Trollheart

Okay then, let's get this underway. A little harder than I thought, as you really need to know your artiste well, and all their albums, to get this right. But since I spent so much time trawling through his discography a few months ago, here's how I rate the albums of
GARY MOORE

In order:

Grinding stone (1973) (debut) AVOID. I don't mean it's a terrible album, but given that it's his debut and quite different to the material he would go on to produce, I wouldn't listen to this very often, and unlike some artistes where I would suggest starting at the beginning to get into them, I would not give that advice here. An okay album, but nothing terribly special. Mostly instrumental works.

Back on the streets (1978) AVOID. I say this because the main vocal on the album is Phil Lynott, and apart from the classic "Parisienne walkways" there's little to remark upon about this album. A lot of Lynott stuff ("Fanatical fascists"/ "Don't believe a word") and more instrumentals. Not the worst album, but definitely way down in the pecking order. Revisit only occasionally.

G-Force (1980) AVOID. More AOR than hard rock, and a band Gary put together for just the one album. Just gets right away from what I expect from him, and although there are one or two ok tracks I generally would not listen to this album of choice. Plus, he looks like a dork on the cover.

Corridors of power (1982) MARRY. One of Gary's best albums, his first really in terms of creating a cohesive identity for himself, and one which gave him some chart success. Great ballads like "Always gonna love you" and "Falling in love with you" sit side by side with power rockers like "Gonna break my heart again" and "End of the world", and the phenomenal, slowburner closer "I can't wait until tomorrow". Gary has arrived!

Dirty fingers (1984) AVOID. Two really good tracks in "Rest in peace" and "Nuclear attack" NEARLY push this into the SNOG category, but the rest of the album just isn't equal to the task, and it's a pick-tracks-for-playlist kind of one for me.

Victims of the future (1984) SNOG. I would have put it in the MARRY category, if it wasn't for that damn song! You know the one (well, you do if you've read my review of it in my journal) --- "Teenage idol". Just reduces the whole quality of an album that is, otherwise, close to top notch down to just pretty damn good. Boo.

Run for cover (1985) SNOG. Again, close to the MARRY category, but one or two tracks let it down. Gary's most commercial album to date, with some great tracks on it but though it has the excellent "Military man" and "Out in the fields" on it, it also has the totally unnecessary (imo) remix of "Empty rooms", which reduces it, along with one or two other weaker tracks that drag it down. Great album though.

Wild frontier (1987) MARRY. One of Gary's best albums, with hardly a bad track. Almost a concept album centred on conflict and war, with some great ballads and the beautiful instrumental "The loner". Even the cover of the Easybeats' "Friday on my mind" can't hurt this gem. Top class.

After the war (1989) SNOG. Something of a letdown after the powerful "Wild frontier", I just wasn't as impressed with this album. In fairness, I haven't listened to it that many times, but each time I do I don't quite like it less, but I certainly don't warm to it.

Still got the blues (1990) SNOG. Despite having two of my favourite Moore tracks on it, in the title and his version of "As the years go passing by", it's just got too many blues covers on it, and even at that, blues songs I don't particularly know that well or like. Feels more like a tribute album, which in ways I guess it is.

After hours (1992) SNOG. A good album, but again too many blues covers, though it does have some classics, like "Nothing's the same", and who couldn't like the appearance of the master, BB King, on "Since I met you baby"? For all that though, again too close to a covers album for me.

Around the next dream (1994) AVOID. Released under the name BBM, to showcase the fact that it was Gary and Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce working together, I just didn't think much of this at all, though in fairness I'm no big fan of either the other two.

Blues for Greeny (1995) AVOID. This is a covers album! This is just me. I'm not familiar with Peter Green's work, so a whole album in tribute to him just does nothing for me. You may love it, I don't.

Dark days in Paradise (1997) MARRY. Probably my second favourite Moore album after "Corridors of power", this just has everything. Excellent songs, real feelings, powerful and epic songs like "Business as usual" and "Like angels." And NO covers. The first album of totally Gary Moore material since, well, ever. There's always been at least one cover on a Moore album, but this is all his own material. Just superb. But then...

A different beat (1999) AVOID. AVOID. AVOID! Oh dear! Gary has the odd idea to start tinkering with dance beats and electronic music. Bad, bad move! Terrible album, avoid like the plague. Very bottom of the pile. In fact, let's hide it here, behind this Kajagoogoo album where it will never be seen. Slightly less embarrassing to let people see the Kajagoogoo.

Back to the blues (2001) SNOG. A pretty okay album, a few more covers than I would have preferred, but some excellent tracks and if nothing else, a huge sigh of relief that as the title suggests, Gary is getting back to what he does best.

Scars (2002) AVOID. Another ill-fated project for Gary. Not a terrible album, but he was always better forging his own path than trying to put bands together, as you would have thought G-Force showed him, ten years earlier...

Power of the blues (2004) AVOID. VERY disappointed with this album, just could not get into it.

Old new ballads blues (2006) SNOG. MUCH better. Gary right back on form. Just three covers, the rest all original Moore material. Quality rising again.

Close as you get (2007) SNOG. A decent album, not quite up to the standard of the previous, but some very good tracks, including a storming version of Sun House's "Sundown", played on dobro. MMMM!

Bad for you baby (2008) SNOG. I would love to have put his last album in the MARRY category, but though it's good, it really just isn't that good. A decent swansong, but he has recorded better and though it sends him off well, things could have been so much different...

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018