Hughes, Glenn: First Underground Nuclear Kitchen

I know, I know – I must be among only 10 or so people in the world who doesn't look upon Glenn Hughes as some kind of rock god, the so-called "Voice of Rock." But, as a non-fan listening to First Underground Nuclear Kitchen — or FUNK, as the irritating voice-overs on my promo copy call it — I finally found myself understanding what has drawn rock fans to this guy since his early days in Trapeze and Deep Purple.

FUNK, as the acronym implies, is a groovy slab of passionately performed rock and soul, filled with timeless arrangements and melodies that could have been on the radio in the Seventies or yesterday. At age 55, Hughes can gracefully channel both Steven Tyler ("Crave") and Stevie Wonder ("Where There's A Will) without sounding like it hurts. "Love Communion" boasts Def Leppard-style guitars, horns and a jazzy interlude, while seductive ballads like "Satellite" and "Imperfection" prove Hughes doesn't have to be overbearing to be effective. And even the aspects of the man's voice that irritated me so much in the past — such as his tendency to stretch out his nasally delivery to sound ever so much funkier — only enhance this record.

I admit it: I'm impressed.

Track Listing:
1) Crave
2) First Underground Nuclear Kitchen
3) Satellite
4) Love Communion
5) We Shall Be Free
6) Imperfection
7) Never Say Never
8) We Go To War
9) Oil and Water
10) Too Late to Save the World
11) Where There's A Will

Added: September 26th 2008
Reviewer: Michael Popke
Score:
Related Link: Blistering Records
Hits: 2732
Language: english

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