[.ca] Return of Crystal Karma

What a great record!!!!!:
Oh...I`m astonished!!!! This must be the ultimate album ever recorded by an old star in music. I think of many of the old rockers that try to make new records without sucsess but this is on top of anything. Hughes is playing and singing like he never have done and the songs are just tremendous. That man is a genius!!!! He has created a album that is better than most records of today!!!

Hughes the Funkmeister!:
Here comes Glenn Hughes in his funky man guise, dressed in leather and small specs looking like he's 30-something. I'm not exactly sure what krystal karma is, or if that's what is in the silver "thermos" Glenn is holding, but if it's represented here then it sounds just fine to me! Going for more stylistic extension than on "Addiction," Glenn hits more highs and lows than on recent outings. "State I'm In" kicks off in typical post 90's hard rock fashion, sounding like it may have come off any one of Glenn's last several records. But starting with "It's Alright," and carrying through "Switch the Mojo" (Austin Powers influenced?) and "Angela" it's apparent that Glenn intent is on upping the funk ante. The bass lines are fun, and run playfully alongside the spirited drumming. Occassionally slipping back into heavy rock, the album maintains a sensible balance between an updated "Stormbringer" and Sabbath's "Seventh Star" (Tony Iommi cowrites "Gone"). The album winds out with "Owed to J," a funky instrumental, apparently a tongue-and-cheek respin of "Owed to G" from Purple, and trademark Hughes baladry of "Days of Avalon." The later is one of Glenn's finest and most heartfelt, on par with "Blue Jade" from "Addiction." One thing you have to give Hughes credit for is his adventurous spirit and youthful ambition, and the fact that he doesn't employ the turnstile of famous session musicians to back his work. *The limited edition double album features a live from Brazil (circa '99) six song concert containing excellent renditions of "No Stranger to Love" and "First Step of Love," as well as 2 Trapeze songs and 2 new ones.

Funkmeister:
It's the way Glenn Hughes calls himself. In my opinion, he is the master of Hard Rock, not just a great musician, a gifted artist who knows like nobody else the power of mixing rock and funk. This album is heavier than his previous job - The Way It Is, one of the best albums of the last ten years - and shows us what a true Monster of Rock can produce.

Fine!:
Hughes is one of those few artists who can really claim that his career is outstanding all the way. This CD is an amazing display f a lot of different rOck techniques. THe bonus CD, featuring live songs played in Brazil, are outstanding. I loved this cd.

BEST "R.O.C.K." ALBUM IN YEARS ! ! !:
If you're into melodic, funky and hard-driving rock with incredibly soulful vocals and tasty musicianship - - Glenn Hughes "R.O.C.K."(Return Of Crystal Karma) is, without a doubt, the best thing to come out in perhaps a decade. Not since LIVING COLOR's "Vivid" has an album been more complete in all of these points, and it actually eclipses the monumental release by LC in all areas mentioned. Glen Hughes is downright schizophrenic in regards to being musically multi-dimensional, and approaching different genres on different albums with the same reckless abandon and supreme competency (whether it be R & B, Funk, Blues, Rock, Hard Rock or Heavy Metal). If you are a fan of any of these musical catagories, Glenn Hughes' offerings in each are sure to make you nod your head and go "Yeh!" while you listen (sometimes screaming your affirmation). On this album, you'll hear what I feel are some of Glenn's best bass work and best vocals (no small task) to date. The drumming of Gary Ferguson is about as in-the-pocket as humanly possible, and the production on the drums are outstanding. The guitar work of J.J. Marsh cooks with some serious grease, and solos on "This Life" and "Days Of Avalon" can only be described as actual pieces ripped from this man's soul (while the instrumental "Owed to 'J' " is like the listening equivalent for guitar of watching an olympic gymnastics event). Go to "It's Alright" as the first cut you listen to, and work your way around from there. All 10 cuts are great, but if that one doesn't hook you... give it up 'cause you aint got NO soul at all!

• State I'm In
• Midnight Meditated
• It's Alright
• Switch the Mojo
• Gone
• Other Side of Me
• Angela
• Owed to "J"
• This Life
• Days of Avalon
• You Kill Me
• Neverafter
• First Step of Love
• No Stranger to Love
• Coast to Coast
• Your Love Is Alright