Incredible Status Quo! As we approach this thirtieth studio album, which happens to be the soundtrack for an unlikely comedy filmed by the band in Fiji, we find ourselves pleasantly surprised with a well-crafted record in hand.
Where we might have feared the worst, Status Quo delivers seven solid tracks out of the nine new songs featured on Bula Quo! We can discreetly overlook the tropical-themed "Fiji Time" and "Bula Bula Quo (Kua ni Lega)," which exist solely to serve the film's theme. A lukewarm mention goes to "Looking Out for Caroline," which leans too heavily towards the charts with a hint of nostalgia to feel genuine.
On the other hand, "Gogogo," "Run and Hide (The Gun Song)," "Running Inside My Head," and "Never Leave a Friend Behind" rightfully belong to the juicy boogie tradition that Status Quo has maintained since Dogs of Two Heads in 1971. This double album also includes recent live versions of the band's classics in its second volume, which are always a delight to hear. It's impossible not to feel transported back in time with decent renditions of "Caroline," "Down Down," and "Whatever You Want."
Status Quo has done quite well with this thirtieth album, as eclectic as the project it supports (Status Quo starring in a comedy is already a topic in itself). Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt are still in fine form, delivering great riffs with boogie as their sole creed.
