Machine Head

Deserved place in the hard rock trifecta

I think most everyone is familiar with "Smoke On The Water", as it's probably one of the iconic rock songs of all time. Outside of that, one other song was familiar to me, but the rest of the album was not. This album is exactly what you want in a rock album - classic guitar riffs, lots of guitar solos, and pounding drums throughout. The lyrics aren't deep and aren't going to blow you away, but the music itself is what makes this album a classic. Definitely worthy of the list!

Infectious, big Dumb Rock that I'm not ashamed to say that I love. Is it stupid? Yes. Are lyrics shallow & simplistic? Yes Does it Rock? FUCK YEAH! It's just Hair Metal in it's infancy. I often wonder what music Strippers stripped to before Hair Metal. It's this! 3

Pretty standard rock and roll from that era. Nothing to hate or get too excited about.

I was properly introduced to Deep Purple through their live album Nobody's Perfect. I loved it. Their live energy was palpable and their virtuosity apparent, even on this, a bargain-bin purchase and, as far as I know, an unheralded release. This studio album captures a lot of the same energy on that live album. I can only imagine what seeing them live was actually like. There is no fat on this album, just seven great rock songs from one of the best bands to ever do it.

p good! nothing really stood out except smoke on the water lol, but like a 3.5 for me

sorry i am so behind i don't remember this one at all. it was like generic dad rock right. i dread these kinds of albums. i don't care for dad rock at all

I can’t understand not liking this album, at least not the big songs off of it. Highway Star, with the key solo, makes me wonder why there aren’t more hard rock bands that feature keyboards. The intro to Lazy made me not care if they ever started singing. And those are just two of the highlights. Great album all around. Understandable that it laid a lot of the groundwork for rock and metal to come.

I've never listened to much deep purple, outside their biggest hits. But really enjoyed this album, the drums, bass and guitar are sick, especially love the guitar and the bluesy solos, I have something new to learn

Absolute classic.

This is music to listen while cruising down the highway, windows down and the volume way up. It's a very specific situation that this abum thrives in but I still really enjoyed it. I have a very vivid memory of playing Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 and playing "Smoke on the Water" as a Rabbid, so of course, the song is very iconic to me. I also enjoyed Never Before, they intended it to be their hit single and I get why, it's very catchy.

7/10 - good rock, could have been from the late 80s

essential hard rock/early heavy metal album. love when a man fucks it up on the organ

I don’t like rock music all that much so the sound just wasn’t for me. It’s more beat-heavy more than melody so I ended up just skipping through the songs in a few minutes. I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics so I have nothing to say about them.

Wow this was an amazing listen. I personally do not listen to rock, but this album made me dance and put on a mini performance while working. One thing I appreciate from rock is hearing the instruments as if you're at a live concert. My favourite songs has to be Highway star, smoke on the water, lazy and when a blind man cries. Rock on 🤘

Another solid but mostly forgettable album. I knew the song Space Truckin from my space playlist.

Based on my research, here is an in-depth review of **Deep Purple's *Machine Head*** (1972), examining its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and weighing its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Overview Released in March 1972, *Machine Head* represents the creative peak of Deep Purple's classic Mark II lineup (Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice). Recorded under chaotic circumstances at the Grand Hotel in Montreux, Switzerland—after the Montreux Casino burned down during a Frank Zappa concert—the album became one of the most commercially successful and influential hard rock records in history. It reached #1 in the UK and #7 in the US, remaining on charts for over two years . --- ## Lyrics The lyrical content of *Machine Head* is perhaps its most divisive aspect. Critics have long noted that the words serve primarily as functional vehicles for the music rather than profound poetry. **Highlights:** - **"Smoke on the Water"** – The album's most famous track documents the real-life casino fire with almost journalistic simplicity: *"Frank Zappa and the Mothers were at the best place around / But some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground."* The lyrics' very banality became part of their charm; as Lester Bangs noted in *Rolling Stone*, "This very banality is half the fun of rock 'n' roll" . - **"Highway Star"** – A high-octane narrative about automotive obsession and romantic conquest, featuring the iconic hook: *"Nobody gonna take my car / I'm gonna race it to the ground."* - **"Pictures of Home"** – Arguably the album's most evocative lyrics, reflecting paranoia and displacement during the Montreux sessions: *"Maybe I'll go out walking, maybe I'll stay home,"* capturing the isolation of hotel-bound recording . **Weaknesses:** The album suffers from what one critic called "placeholder" lyrics . Tracks like "Maybe I'm a Leo" and "Never Before" rely on standard blues-rock tropes of heartbreak and romantic strife. "Space Truckin'" veers into cartoonish sci-fi territory that some find charmingly absurd while others consider it juvenile . The band's admitted disinterest in lyrical sophistication—prioritizing instrumental prowess—means the words rarely transcend their utilitarian function . --- ## Music & Musicianship Where *Machine Head* truly transcends is in its instrumental architecture. This is virtuoso hard rock that never sacrifices feel for technicality. **Key Musical Elements:** **Ritchie Blackmore's Guitar Work** – Blackmore delivers career-defining performances, blending blues scale foundations with classical harmonic sensibilities. The "Highway Star" solo, composed during a tour bus interview with a journalist asking how the band wrote songs, demonstrates his ability to construct memorable melodic narratives within shredding contexts . His riff for "Smoke on the Water"—arguably the most recognizable in rock history—achieves maximum impact through minimal means . **Jon Lord's Keyboards** – Lord's Hammond organ operates not as accompaniment but as lead instrument, dueling with Blackmore throughout. The phased organ intro to "Lazy" and the frantic keyboard runs in "Highway Star" showcase his classical training applied through rock distortion . **The Rhythm Section** – Roger Glover and Ian Paice form what many consider rock's tightest rhythm section. Paice's drumming on "Space Truckin'"—described as "frantic" and "choreographed"—drives the album's heaviest moments, while Glover's melodic bass lines provide crucial harmonic foundation . **Ian Gillan's Vocals** – Gillan's four-octave range and theatrical delivery (honed in *Jesus Christ Superstar*) adds operatic drama. His harmonica work on "Lazy" provides textural variety . **Compositional Diversity:** The album balances concise rockers ("Highway Star," "Never Before") with extended jams ("Lazy" at 7:22). "Lazy" functions as a blues shuffle allowing each member solo space, while "Pictures of Home" incorporates proto-metal darkness reminiscent of Black Sabbath . --- ## Production **The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio** – The album's distinctive sound stems from recording in the Grand Hotel's corridors and rooms using the legendary mobile unit. Drummer Ian Paice had previously recorded in corridors for *Fireball*, seeking live ambience over studio sterility . **Sonic Characteristics:** The production achieves remarkable clarity despite (or because of) its unconventional setting. Each instrument occupies distinct frequency space—Lord's Hammond growls in the midrange, Blackmore's Stratocaster cuts through with biting treble, and Paice's drums possess room ambience that no artificial reverb could replicate. The sound is *heavy* but never muddy, setting templates for hard rock production that influenced Van Halen, Metallica, and countless others . **The Montreux Circumstances:** The casino fire forced last-minute relocation to the hotel, creating the "pressure-cooker" environment that fueled the album's intensity. The incident provided not just the subject for "Smoke on the Water" but a narrative of adversity that permeates the recording's urgency . --- ## Themes **Automotive Obsession** – "Highway Star" and the album's title (referencing the tuning pegs on guitars) celebrate machinery, speed, and technical precision—fitting for a band operating at peak instrumental capability. **Dislocation and Paranoia** – Written while stranded in a foreign hotel during winter, several tracks reflect isolation. "Pictures of Home" explicitly addresses the psychological toll of constant touring and temporary living spaces . **The Fire Narrative** – "Smoke on the Water" transforms disaster into art, immortalizing not just the event but the resilience of continuing to create despite circumstances. The song mentions "Funky Claude" Nobs (Montreux Jazz Festival founder who saved lives during the fire), embedding real human drama within its simple framework . **Blues Tradition vs. Metal Future** – The album sits at a crossroads, honoring 12-bar blues structures while accelerating tempos and distortion to forge what would become heavy metal. --- ## Influence & Legacy *Machine Head* stands as one of rock's most influential documents, frequently cited alongside Led Zeppelin IV and Black Sabbath's *Paranoid* as foundational heavy metal texts . **Direct Influence:** The album's DNA appears throughout subsequent decades—Van Halen's guitar showmanship, Metallica's rhythmic precision, Judas Priest's twin-guitar harmonies, and Iron Maiden's galloping rhythms all trace lineage here . The "Smoke on the Water" riff remains the first learning exercise for countless guitarists globally . **Critical Status:** Widely considered one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded, it appears on numerous "best of" lists. However, some progressive rock critics find it "overrated," noting the abandonment of earlier artistic ambitions for straightforward hard rock . The European press's designation of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath as "The Unholy Trinity" of heavy rock origins speaks to its historical weight . --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Pros** 1. **Virtuosic Musicianship** – Every member operates at peak capability, creating interplay rarely matched in rock 2. **Production Innovation** – The mobile recording approach yielded clarity and power that defined hard rock sonics 3. **Songcraft Efficiency** – Seven tracks, no filler; each song serves distinct purpose within the album arc 4. **Historical Significance** – Foundational text for heavy metal and hard rock genres 5. **Instrumental Balance** – Hammond organ and electric guitar as dual lead instruments created template for keyboard-guitar harmony 6. **Live Energy Captured** – Successfully translated the band's concert power to studio environment ### **Cons** 1. **Lyrical Weakness** – Functional but rarely profound; "banal" by design according to some critics 2. **Overshadowing Single** – "Smoke on the Water" became so ubiquitous it obscured the album's deeper cuts for general audiences 3. **Inconsistent Styles** – The funk elements in "Never Before" disrupt the album's heavy rock flow for some listeners 4. **Exhibitionism** – Occasional sense that technical display supersedes song service; "too flashy when the flash is old" 5. **Omission of "When a Blind Man Cries"** – The non-LP B-side (included on some reissues) should have replaced weaker material 6. **Commercial Peak = Creative Decline** – The band's subsequent *Who Do We Think We Are* (1973) disappointed, and Gillan departed later that year, suggesting *Machine Head* represented an unsustainable zenith --- ## Conclusion *Machine Head* is the definitive document of Deep Purple Mark II—a band operating with telepathic cohesion at the intersection of blues tradition and metal innovation. While its lyrics rarely challenge listeners intellectually, the instrumental performances constitute some of rock's most exhilarating moments. The album's influence on hard rock and heavy metal cannot be overstated; it established the template for virtuoso-driven, high-energy rock that prioritized feel and power over polish. For all its acknowledged limitations—primarily lyrical—it remains essential listening, a 37-minute masterclass in what happens when five elite musicians lock into collective purpose. The fact that it was born from disaster (the Montreux fire) and recorded in makeshift circumstances only enhances its legend as proof that constraint breeds creativity. **Rating:** 4.5/5 – A landmark that deserves its canonical status, even if one wishes the words matched the music's magnificence.

мимо

Ты какую группу уважаешь? 8/10

Really fun album. I enjoyed this! Highway star is peak. And I can just here myself playing smoke on the water riff for the first time on my shitty acoustic guitar.

Really good album, Smoke on the Water is the overplayed song unfortunately when there is a lot really good tracks on here

Un classique, pas une découverte

smoke on the water was probably one of the earliest rock songs i was shown and liked when i was really young so i knew i was gonna have a good time with this

4/5 2 músicas bem icônicas, o resto ok. Destaque a "Lazy", música com pouca visualização dentro do álbum, mas que entrega um solo insano.

Jeg er ikke kæmpe fan af deep purple men det her er et sejt nok album. Man kan godt høre deres indflydelse på metal

Endnu federe end den anden Deep Purple. Har lært af listen at jeg synes tidlig-70er-heavy-metal er virkelig fed.

What a banger! Including one of the most iconic guitar riffs og all time!

no

Inventive energy and drive. You really are space truckin through this one

it took me on an explorative journey in rock and blues field, which is not my everyday choice. Enjoyed it surprisingly more than expected. Good vibes, feels fresh even if it's over 50 years old. Maybe only for me though. (reaaaallllllyyyyyy cool album cover – graphically 8/10) saved 3 songs out of 8 3.5 out of 5

Smoke on the water pretty good kind of short actually liked Picture of Home the most probably because I haven't heard it as much. 8/10

As classic as classic rock gets! Absolutely badass blues rock riffs, crushing distorted keyboard tones, Ian Paice on drums, and nut-crushing high screaming vocals. The only drawback to Machine Head is that it's so influential that it sounds a bit rudimentary and a bit cliche with songs like Smoke On The Water. It's obvious that in the decades following its release, rock bands have built upon the sound, making it deeper, better, and more complex.

Nothing like 70s rock to put you in a good mood

This is what you think of when you hear classic rock. Shout out to one of the most iconic rock riffs for Smoke on the Water though. Best Songs: Highway Star, Maybe I'm a Leo, Smoke on the Water Worst Songs: Pictures of Home, Never Before

Kind of boring but some of the solos were good.

when a blind man cries is probably the best track on this album but the rest of this is boringggggggg Would I listen again: No Deserves to be on this list: No 2.1

Great album, quite blues oriented, but lazy showcases jon lord and ritchie Blackmore at their best. Maybe I'm a Leo is a bit weak, but the rest of the album more than makes up for it.

How can you not love this to infinity ♾️

"Machine Head" is a superb five-star album. While it perhaps lacks the raw, "in-your-face" savagery of Deep Purple In Rock, it more than compensates with refined production and sophisticated song-writing. Self-produced by the band and engineered by the legendary Martin Birch, the record captures a group at the absolute peak of their powers, with Ian Gillan’s vocals sounding nothing short of superb. The original 1972 release featured just seven tracks, though it remains a mystery what Ritchie Blackmore was thinking when he vetoed the inclusion of "When a Blind Man Cries". Relegated to a B-side at the time, this soulful, bluesy track has thankfully been restored on later anniversary editions. I have included it here as an essential component of the Machine Head experience. While the album demands a full, uninterrupted listen, these tracks represent the key takeaways: - "Highway Star": The definitive speed anthem and a masterclass in high-octane precision. Ritchie Blackmore’s neo-classical solo remains a blueprint for generations of guitarists. This is complimented by the peerless Jon Lord's Hammond Organ keyboard solo and the interplay with Blackmore. - "Pictures of Home": A driving, majestic tune that rarely receives the credit it deserves. It features a rare and wonderful bass solo from Roger Glover. - "When a Blind Man Cries": Despite his veto, Blackmore’s performance here is magnificent, providing a delicate, bluesy counterpoint to Gillan’s emotive delivery. - "Smoke on the Water": Beyond that iconic riff—arguably the most famous in rock history—the track serves as a vivid chronicling of the Montreux Casino fire and the chaotic birth of the album itself. - "Lazy": A seven-minute tour de force of swing and swagger. This largely instrumental piece allows the band’s collective virtuosity to truly shimmer. - "Space Truckin’ ": The "hardest" track on the record; it is the one song that would have felt perfectly at home on the more aggressive In Rock. For the uninitiated, the live album "Made In Japan" contains performances of several tracks from this record. It must be said: those live versions are, without exception, superior to the studio cuts. They remain the truly iconic renditions of "Highway Star", "Smoke on the Water", and "Space Truckin'". I also highly recommend "In Concert '72". Recorded as a BBC promotional session for the album's release, it features live versions of six of the original seven tracks. Interestingly, "Pictures of Home" is the sole omission - it simply wasn't part of the setlist! 1 "Highway Star" (5/5) 2 "Maybe I'm a Leo" (4/5) 3 "Pictures of Home" (5/5) 4 "Never Before" (4/5) 5 "When A Blindman Cries" (5/5) 6 "Smoke on the Water" (5/5) 7 "Lazy" (5/5) 8 "Space Truckin'" (5/5) Total - 38 Average - 4.75 238/1001 131/238 albums reviewed were new to me.

this is almost certainly the best Deep Purple album in this book and also a classic rock record. some of the tracks do feel mildly bloated though.

Again, too much Deep Purple. Smoke on the Water is an undeniable classic, though.

The songs on this album oscillate from the cringest of cringe to really good. I personally hate "Highway Star", and then what the hell was "Space Truckin'". I found myself genuinely enjoying the songs in between. I struggle to rate it highly as an album, but this does reaffirm that Deep Purple has songs I like.

Fornøyelig nok, men det meste her er intetsigende, og høydepunktene har man hørt en milliard ganger. Har fallhøyden fra første til andrespor noengang være større?

This album finishes much stronger than it starts. I initially had it pegged as a solid 3, but when “Lazy” kicked in, I had to rethink that pretty quickly. By the end, it feels more like a 3.5, maybe even a 4 on a good day.

A stinking classic right here

I understand its importance but not my vibe

So many guitar solos... Smoke on water so cool

Fav: Smoke On The Water Least Fav: Maybe I’m A Leo I mean, ‘Smoke On The Water’ is iconic for a reason

oh how i hate classic rock

Overall an enjoyable album. You can tell what the singles were though because the other songs were so forgettable in comparison Smoke on the Water is the obvious big hit here, but I loved Highway Star. I've not heard that song in years, didn't realise it was by Deep Purple! 4 ⭐️

Three great songs, four ok ones. Three stars

—0–3–5——0–3–6–5– A couple classic tracks. I can see the road it paved, but several songs are too close to the blues roots, where it feels like a copy of every other 12 bar song that came before.

Makes me want to make a montage.

Meh, listenable but I wouldn’t queue it up

why is the worst song on the album the most well known lol

+ bass solo, noen jævlig fete riffs - litt lav energi til tider liker litt mer futt i rocken, noen litt chorny cord progressions i ny og ne kanskje 3/5

"Highway Star" has some sick and shreddy guitar and really strong bass - always such good early 70's rock. I didn't know Pictures of Home but that song was good and mad me recognize that Deep Purple has like, a Diet Genesis to them. I'm not sure if it's the anthemic, arena-sounding vocals and driving guitar or what, but I'm getting big Genesis vibes despite the lack of prog. Smoke on the Water, though overplayed, is awesome and has a perfect transition into Lazy, which was mixed in a way that as very ahead of its time. I'm taking big advantage of the fancy headphones I just bought and this was a great testament to their sound quality. I felt like I was levitating through the whole first half of the song, esp those first 30-60 seconds. Also I felt that realll hard when they said "you're lazy, you just stay in bed." Sonically, Space Truckin' is fine but the lyrics are amazing. I miss the space race era of space fascination a la Deep Purple, Queen, and David Bowie. I mean I'm sure this song is about psychedelics but that's fine. With lyrics like "everynaut would dance and sway, we got music in our solar system" and "we had a lot of luck on Venus, we always had a ball on Mars, we're meeting all the groovy people, we've rocked the milky way so far," the hope for the future and grooviness of space travel is palpable. This is a good record that I only knew two tracks from (Highway Star and Smoke on the Water) but really enjoyed listening to the whole way through. 4/5. Standout tracks: Highway Star Lazy

Good album, the basis of heavy metal and harder rock, possibly. Fun songs to listen to especially when lifting, great guitar work from Ritchie Blackmore, kind of a pioneer of shred all the way back in 1972. Really liked Highway Star and also Pictures of Home

An hard rock powerhouse of an album, genre defying and still an hell of a listen.

mastered well and the guitar skills are satisfying. Not every song is a hit but there were definitely a couple where I was bobbing my head along.

Music for people who are scared of the Bad Bunny halftime show. Best Song: Smoke on the Water Rating: 5/10 Stars: 3

Some nice heavy metal here! Smoke on the Water is the standout but some good guitar and drums here. Plus the singer ain’t half bad either. Good stuff. 7.5/10

All of these rock albums in a row are starting to sound the same. Lots of instrumental breaks on this one, found myself tuning it out.

8/10 Reopened Deep Purple

hella good. not really my type of music but i loved it lol

Immediately, this record is highly irritating. Thoroughly adolescent. Don't think I had fully appreciated how dumb the lyrics to Smoke On The Water are. Every solo is either stupid or boring. Main riff of Space Truckin' is pretty great, though. Pre-teen me thought this record was cool. 40-something me understands that it is totally lame.

ES BUENÍSIMO. lo escuché dos veces y la segunda me gustó más q la primera, experiencia necesaria volver a escuchar un álbum eh. los riffs re pesados, muy buenos bajos, la voz del chabón súper característica, cada tanto se metía unos agudos q decís paa SON capos

Another album which I listened since I was a child and firmly believe is a rock masterpiece. So easy easy 5 starts, however I still will listen to it today, because who can resist those awesome John Lord keyboard runs??! 5/5

I actually don't know if I'd ever heard this one in full before, but yah know? Pretty damn good! I'm not as high on Deep Purple as a lot of other folks, but this one feels pretty undeniable (and I definitely prefer it to *In Rock*). The two hits deserve all their praise, but "Maybe I'm a Leo" was the big discovery for me on first listen. 4/5

Pretty solid album. Recognisable songs beyond Smoke on the Water. Yep, decent

more classic and more familiar

It certainly rocks, but that's also all it really does. Smoke on the water is a classic but the other songs weren't nearly as memorable

Couple bangers to keep you going

Not bad. I can see how it was influential, but to be honest the sound was developed and refined into something more interesting than this

I bought The Very Best Of Deep Purple in highschool, which I’m sure I bought just for “Smoke On The Water”. That CD introduced me to “Highway Star” and “Space Truckin’” and the incredible impact of a well fingered organ. The back half of this record is a total banger, and I say that as someone who’s very tired of SOTW. “Lazy” is a new track for me but it’s great. “When A Blind Man Cries” is also pretty good but technically not part of the album. Seems like I should dig into a few more Deep Purple albums.

I dont really get Deep Purple

Smoke on the water was good. Otherwise boring.

Awesome

It was fine. It’s hard rock and seems like a classic album, not my style

Great album, some classic DP

This album is good. It's the kind of album that grows on you as you listen to it. The instrumental sections are long but well performed and don't feel like they stay past their worth. I'd be happy to revisit this album. It's unique in it's genre but don't go so far from it that it's completely foreign. It's a solid middle ground. I can see it being quite enjoyable on relistens. 4.0/5

Temp

70er Jahre Rock mit Metall-Einflüssen. Allein schon wegen "Smoke on the water" hörenswert. 4/5

One of my favorite albums in my teenage years. Lord's organ playing on these songs is awesome and became one of my favorite instruments. Blackmore is awesome with his guitar playing. Ian Gillan on vocals one of rocks best frontmen. All hel together with a rhythm section of Paice on drums and Glover on bass. Plus one great sing after another. Space Truckin Highway Star and Smoke on the Water are highlights

Never heard of album or band. Highway star is very classic rock. Pretty good not great. Back had solo is really good. Guitar on Leo is really good again. Nothing special other than that. These songs are carried by the guitar. Generic rock vocals. So many bands wanted to be the Beatles in the early 70s. Songwriting is pretty good on pictures of home. Never before is pretty cool. None of these songs are bad, they’re just generic 70s rock songs. Cool keyboard/guitar solo on never before. And then you get to smoke on the water. What a guitar riff. All time classic. Simple but so good. Guitar at the beginning of lazy is really cool. Harmonica too is good. This is a great sign front to back. And space truckin is pretty cool but not amazing. Overall average to good album. Pretty generic but not necessarily in a bad way. 2.7 stars.

Strong 3 tracks in the beginning!!

An absolute classic!!

Solid early 70s rock. Not really my thing

the beavis and butt-head song!

I wasn't particularly amazed by it, but it was decent.

very rocky, absolute classic.

Now you’re talking!! This is the kind of record that doesn’t ask for your attention — it seizes it, reshapes it, and sends you down a path you never walk back from. A true ignition point, loud and undeniable that made me Deep Purple fan for life. Great Album!!

Not bad but I can see why Smoke on the Water is the stand out song.

Obviously heard of them but hadn't heard much by them, really good

So incredibly English rock vibes. I feel like I'm watching Top Gear.

Lidt for rocket må jeg sige, men kender smoke on the water Wuhu

Loved the guitar and the progression of each song.

Favoritt sanger: Smoke on the Water, Lazy

As classic as classic rock gets. Some unreal riffs including 1 everyone who has ever picked up a guitar can play. Really fun stuff.

No bad just not my bag

Overrated

Surprisingly great

9/10 It’s been a while since I’ve listened to this album, & yeah, it still kicks ass- especially playing bass along to it, Roger Glover’s lines are so damn tricky. Favorite song: Highway star Least favorite: Space truckin’

Some of these instrumental passages are 100% pure distilled rock

great classic rock album

I'm familiar with Smoke On The Water, Highway Star and Space Truckin', but I've never been much of a fan of Deep Purple. Love their band name, though.

Machine Head is a combination of riffy rockers like "Highway Star" and "Space Truckin'" (the reasons I like Deep Purple in the first place), more forgettable blusey offerings, as well as slight tendencies towards prog and psychedelia. I'm not really a fan of the bluesier songs ("Maybe I'm a Leo") and the proggy stuff wears on me ("Pictures of Home"). I appreciate Deep Purple's contributions as a proto-metal band, but this album was more hit or miss than I would've liked.

This album came out when I was 14, I own(ed) it and I really liked it for songs like Ironic, Head over Feet, Hand in my pocket ... But listening to the entire album as an middle aged adult .. Wow! It is so much deeper and emotional than I realized

Even if this album just had Smoke on the water it would need to be on the list. The sheer number of guitarists that play that riff as their first piece on a guitar would be a staggering statistic. The fact that the rat of the album is as solid as it is ad even starts out with another hit just solidifies its need to be on the list. Great album

Solid dad rock. I know it's overplayed but Smoke on the Water still goes. I grew up with the CD and I still rate it high.

Lots of fun, classic feel. A bit cheesy at times but great

Absolutely colossal album. Call me if you are on your death bed and haven't heard this one. I will come to you, prepare a viking funeral for you, and send you off into the sunset with this as your swan song. 11/10 you cannot miss out on this.

Below expectations

hell yeah

Feels like this album is the precursor to 80s metal.

I got this rock in my bones.

🤘🏻

Really good bridge between Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Awesome bluesy guitar riffs and high energy vocal performances. My least favorite track is Highway Star, mostly because I hate songs about cars. Smoke on the Water is iconic, but not the best on the album. Lazy is probably my favorite here. 8/10

Low 4, super solid rock blueprint

Early heavy rock/metal sound, some good listens on a few of the songs but some of the other ones were not as good as a listen if I’m being honest. The not so good ones just felt quite random like it was the band just messing about rather than an actual written song. Certain parts of songs when they were good, they were GOOD but then there were other parts in the same song which just weren’t for me. Sometimes in these songs I liked I felt the instrumentals went on for slightly too long killing the momentum of the song. I feel like if the songs were more refined and slightly condensed it would improve it for me. The good parts, I mean some fantastic guitar riffs, especially for its time it's impressive and well done. However, whilst the instrumentals are the focus and the highlight here I feel like the lyrics still could have provided a bit more substance as they were very simple and repetitive in parts. That’s why my standout songs selections are ‘Smoke on the water’, ‘Highway star’ and ‘When a blind man cries’ as they appear a little more refined and less random. Whilst this sounds like an overly negative review, on the whole I did like listening to this album and think it is iconic so a worthy addition to 1001 albums but for me it only just scrapes its way into the 4-star bracket.

One of the great things about me going through this 1001 albums list is that you give albums a go that you would have just avoided otherwise. In this case, this really exceeded my expectations. I thought Deep Purple was just soulless boomer rock, this album is much more than that clearly. Genuinely interesting and polished arrangements across the board.

- sosososo peak - stuck in head now - classic

𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 is classic hard rock delivered with precision, grit, and a surprising sense of momentum. Even without relying on its most overplayed hit, the album stands strong — but I can’t resist mentioning the riff that everyone on earth knows: 𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻-𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻-𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻… 𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻-𝗱𝘂𝘂𝗻-𝗱𝘂𝘂𝘂𝘂𝗻. Beyond that iconic moment, the record shows the band at full power: Ritchie Blackmore playing with a cutting clarity and a sense of controlled fire, Jon Lord’s Hammond roaring like a second guitar, and Ian Paice driving everything with effortless intensity. It’s lean, heavy, and endlessly replayable — a reminder of how tight and inventive Deep Purple could be at their peak.

Remarkably that's the first time I've listened to Smoke On The Water by choice. I feel like I know this record by virtue of having lived a few doors down from a pub that used to put on bands on the weekend. It's very "pub band". Not my thing but not offensively bad.

Marginally better than AC/DC and AM but only marginally so, this achieved third bottom so far because one can’t help nodding along to the opening of SOTW…

Not what I’d normally listen to but thought it was pretty good for what it is!

a decent listen

There is some really good instrumentation on this, even some very good blues guitar - what's lacking mostly is writing. It's adolescent rock in the end. And I think the band suffered from that iconic mega-hit. Its opening is almost a meme.

Again, fine. It was good enough for a headbop and I can understand how it might be liked by other folks, not my taste but I'll likely end up revisiting it at some points because the guitar work is just amazing. Love that. 7/10 so far.

Boring!!!

We all know exactly one deep purple song, and honestly I'd forgotten it was them. As soon as "Smoke on the Water" came on I went "oh yeah, I DO know a Deep Purple song". At this point I don't even think most people have listened to the whole song, we all just know the riff because it's so ubiquitous - which itself only happened because it's so simple that everyone who has ever learned beginner guitar has learned to play it awkwardly. It is my belief that this album was included on this list entirely because of that one riff, and the riff is not even that good.

Vibes! A good morning album, to listen to when driving or walking to work. Sometimes a bit cheesy, but mostly pleasing to hear all the themes and ideas from blues, and the those that show up metal albums later.

4/5. One of the foundational pillars of heavy rock and eventually metal and it still hits hard to this day. As a child of the late 2000’s and 2010’s I grew up on the rockband and guitar hero games, and Highway Star was for a long time my go to song. Catchy riff, great solos and a fun vocal performance, so much to like on that song alone. It was one of the first songs I learned when I picked up a real guitar too. and of course there’s smoke on the water, an all time classic that’s also the nightmare of every guitar store employee. I also absolutely love the closer Space Truckin’, that song is a banger.

i'll pull out my guitar and play smoke on the water for my girlfriend later but i could not believe how much i enjoyed this album. the first 2 tracks have heavy solos that are both technically impressive and super fun to listen to and despite the length of the tracks, the overall album does not wear out its welcome at any point. suddenly the metalhead is me?

i appreciate finally knowing that guitar riff. it was so whatever i accidentally listened to the album twice while doing laundry

almost all tracks are good, felt like high school

A couple of classic hits but a bit tiring.

This was a very enjoyable classic rock album! Catchy melodies and fun guitar solos. I liked the first half of the album more than the second, it really kept my attention but I still think it was an overall good experience. Light 4/5

Dad had this album. We listed to it quite a bit as kids. Still a good album to this day.

Cannot go wrong met oude-papa-rock-muziek (als het kon gaf ik een 3,5 maar het is net geen 4 tho)

Rock clásico, del legendario

Lazy > Smoke On The Water

This one strikes me as a three. I really loved lazy and the opener, and smoke on the water is still a great song. I didn’t think that there were some tracks that were not as good as others, particularly the closer, and Pictures of home. But I was impressed, because I’ve heard a lot of deep, purple slander from Black Sabbath fans, and, as someone who doesn’t really enjoy early metal as much as the middle of the 90s, I really liked this record.

I can smell the Coors Banquet and Marlboro Reds from this album.

Thought it was a pretty good hard rock record and I’m not usually a fan of that sort of thing

Låter mye tammere en i huska. Plata har fortsatt noen rocke klassikere, men som helhet svært mid.

Very tame butt rock, except space truckin that was fire.

Var ikke den her på Rock Band?

Ikke noe for meg

Positiv overraskelse. Ganske poppete. Som om et fattigmanns-Beatles hadde dratt til Nashville is stede for Goa.

Sku gjerne gitt 3.5. Lazy og Space Truckin’🤘🎸

Hørt 12/01/26. Fy faen elsker highway star, beste karaokesang. Ellers en solid og gubbete plate, skjønner godt at Harald(68) på jobb ble glad når vi sendte han på Notodden bluesfestival for å høre de live i 2024.

Holdt på rykke ned på en treer mot slutten, men en ny runde med Highway Star sikret fireren.

The opening track is the highlight of this album for me - what a great organ solo! Lazy is an interesting blues-rock tune, and the Space trucking yells are pretty cool, but I found the rest to be kind of standard classic rock stuff - and there's no way I'm listening to Smoke On the Water again. Hearing Highway Star did get me to check out Jon Lord though, dug his solo album Sarabande. Saw this as well, thought it was interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy6eRSeCyWI

This one took me over a week to review, largely because I liked it more on each subsequent listen and wanted to see where it would top out. These mother fuckers are tight and rock out. I’d heard tune from Deep Purple before, but like many Yanks I hadn’t given them the attention they deserve. To my credit, “Smoke on the Water”, perhaps the least interesting song on the album, received the most airtime in the US. As I learned while researching this album, the European press called Deep Purple, Zeppelin and Sabbath “The Unholy Trinity”. This album convinced me that this band deserves as much attention as the latter two. It is remarkable that this album was written and recorded over several weeks, although more careful scrutiny of the lyrics makes this somewhat more obvious. The diversity of sounds throughout the track is impressive and the back-and-forth solos between the keys and guitar is fucking cool. My favorite tracks were “Space Truckin’”, “Lazy” and “Highway Star”. However, the album is solid from start to finish. I’ve explored almost all of the music from the other bands in the unholy trinity, now it is time for me to give Deep Purple their due.

SMOOOOOOOOKE ON THE WAAAATER

the guitar riffs and messy beats are to die for. i am surprised they aren’t more popular like im absolutely amazed. i will definitely relisten to the album, my fav track was smoke on water. i understand as one may not like or appreciate it that much, but it definitely is a vibes and memory album. it reaches only the audience that wants to accept it.

kratko ali koncizno. dok je tekst pesama mogao da bude i na japanskom, toliko je nebitno šta pričaju, sama instrumentalizacija, produkcija, melodije, rifovi itd. čine samu ploču (već krenula da se pretencioziram), i čine je genijalnom. nemam mnogo dubokih misli, prosto kad čujem ove bubnjeve i sve zabavne prelaze i filove koji su svuda po albumu, ne mogu da makar ne mašem glavom, a kamoli celim telom. smoke on the water, highway star i lazy kao pesme koje su se istakle, barem na ovo prvo slušanje. mnogo volim ovaj, navodno, hard rok, mada ne znam šta je ovde tačno hard. moram bolje da se upoznam sa definicijom hard roka.

Great riffs, incredible drums but nothing that makes an impact, nothing lasting, aside from that one riff in smoke on the water there's nothing hugely memorable about this album for me

Solid album. Listened to it twice on repeat. All good songs on here, especially highway star, pictures of home and lazy.

solid album. though i didnt like the first half the second half was rlly vibey and nice. last song was rlly nice

Solid hard rock stuff

2 Boomer dad final boss. "Gillende gitaren/ Ghost Rockers/ Vingers op de toetsen, razendsnel/ Duimen op de snaren/ Ghost Rockers/ Drumgeluiden rechtstreeks uit de hel"

Some good old fashioned classic rock. With a song that will live in my head forever thanks to Guitar Hero.

хз мне не нравится такое

This is the quintessential 70s heavy rock sound, it's clear how much it influenced other bands down the road. The music itself is well-packaged and arranged. As someone who looks to lyrics though, this album -- metaphorically or literally -- doesn't speak to me. The lyrics here (not the singing/voice) are shallow, uninteresting to me. Nothing here is to suggesting that this album shouldn't be viewed as potentially groundbreaking, it clearly opened the doors for numerous acts in later years. However it's nothing that would be in my rotation too often.

Okay

Дата прослушивания: 09.01.2026 Приблизительное время: 18:00-20:00 Первый альбом, который я прослушал. Сперва слушал целенаправленно, но после того, как понял, что это не мое начал слушать фоново. Ни одна песня из альбома мне не понравилась. Просто не мое. Подобная музыка мне особо никогда не нравилась. Также это первый альбом, который я послушал на своих новых Magnat Monitor Reference 3A)

not for me

DAMNNN this is really good all pf the songs had something good about them

It's not my favourite riff ever, but it is the greatest riff ever. The rest of the album is also stupendously great - who needs a second guitar when you've got Jon Lord? Roger fucking Glover, by the way! Favourite tracks: Highway Star, Lazy, Pictures of Home, Space Trucking

Solid 4, I didn’t dislike it and I even saved one track and it wasn’t Smoke on the water. I don’t get what the fuss is all about. Maybe I’m a Leo has a nice riff. This is the kind of rock that is inspired by blues and you can hear it in the softness of the electric guitar.

Absolute groovy bangers.

Very good album had some absolute bangers and instrumentals, def ahead of its time.

Christmas break 2007 Jetta

Space atruckin is a gem ❤️

gostei de ouvir o álbum que tem smoke on the water. é um bom álbum, certamente um dos clássicos do rock. achei que não ia gostar tanto, mas é bom

Highway Star is an incredible opening track and When A Blind Man Cries is a great closing track. In between there's ups and downs, you know. Smoke on the Water is legendary, but I've heard it so many times I'm tired of it.

Feels about as hard as hard rock can get before it becomes metal. Dig the sci-fi stuff

New to me. Heavy on Indie ears, but I enjoyed it and will look for it in VC. 1. Highway Star 2. Smoke On The Water 3. Lazy

Really good Classic Rock album, especially Smoke on the Water and Lazy. 4 stars or B+.

а-ля асдс, в общем не очень

Pure unadulterated rock

This album has its iconic moments and riffs, and maybe it was just coming to me at the wrong time, but I wasn't really feeling this. Or more like it just wasn't that memorable. As I think about a lot of these 70s rock albums, I appreciate the musical education, and how much this inspired the rock and metal that came after, but I likely won't revisit.

Some absolutely gruesome guitar and base tone in this album. This whole album rocks and is the epitome of "classic rock" in my opinion. 10/10.

Standouts: Highway Star Smoke on the Water Rate: 3

guitars ate and i liked the last half of the album. got nothing else to say towards this album overall: 3.5/5 favourite track: never before , lazy least favourite track: maybe i’m a leo

3,5

Deep Purple is the best! This was one of my first albums as a kid I’m pretty sure my parents bought me.

Good songs but personally for me, I found out that I need more lyrics in a song

Kick ass album

Wasn’t my favorite, but I knew “Smoke on the Water” beforehand and I also really enjoyed “When a Blind Man Cries”

I think I like Rainbow more, but this a pretty solid hard rock album. Highway Star is my favorite song, and it has a really great solo in it. Maybe I'm a Leo didn't really do anything for me, but the rest of the album was good. Obviously Smoke On The Water is both classic and overplayed, but it's still enjoyable. Lazy was really fun and bluesy, kinda spaced out song. My favorite riff was in Space Truckin though. That was a really groovy riff. 8/10.

Loved it. Big heavy grooves galore. 4/5

The Riff alone is worth 5 stars. The rest of the album is superb as well!

Love it. Own it.

++: Highway Star, Maybe I'm a Leo, Pictures of Home, Never Before, Lazy, Space Truckin' +: Smoke on the Water 9,5/10

Some bangers in here! I have a soft spot for some of these songs as they were in Rock Band. Many follow similar structure, but each are enjoyable in their own rights.

first listen some GNARLY tone

não achei que eu fosse gostar tanto desse, mas me surpreendi positivamente. when a blind man cries foi a que mais me pegou, provavelmente porque é a única que tem profundidade emocional, também gostei de lazy, que ironicamente, parece que eles tiveram preguiça de escrever a letra porque 3/4 da música é de instrumental, inclusive, um instrumental maravilhoso.

its a killer machine. me imagino un montaje de una adolescente enojada con la vida maquillándose para ir a ver a su bandita de rock favorita. su primer under indie rock. I like her, I need her, I see her.

Had as a kid- Smoke on the water still kicks ass

Ik respecteer het album maar dit is gewoon echt niet mijn vibe ben ik bang Die beat van Smoke On The Water ging ik wel goed op maar dat is het ook wel 4/10

Haven't heard it since I was very young. surprised how well it's held up.

Meh. Classic stoner rock

Okay

I could understand the appeal of this music especially when it was new, but it is not a type of music that I'm fond of. Other than that, I'm just glad that the album was short.

it was fine. didn’t like it enough to have any favourites

Best album from the session isnt even on the album. High 7s

Fuckin rocks

Solid album really enjoyed it. Favorite is space truckin 3.8⭐

Jan 4-11

cool riff but not rl my type

Highway Star- starting with a bang, a great first impression. love the guitar riffs 5/5 Maybe I'm a Leo- catchy instrumentals 4/5 Pictures of home-an acceptance of fate? longing for comfort in home 3.5/5 Never Before-heart break, vulnerability 3.5/5 Smoke on the Water- recanting what happened at a casino fire in Montreux, I can definitely feel the blues influences in this one, love the story telling 4/5 Lazy- very bluesy I like it! the use of the organ and harmonica is really cool to see from a rock band 5/5 Space Truckin- fun song 3/5 When a Blind Man Cries- a hauntingly beautiful melody 5/5

Reminds me of my dad’s earlier childhood music. Very guitar heavy rock album, no songs really standing out to me despite the bands two biggest hits being on the record. Each song was about 5 minutes of guitar solos, yawn.

A nice progenitor of metal but lyrically was lacking for me

Good grief, this was a painfull listen.

8/10 Son préf : when a blind man cries

7/10 Chanson pref : Space Turkin'

very cool guitar solos

70s metal/rock. Hair metal. not a fan. motorcycle gang type shit

eh.

deep purple es de las primeras bandas que se me viene a la cabeza cuando pienso en "dad rock" (obvio de un papá muy cool, como el mío). éste álbum es re para andar en una chata con la ventana media baja y hasta el brazo saliendo un toque modo canchero, está bien, me gusta. capos de la guitarra, les tengo cariño a los violeta profundo. aparte este álbum en particular tiene temas icónicos (smoke on the wateeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer !!!!!!!!!)

Mother of Rock 🤘🏼

Not for me, but I enjoyed it.

Could be a five. Classic rock.

I enjoyed this album - dint realise that deep purple wrote smoke on the water!

ну це ж класіка!!! але зараз я б не слухала його постійно, тільки під настій

6/10

Wow! Super heavy, rockin', great tempo and feel changes. The guitar work is second to none. One of the greatest rock albums of all time.

Not my usual style but cool and iconic

Has highway Star and smoke on the water.

Pretty much enjoyed this Dad Rock

I feel like I’m on a motorcycle in a movie scene. 3 minutes into this album! Lol PICTURES OF HOME- 10ish min into this album and why is it kinda good? HELLO? MAYBE I AM A LEO IDK The excitement died down for me towards the end of the album.

not a big fan of rock

some songs were kinda boring, but it was okay. Similar to the prior. Got a cd from them from grandpa so i don’t think i’ll buy another one

Better than I expected. Some decent musicianship too- Jon Lord's keyboards make the overall sound more interesting and 'grown up '. The problem I have with heavy rock/metal is that the solos have to be pretty damn memorable to grab my attention (and usually they aren't). Or the guitar riffs have to be muthafukas. With 'Smoke On The Water' you get both. Nothing else on this album gets near it. The intro on 'Never Before' kicks ass then it develops into bland filler. 'Maybe I'm A Leo' has a suitably greasy feel and the second best riff on the album. Not a genre I ever listen to and beyond the obvious classic here not really much that would keep me coming back for more. It's probably a five within the genre but far less in terms of music that engages me.

Listened 12/29 3 Highway star

Not my favorite genre but i enjoyed a few hits.

An amazing album, space truckin is perfection

This was awesome! The two hits (Highway Star and Smoke on the Water) were great, but I think I actually liked most, if not all, of the other tracks (none of which I had heard before, with the possible exception of Space Trucker) even better. This is pretty much right up my alley, so it's not a surprise that I loved this album, but I guess that doesn't take anything away from it. I loved it so much I listened to it three times and almost went back for a fourth. Five stars, easily.

A supreme collection of hard rock classics

There were some pretty good tracks on this

Love it. Perfect retro dad tunes

Riders on the storm vibe aber ohne das Lied. Smoke on the water drauf klingt so wie Papa das mit unsfruehernier gehört hat. Aber Rock mag ich halt n ihr so, aktuell fast bisl wenig los

Good riffs but not for me.

Wasn't sure what I was walking into, but FINALLY after years of hearing people play that song on bass for years and no one telling me wtf the song was, I now know it's 'Smoke on the Water' and my millennial ass can rest in peace. Overall, decent album 👌

I enjoyed this one. Some of the songs went on for a while but Smoke on the Water deserves its flowers

Very hit or miss song to song for me

1 song and the horribru song

Regarded as pioneers of modern hard rock and heavy metal, Deep Purple are at their best on 1975’s ‘Machine Head’, a pretty highly acclaimed album that I didn’t expect to particularly enjoy going off those genre notes, but had a better experience than I anticipated. Highway star is a hectic opener and embodies the hard rock/metal sound I wasn’t entirely ready for had the whole album been filled with it, but regardless, the 6 minute track is of such a scale and embodiment of rock itself it’s hard not to enjoy. Beyond that, ‘Pictures of Home’ was the hardest, most metal driven song which gave space for some classic rock cuts like ‘Never Before’, the legendary ‘Smoke on the Water’ I had no clue was even on this album, and the predominantly instrumental ‘Lazy’ which I loved; organs and a classic, distorted rock riff that carries the song into a late vocal performance. Overall, I definitely gravitate more to psych and yacht rock as I feel they’re more stimulating for my creativity and active listening while also providing the mellow sonic comfort I usually prefer, but for a pioneering ‘metal’ band, I definitely enjoyed this more than I anticipated.

Definitely not my cup of tea. I get that for the time it came out it was cool, so 3 stars instead of 2.

The instrumental are incredible, Besides smoke on the water nothing else hit for me - appreciate the album though

Energetic songs, fun to listen. 😁

Repetitive and underwhelming :(

Blew my expectations away, gripping from start to finish. So many great riffs beyond “Smoke on the Water!”

7/10 Favorite: Highway Star

Great album. I should listen more to Deep Purple.

It sounded like very classic rock/metal The riffs were good but the style of singing and song composition isn’t rlly my preference

This album was a blast, all songs are extremely fun. I have a fond memory of a “Pictures of Home” cover in one of my music recitals when I was a kid, it was great then, it’s great now.

i can see myself listening to this when im old lol

A brillant cacophony of brillant instrumental sounds and lyrical perfection, everything worked so well and seamlessly. A Great Album as a way to feel picked up. Very Dramatic and Awakening in the right ways. Very recognisable tracks but I had never known who had actually played them. Would listen again.

Alright, ok, I can see how I had to hear this one. I figured I was going to hate it, but I didn't.

Big fan of this :)

Bom demais

some fancy guitar work, an incredibly irritating vocal performance, the herald of one of my least favorite eras and genres of music. hard pass

I'm a sucker for a good riff/guitar solo and this album is FILLED to the brim with them.These guys truly don't get the love they deserve. They're more than just Smoke On The Water.

Classic hard rock. Template for all hard rock bands to come. Virtuosic playing.

Great riffs

I wasn’t a fan of the last Deep Purple album I got, I found Gillan’s shrieking unpleasant. Thankfully he kept it to a minimum on this album.

A very good album that includes hits like "Highway Star", "Maybe I'm a Leo" and the one I don't love after listening to it to death, "Smoke On The Water".

Montreux casino burns down, smoke on the waters drifts. Frank Zappa, sings to the ends of the earth, and back around.

My Dad played this for me when I was a kid so very familiar. Prefer In Rock personally

Classic rock at its best.

Pretty fun classic rock album containing the hit "Highway Star" and the all-time-banger "Smoke On The Water". But in total a bit too classic for me. 3,5

great riffs

Enjoyed more than expected!

I was surprised by their other album on the list for being way more prog rock and experimental than I expected but then this one is maybe more of the type of things I had expected. Confused. Not as taken as ‘Deep Purple in Rock”, which made me think I’m a big deep purple fan, but this is a bit more standard English rock of the time.

ehh not my favorite

el rock me gusta mucho mas que frank sinatra, este proyecto promete mas.

álbum ok

Usually this type of hard blues rock sounds super dated to me. But not this album - it still captures a really great energy and is a really fun listen.

I can appreciate but not for me. Big fan of Maybe I’m a Leo though

Awesome time full of bangers. Alongside the centerpiece Smoke on the Water I loved Highway Star and Space Truckin' most

Wonderful album - I remember it well from when it first came out. I did forget the name of it tho!

A True classic hard rock album that I have listened to over and over again.

Rock on, Space Truckers

The iconic hard rock album.

I ain't a Deep Purple guy

Short and sweet! Two classics, including Smoke on the Waters iconic guitar riff. The rest of the album is solid heavy rock, feels like an authentic version of KISS

Exact what you expect from Deep Purple in terms of being a caricature of rock n roll in the best way. Highway Star is a sick opener, though I don't know that the rest of the album lives up to the bar it sets.

Almost identical to my feelings/review of the last Deep Purple album "Deep Purple In Rock"...to me, the main draw is Ritchie Blackmore. As a guitarist, hes a 5/5, some of the music is a little Spinal Tap-ish (they were the "world's loudest band", at least pre-Led Zeppelin), but also highly influential and seems to bridge psych and heavy metal. "Highway Star"....what a song....they smoke on that. "Smoke on the Water" is played out but cool if you can listen to it with fresh ears..."Space Truckin" is funny but also badass. I enjoy them and this album, but would get why someone wouldn't.

6. nothing stood out, a little better than the aerosmith one

Oooooooh got that Smoke on the Water riff triggering every Guitar Center employee. That’s also the only song I’ve previously listened to from this album. It was the second song I learned to play on guitar (first was Cherrybomb by the Runaways!), so I did hear it quite a few times while playing along with it. Just looking at the tracklist, I can already tell I won’t hate it. The tracklist is short, and I find that shorter tracklists usually yield higher quality songs—with the exception of concept albums or the miracle that is Songs in the Key of Life. The first song, Highway Star, isn’t an exceptional opening but it isn’t awful. That could be my bias, however, because I put a lot of weight on the opening of an album and I’m very judgmental about that. The song didn’t blow me away but I did like it. The guitar solos felt very bland and it honestly came off as a bit generic, but it wasn’t bad and I’d turn it up if it came on the radio, I guess. Maybe I’m a Leo is definitely a lot better, with a really great riff and great drum bits. It also provides a lower energy level that definitely makes the album more immediately engaging after the loud opening. The drumming is something that’s great throughout, with lots of fun fills. It provides a lot of life to the album. Pictures of Home is really enjoyable. The instrumentals and vocals are equally as impressive. And oh my God that bass solo holy crap. I definitely get a sense that they share many of the same inspirations as the White Stripes—I mean, obviously they do somewhat, but I mean they really did very, very strongly pull from the same influences. The riffs sound very similar to those in White Blood Cells specifically, and obviously that Smoke on the Water riff is a lot like Seven Nation Army. That said, I’d rather listen to the White Stripes. Maybe it’s because I like punk, and they combine a lot of punk influences with blues, but I feel like they have a lot more energy. Similarly, in terms of sort of early metal, I would much rather listen to Black Sabbath. Ozzy’s voice has so much more life to it, and the—for lack of a better word—aesthetics of their sound is much more interesting, with all the dark imagery and dirge-like riffs. Anyway, yeah, Smoke on the Water is great. The famous riff, obviously, but also that little bass bit. They use bass very well. That said, I wish it had a bit more…passion. The keyboard on Lazy is amazing. It—alongside the drum fills and the bass solo—is the most interesting thing on the album. Space Truckin’ is amazing. The drums are incredible and the palm muted bits sound like the most fun the guitarist has had this whole album. But the vocals still just kind of lack any sort of unique energy. I think what really bothers me about this album is that nobody sounds like they really care. I can’t imagine the guitarist having much fun with the soloing. I can’t imagine the vocalist putting a ton of emotion into any performance. The rhythm section does sound really good and like they’re having fun, but it doesn’t make up for the dullness coming from the very people carrying the melody and meat of the song. It’s good, but I’d just much rather listen to something else. That said, I did enjoy the album. And I give them a lot of credit for laying an essential part of the groundwork for metal. That’s impressive in its own right and anyone interested in music history should listen to this album. And, if you’re just starting out on guitar, definitely learn Smoke on the Water—tho there are some other good ones for a first song, like Johnny Cash’s cover of Hurt, I Wanna Be Your Dog by The Stooges, Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, American Jesus by Bad Religion, Minor Threat by Minor Threat, and Teenage Wh*re by Hole. Overall, my views on this boil down to: good songs, very influential, pretty emotionless though. To recap: Favorite songs: Pictures of Home, Smoke on the Water, Lazy Least favorite song: Highway Star Similar albums: White Blood Cells, Elephant, Paranoid Rating: 3/5 stars

Wonderful!

need to relisten but not bad. vibe is niche and the recommended songs after were also a vibe

Honestly, a lot better than I remembered. Great and virtuoso performances by all band members. Some risky ideas. I don't think I will go back to listening to a lot of Deep Purple (I had a phase as a teenager), but I have to give this album 5/5.

w ritchie

Old school rock with some classic songs. Very bluesy vibe overall.

This is definitely as classic rock as it gets. Deep Purple have a sound that is the culmination of so many of the “heavier” bands from that time. It’s like part Zep, part Cream, part Sabbath, and it goes on. Somehow they found a way to be as influential with their sound. Hit after hit on this album though; will listen to many times Biggest Hit - Space Truckin Biggest Miss ( if I had to choose) - Pictures of Home Biggest Surprise - Lazy