Another SITKOR review: I do like it, honest!!!

That seems fair Top Cat. Okay, I know I said I wouldn’t, but I started typing about what I thought and it turned into a virtual review. So I filled it out and thought I’d post it anyway. Send your postcard to the usual address marked “Hypocrite�.....

SITKOR starts off with:

“In My Blood�, opening with an organ intro and Glenn singing loosely over it. It then kicks in big time with a rumbling bassline and driving riff and Glenn switches to rock mode. Damn he’s sounding good on this one already. The full arsenal of Hughes power notes is on display, before you are whisked to

“Lost In the Zone�. Glenn sings low and the track bounces along to the chorus when Glenn does his mellow-up-to-power trick with his voice (or “whisper to a scream� as Coverdale calls it, putting it much more eloquently than me). I can’t comment about the 16th Century Greensleeves comparison because it’s probably been a decade since I heard that track. It sounds like a GH track to me. We move to

“Gasoline� which is one of my personal favourites. Cracking riff, awesome rock vocal from Glenn, screams, shrieks and all, a real Mark Three feel. Alex Ligertwood shines on this with his backing singing. My dad thought the riff was like “Cold Sweat� by Thin Lizzy. I suppose it is a bit, but the riff doesn’t make up the bulk of this song like “Cold Sweat�. Quality Blackmore-esque solo from JJ (I presume). We are then taken to

“Higher Places�. The Zeppelin feel is obvious and deliberate. Glenn sings marvellously over the pounding drum beat and the song revolves around a mellow chorus. Unbeknown to you, you haven’t heard the last of this as you flick to

“Get You Stoned�. Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers takes over drumming duties for this one. I don’t much care for the Peppers, but he does a fine job on this. The funk influence is clear here and Glenn alters his voice accordingly (God I wish I could do that.......). The chorus is a cheeky one that creeps up on you and you find yourself humming it without thinking about it. It always sounds like this song belonged to TWII, but maybe that’s just me. The next song is

“Written All Over Your Face� which just meanders it’s way beautifully to Glenn’s vocal which is delivered in a similar vein to some of the Alchemist. Glenn really is using everything he’s got on this CD. It’s a lovely song but stretches out too long for my taste. The idea was to write an epic track but I feel it digresses too much before finding it’s way back to the chorus to finish up. After these more mellow tracks we get

“Standing On The Rock� which hammers out of the speakers at blistering pace. I can’t think of any Glenn solo song that flies along at this pace off the top of my head. Glenn sings with a twang before unleashing the Voice Of Rock. Sheer quality. After this relentless assault we are offered

“Courageous�. Here we have a real wild card. It’s nothing like anything else on the album, but it is simply STUNNING. It just unfolds from a neat little guitar part and a gentle vocal from Glenn, before the bassline picks up the riff and moves things along. It picks up again before hitting you with a multi layered Glenn chorus (unless that’s Alex bulking it out). It a Hughes gem, no question. It has single potential too, but lets dwell in the realms of fantasy (quality songs and musicians have no place in the singles chart). This is what CD repeat buttons were invented for! Next up is

“Change�. The awesome Billy Sheehan picks up the bass for this but it’s not particularly noticeable. I think this is the weakest cut on the CD, but it’s by no means a duff tune. I think following “Courageous� did it no favours. It’s uptempo but the chorus just doesn’t click for me. No matter, as

“The Truth� comes on. We slow down for what could almost be a power ballad, but I feel that term just brings to mind hairspray bubblegum US rock bands trying for a hit. This is a mature piece of songwriting and grows on you with every play. Again, Glenn’s built in sensor for how to deliver the perfect vocal is working just fine. Deceptively catchy. Finally the CD comes to

“Wherever You Go�. There is a feel of “You Fool No One� especially on the vocal. Because of that you automatically like it (providing you like YFNO of course!) It’s still original enough to be a Glenn song in it’s own right however. Just as it grinds to a halt Glenn springs a surprise (but I think everybody knows about it by now) and there ‘s a minutes worth of “Higher Places� as a reprise.....just organ and Glenn singing pretty much as only Glenn can. Class.

So that’s it. On the whole, I find it gets better with every listen and I hope it to challenge “Feel�, “TWII� and “Addiction� as my favourite solo CD’s. Glenn done good!

JG

"How can you lose, when you're destined to be a winner?"

ps I make no apologies for my length.

Of review that is......

Thanks! I think the reason I embraced this was because I clicked with it better than I did with Building The Machine, TC. BTM is good, but I kind of tune out after "When You Fall" and the last bit of the album doesn't keep my attention.

I knew HTP would be good (I'd been dreaming of this pairing for years) because I knew how undervalued JLT was. Many people on this board had no knowledge of the post "Slaves And Masters" work he'd done, and I think he surprised a few people with how rocky he can get, so there was never any doubt I'd love HTP.

BTM was hyped and I think my expectations were too high. The hype for SITKOR was backed up by a belting Melodic Rock review and some soundbytes that immediately made me play them again and again until I was singing along, namely ""Courageous", "Gasoline" and "Standing On The Rock". When I played SITKOR I was already joining in with these tunes and it felt like I'd had the album ages.

Just my feelings anyway. It's meant to be a rock album, but the funk is still there if you look for it. ROCK is Glenn's best selling solo CD, and in my view, the weakest. It sounds like Glenn obligated to make a rock album. This sounds like Glenn WANTS to make a rock album on the back of the success and fun he's had with HTP. It suits me!

JG

"How can you lose, when you're destined to be a winner?"

Thanks to all for the reviews. This is the longest I've had to wait for a new Hughes release since "Feel". I have both the Japanese and Euro releases preordered- but niether (Jap) has showed up at my door yet! Anxiously waiting...

Mark

I always thought the motto 'why make it easy when you can make it difficult' only applied to working in the NHS but of course it now extends to music!

I've attempted to buy SITKOR at WHSmith, can you believe the only local record store, only to be told it's on Cargo and they 'don't use them, but I can leave a small deposit and we'll try and order it' - which basically means if they can, I've to wait a further eight days

I do have a paypal account, but only ever used it on ghpg.net so can someone enlighten me as to how such a mere mortal as myself can actually buy it, before I scream with frustration? Talk about being left out in the cold!

Many thanks for that, TC. My brother's put down a deposit and attempting to order it for me - he'll know by Saturday. No HMV here any more which is a serious bummer. Will order it from the site you mentioned, if all else fails (had a quick look - off topic quickly - noticed St Anger - anyone got it? Tight, very tight) Or I could just wait another TWO WEEKS when I go to Manchester ... The version I'd really like is the one titled Songs In The Key Of Rock!!! Any!!



You got an email address, TC?

Well having had SITKOR for a coulple of weeks now my review is summed up in one word.....


BRILLIANT

It was well worth the wait.

Cheers...

Pete S.

A friend has just sent me this address - he's reviewed and rated SITKOR.

http://www.rateyourmusic.com

Just thought one or two of you might like to check it out

omggggggg i want canon rock tabs can someone give me them?

SITKOR is probably my favourite album by Glenn, alongside BTM. It has brilliant playing on it, extraordinary songs (that keep on spinning in your head long aftewards) with good structures and good hooks, a real 70's Glenn kind of feel. As Glenn said back then "I surrounded myself with 70s stuff to get into that vibe, that feel again". It worked and very much so

I often find it rather sad that none of the songs are on current setlists anymore, as they are really top notch.

"In my blood" would still be a brilliant opener. "Higher Places" has that "Zep-Vibe" that they so much tried to re-create on BCC 1. This song would fit tremendously into the BCC context and live sets. As well as "Written All Over Your Face" and particulary "Wherever You Go" which would even give the chance for Glenn and Joe B to sing together.

I really love this album and probably it had that classic rock kind of vein as it was around the same time when the HTP project (with similar music) was done.

totally agree with you.. the best Glenn studio album.. but we must wait the next one

Thanks, Stormy That's what I thought too. It looks like the next album could in be that kind of vein again and so I'm really looking forward to it!

agree again... can't wait this new studio album... good vibrations...

SITKOR is my favourite GH solo album, too. "In My Blood", "Higher Places", "Lost in the Zone" and "Written All Over Your Face" are among my favourite songs ever, especially "Written All Over Your Face".
I love HTP, too, this was a step in the right direction, but maybe JLT wasn't the right person for collaboration - he is too pop rock singer.
But BCC - that is the right band for Glenn!
I'm looking forward to new Glenn solo album - i hope it will be like SITKOR, even better.