Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Even the disinterested and unfathomable will concede somewhere, no matter how begrudgingly and with fists clenched in anger, that Status Quo must be doing something right to have released 30 albums and over 70 singles. The music that in part defined an era for their fans still has the power to get a broad smile from almost anyone at some point, to nod in agreement should it come on a pub jukebox and enjoy the brief respite the simply crafted songs offer. It is up-beat and sometimes can be shockingly great stuff.

The same can be said for the latest album Bula Quo! the newly released double album by the band for their first film.   The album offers a record made up of half new songs of which the same formula goes as before with a few little twists and nods to the films direction and a live set that was captured in 2010. Both C.D.s sound as they should; nothing really shocking, bad or interestingly out there enough to say Quo have really outdone themselves this time. It is just Status Quo, reliable and still enough to make you smile, especially on the new tracks GoGoGo, Never Leave A Friend Behind and Running Inside My head but it is like having unlimited candyfloss, for a while it is sweet and just the best thing on Earth but eventually all that smiling is going to wear you out, the thought of more candyfloss enough to drive you to distraction.

Bula Quo! is one for the long term fan of the Quo and those with a broader acquaintance with rock, the rhythms and reasonably catchy tunes will not appeal to all as unfortunately for the casual listener, the young budding music lover, the busy waiter in the hotel, the young mum at home will dip in and straight back out again.  Status Quo do what they do and they do it well but even though they are still a tremendous live act, there is nothing new under the sun that hasn’t been heard before, legends they were, legends they remain but time eventually catches up with the very best, even Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi.

Ian D. Hall