positively verging on dad rock – there’s not a touch of hazard, edge or journey in both the enjoying or the manufacturing. As an alternative, it is well-crafted, professionally performed blues-rock.
Facet one options the higher songs. The primary 4 have a groove to them that invitations the listener to sing alongside. Early In The Morning indicators a change of tempo to balladry – It is a good track with some nice guitar work and together with nearer She Brings Me Love appears to search out an emotional connection.
Facet Two follows the identical template as aspect one. The songs are solely so-so – although and listening to Rhythm Machine is like remembering your 16-year-old self watch your mother and father dance at a marriage.
Keith Jenkin: Strong album with loads of selection that sounds significantly better away from the extra energetic UK traits of the time it was launched, like New Wave and the resurgence of Heavy Steel. As others have mentioned, the band have been already in all probability by no means going to high the primary three albums, however whereas America embraced this one on the again of opener Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy“, within the UK it was missed and bought fairly poorly. Quick ahead 45 years, and listeners on the lookout for assortment filler may do far worse than testing or revisiting this very pleasurable traditional rock file.
Ultimate rating: 7.22 (50 votes solid, complete rating 361)
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