Tag Archives: Martin Birch

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow – Snake Charmer (Song Review)

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“Rising like a crazy balloon”

It’s not one of the more celebrated tracks from the Dio era of Rainbow but I really enjoy Snake Charmer from the first album of the era, 1975’s Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow.

A funky, wah-fuelled Hendrix-y rocker, Snake Charmer is no great shakes in terms of riffs and songwriting but it has a joyous energy and wonderful performances. In particular, bassist Craig Gruber excels. There’s a palpable chemistry as his lively, roaming basslines power a dynamic. expressive guitar solo from Blackmore.

At the time I got into Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, I was listening to loads of old Skynyrd and early Whitesnake and songs like Snake Charmer ensured that Rainbow fit right in with that rootsy, sunny mood. The album’s more fantastical and weighty tracks might be the standouts but Snake Charmer is a crucial part of the Rainbow debut’s eclectic and colourful charm.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock, Song Reviews

Blue Öyster Cult – Monsters (Song Review)

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“New worlds waiting in the sky”

In Blue Öyster Cult’s Monsters, one woman and three men form a crew to steal a spaceship and head out into the cosmos in order to escape a laughter-free Earth. Unfortunately they don’t reckon on the monsters of their minds and the trip ends in sex, jealousy and murder. On BÖC’s 1980 album Cultösaurus Erectus, the band were keen to focus on their enigmatic, heavier side and Monsters‘ dark sci-fi yarn definitely delivers on that front. It’s also a ton of fun: a demented mix of sex and sax where huge stadium rock mixes with schizoid King Crimson riffs and swinging jazz interludes. And while the story ends badly for the crew, Monsters takes off in a climax that is Blue Öyster Cult at their euphoric best.