His Finest Hour
El Kabong | 11/09/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The cover art is....well, horrendous. Nobody quite knew how to classify it (then or now). You could barely find it on the shelves, and then only as an import. As far as radio and the US music press was concerned, it simply didn't exist. Pretty much the only thing FUTURE SHOCK had going for it was that it's a frickin' masterpiece, and, along with SCARABUS, represents Ian Gillan's crowning glory as a solo act. Although the two albums are different in personnel and approach - SCARABUS is looser and jazzier, while SHOCK is heavy rock with an almost-punk energy and immediacy - both showcase just how good, how creatively fertile, the songwriting partnership of Gillan and Colin Towns was.
Nowadays when the Gillan band is referenced, usually "Bernie Torme" is the other name that gets mentioned, but good as Torme is on this recording, it's the songs that make this record stand out. Yes, Ian's in great voice, Torme wails like a banshee, and McCoy and Underwood provide ample bottom, but that ineffable thread of elegant oddness weaved through the band's sound at this time....that was all Colin Towns. While his keyboards aren't as central to this set as they were on SCARABUS, it's his touches, compositional and otherwise, that add that something extra to the Gillan stew.
Towns has unfairly become a forgotten man since, most likely stemming from the ignoble end of the band two years later, and the consequent grudges and hard feelings that continue to be nursed to this day. Pity. But nothing that should prevent you from grabbing this cd, which is not only knee-deep in classic tracks you didn't even know existed (that rock hard, with depth and sardonic wit), but tricked out with first-rate bonus material as well. FUTURE SHOCK should have been treated like an event on its first release, instead of an afterthought; the good news is it's still worthy of your attention.
"
CLASSIC ROCK OF THE 80s
Dan C. Mercado | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 05/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
Again if you're collecting great rock albums, this is one you shouldn't miss! This is a great album! Ian Gillan was still young and can sing very high notes. You can hear Bernie Torme screeching guitar in most of the songs. Man he's great in making the guitar weep and scream! These are some reasons why he had a short stint with Ozzy after Rhandy Rhoads died.
I've seen this group in early eighties in the Philippines during their tour. What a great band! Each member of the band did their piece in the concert.
Mr. X on the bass, he's a good bass player and he's one of those guys who threw the guitar on air and comes back to his hand striking the chords with all his might. Mr. Y the drummer did a solo too, he's great too. At that time I thought he was Ian Paice coz they were headlined as Deep Purple before coming to the Philippines.
Some of their excellent albums are: Mr. UniverseMr. Universe and Double TroubleDouble Trouble
Others are mediocre albums: Clear Air Turbulence[, Child In TimeChild in Time, Magic and Glory Road[ASIN:B000NA2U46 Glory Road]]
"
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1