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STATUS QUO

'In The Army Now'

(Vertigo VERH 36)

KKK 1/2

WELL, TWO years after their goodbyes, 'In The Army Now' is Status Quo's comeback album and by reckoning is summink like their 20th official release to date. Not as fierce as, say, the bludgeon power of 'Piledriver' or the buzzsaw tones of 'Quo', this one goes some way to forging an effective path between the clattering gusto of 'Blue For You' (with its diversified material) and the pop pap of 'Back To Back' (Quo's last studio opus). However, if these comparisons mean nothing to you, suffice to say there's something for everyone on this LP.

The standout tracks are the recent singles 'Rollin' Home' (produced by Dave Edmunds, a man very much in charge when it comes to R-O-C-K) and 'Red Sky', together with its machine gun riff that has absolutely no similarity to ZZ Top whatsoever (cue reviewer's post bag being inundated with hearing aids).

At the opposite end of the album, kutz like 'Speechless' and 'In Your Eyes' aren't in any way invigorating and require the harshness of at least two out-of-tune fuzzed Fender Telecasters to drag them back into the wired-up fervour the Quo army demands.

Special mention for the album's title track, a real chilling masterpiece with a thrilling, nerve-shredding atmosphere... musically it's a way removed from what you might expect!

'In The Army Now', for all its faults, has a kind of raw, gritty feel and it's certainly a record that I'm rather pleased to have nestling in my garden shed.

DEREK OLIVER

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Image caption: STATUS QUO's Francis Rossi: one for the garden shed!