Glenn Hughes Music For the Devine   Label: Warcon Release Date: 01/30/07

I opened up the booklet for this CD and there’s tons of photos within it. There is a picture of Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers looking at Glenn Hughes while both are playing violin. Chad has that “Are you sure?” look. The last page has Chad in his “dumbfounded with the index finger to the chin” pose. Well Chad, not only did you co-produce it, but you played drums on the album and recorded it in your house…dude.

For those that do not know, Glenn Hughes stepped in on bass for the old British classic rock band, Deep Purple. He was also one of many scab vocalists for Black Sabbath. Glenn also collaborated with the KLF on their single, “America: What Time is Love?” Honestly, I had no idea and I do not know what to make of this. This was a sack beating. No, that’s too harsh. It was a sack beating done by a heavily sedated man, but you have to give him credit for trying.

As if there weren’t enough arena rock clichés from the 1970s being revived today, this recording starts out with that epic foreboding effects laden guitar riff that will have a whole arena handclapping in unison. It’s like someone made “Baba O’ Riley” super lame and Incubus stepped in to do the extended circus performance. Oh my god, by the two minute mark of the second song, “Steppin’ On,” not only do we get the progressive rock keyboard run, but it serves as a signal for the gratuitous wah-wah pedal jam that would embarrass George Clinton and make him deny any responsibility for popularizing the use of wah-wah pedals. Much of this album suffers from Chili Pepper-isms, then again, Chad Smith co-produced and even John Frusciante appears as well, whose contribution is listed as “guitar experience.” Okay? Not only is this album peppered with the funk rock tendencies of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Glenn Hughes manages to craft songs that come off like a weak Soundgarden.

Thankfully, my ears were given a rest from the overuse of wah-wah pedals as the alterna-ballad, “This House,” toned things down a bit with acoustic guitars and a string section. Typical however, that Glenn and the gang have to bring back the funk in the following track,”You Got Soul.” Then it’s back to the mellow number in “Frail,” which comes off like a guilty pleasure classic rock ballad, you know, the one with the “rocking” part? However, seriously, there’s way too many wah-wah pedals on this one. How about some chorus or delay pedals? No? Okay. I guess I can settle for acoustic strums and instruments best left to John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, or something like that.

It seems like Glenn is really into his music though. If you read the liner notes, it’s like reading a clueless hippie’s love letter to the world. In regards to recording at Chad Smith’s house, Glenn states: “The house is filled with love. I hope you can feel it.” Oh, I can feel it, but I’m fine being single. I guess this is the result of some 50-ish British guy residing in California who managed to miss out on musical trends that happened in the last 17 years. Living off royalty checks from Black Sabbath and Deep Purple will do that to you. It’s like your 45 year old dad making a record and you’re like, “Hey, it’s pretty good, dad, but I gotta go. That one band who rips off Gang of Four is playing down the street.”

Glenn Hughes - Myspace

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 27th, 2007 at 4:46 pm and is filed under CD/LP. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.