Europe: Bag of Bones – magic for the senses

Like an arrow… straight through the heart.

I was ecstatic when I heard Europe was back in studio last year to record their new album. The first time I heard the title “Bag of Bones“, I thought to myself – did I not see the adaptation of that Stephen King’s book on TV? – It became very clear that I was hooked from the start… although, not done listening to the previous unbelievable great album “Last Look at Eden”. Anyway, months have passed, teased by the band’s video blog and later on by the promo single “Not supposed to sing the blues“, my anticipation was built up by a very talented marketing team… I am telling you!

Listen to samples from Europe’s website

A few weeks before the official release of “Bag of Bones” I therefore pre-ordered a signed copy and got in on Christmas Day, in April. I have listened to it close to  six times – yes, no big deal… I know, but I came home in the middle of the day, after my school exams. I’ll play the honesty card, my anticipation went flop at first when I heard “Riches to Rags” (only at first though… it just needed to grow on me a little and “I never felt so alive“). My attention got caught again by Ian Haugland who set the beat on “Firebox” telling me: listen up, this is new! Gotta listen to the nice drummer… This song is everything I like: melodic yet fast and heavy (at times)… it speaks also to my oriental roots – from my father’s side – therefore to my heart and soul. I cannot really relate and yet, I do a great deal.

“Wow!” was my first reaction to almost every songs… I hear you, I have to elaborate. I am not going to give you a guided tour of all the songs for I am sure you are very capable of doing so yourselves; although I have to admit that the title song “Bag of Bones” has blown my mind quite a lot, which pushed me to put it on repeat for a while. When did Joey Tempest begin sing that way with such a soulful and bluesy voice? Since when the band has ever felt like such a harmonious unit. Don’t get me wrong, they did feel like that before too… but here, they did something more that spoke directly to my goosebumps.

Listen to samples from Europe’s website

This album is a neat classic rock creation and its influences are undeniable – I hear a bit of my old favourites Zeppelin, Deep Purple to name only two. “Drink and a smile” is a nice little surprise… short too – that’d count as a downside, by the way, because the music stops too early for my taste – there’s still the repeat button I can press. The band seems to like short on this album, for the very good instrumental piece “Requiem” made me react like: “what that’s all? where’s the rest? – more please!” (or something like that). However, it works wonders as some kind of prelude to “My woman my friend“.

Musicianship speaking… I cannot say much, others already did that better than I ever could. All I need to know is how happy the music makes me when they play it: do I need to smile bigger than I already am for you to see?

This is great rock music and just like the previous albums, I will not ever grow tired of it. Bag of Bones has most definitely found its place home into my heart as “Bring it all home” wraps it softly up.

I warmly (and enthusiastically) recommend Bag of Bones, Europe’s 9th album released April, 24th 2012.

Listen to samples from Europe’s website

♣♣♣

Tracklist: 01. Riches to Rags (J. Tempest/ J. Leven) – 02. Not supposed to sing the blues (J. Tempest) – 03. Firebox (J. Tempest / M. Michaeli) – 04. Bag of Bones (J. Tempest) – 05. Requiem (M. Michaeli) – 06. My woman my friend (J. Tempest / J. Leven) – 07. Demon Head (J. Tempest / J. Leven / J. Norum) – 08. Drink and a smile (J. Tempest / M. Michaeli) – 09. Doghouse (J. Tempest) – 10. Mercy you mercy me (J. Tempest / J. Norum) – 11. Bring it all home (J. Tempest / M. Michaeli)

Europe’s line up for the “ignorant”:

Joey Tempest: Vocals
John Norum: Guitars
John Leven: Bass
Mic Michaeli: Keyboards
Ian Haugland: Drums

Last Look At Eden, by Europe

Europe’s new studio album “Last Look at Eden” was released today in Scandinavia… and if, like me, you are lucky enough to have come by this disc… you might have reacted just as I did: “uh? what? cool… wow!”

Granted, this is not much of a review and I am about to explain myself…  Well, John Levèn said about “Last Look at Eden” (on the band’s official website): [...] “an album that shows that Europe are still getting better and better.” Mic Michaeli says something interesting too: “The 70′s meets the millennium.“

After listening to the music many times, and pondering about how the band feels about it… I finally decided that I liked… loved it. More importantly, I think I can for once explain better why.

It took me a few years to have “Start from the dark” growing in me and it had become probably my favourite album… I liked “Secret Society” at once, but it was over-shone by its predecessor… I know, weird… Today, I know I will not be able to say that any more about “Start from the dark“…

“Last Look at Eden” took its place. Referring to what Mic said, I do agree… I heard on this album, many old Europe sounds (from before the split up). For instance, I heard a little bit of “Yesterday’s News” on track 11: “Run with Angels“ ; a bit of  “A long time coming” & “Government Man” on track 3: “Gonna Get Ready” ; a bit of “Prisoners in Paradise” as an overall old lingering sound. Keep in mind though that these are very light touches of “old Europe” that I hear (you may not agree!)  The difference today is that the music is richer and the lyrics… well, let’s say that they suit me way better today.

 So, when Europe came back, they threw everything that made them different from how they used to be (and play) as musicians. It took them two albums to explore only their new musical possibilities. “Last Look at Eden” brings back the Europe spirit that we all know and mixes it with their musical and human growth. To quote John Levèn again: “Europe are still getting better and better.” Finally, when one listens to “Last Look at Eden“, one could say sometimes: “that riff could have come from a Deep Purple or a Richtie Blackmore’s album”, hence probably the quote from Mic: “The 70′s meet the millenium“.

Still on the band’s official website, Joey Tempest is talking about John Norum’s bluesy feeling when he is playing the guitar… though to tell you the truth, I had never noticed that aspect (no offence John)… On “Last Look at Eden“, John is playing with more feelings and bluesy touch (on some tracks) that I have ever heard him play before. That was one of the hugest and greatest surprises I had from the album.

Another surprise hit me as I played on though… curious as I was, I followed the progress of the album making on Europe’s blog… However, I had forgotten all about the Czech national symphony orchestra (which they use on four tracks)!!! That was a fantastic surprise to my ears, not only because of the orchestra and not because I noticed the orchestra at once (I actually did not). I grunted like in the beginning of this review when I first heard track 8: “No stone unturned” (I here a little bit of Ritchie Blackmore there or Rainbow) ; the melody is one that I had not been accustomed to with Europe despite the influences I hear in it. They all play marvellously, though I must say Mic’s keyboard playing made me listen even more closely. In short, one of their best creations if you ask me.

Of course, they serve us very well indeed with the powerful and emotional ballad “In my Time” that ends the album majestically. Just like “The Prelude” followed by the title track “Last Look at Eden” just make us want more, which the rest of the album gives without a glitch.

What can I say except that Europe outdid themselves with “Last Look at Eden“… there are absolutely “no stone left unturned“. It is musically brilliant, where old and new spirit of the five musicians combine perfectly. Highly anticipated album for which the expectations are, no doubt,  just as high all over the world… “Last Look at Eden” is no surprise, yet it has probably become one of the best surprises of the 2009 rock scene.

Europe mp3 store (non-Scandinavian customers might have to wait though).

/Claire