Flying Album Review

4.5/5

   UFO 2: Flying was the second album released by UFO, and it featured original guitarist Mick Bolton.  I feel that this album was a huge improvement from the first, and it had better songs, production, and just a better vibe.  Top to bottom, the songs are great, and it gets a little more creative with its very long songs "Star Storm" and the 26 minute masterpiece "Flying."  The album starts with the song "Silver Bird."  It features a very cool riff from Mick Bolton, and Phil Mogg has some great vocals featured.  Pete Way also has some great bass lines, and Andy Parker's drumming is amazing.  The second song on the album is called "Star Storm."  It is a 19 minute song, and its very brilliant with sound effects.  Mick Bolton has a very cool guitar part too, because it is very spacey, especially in the long intro.  He also shows some great soloing chops at the same time.  Once again, Pete Way's bass playing is extremely aggressive.  Even though Phil Mogg's vocals don't come until late in the song, he has some very good phrasing, and his tone is extraordinary.  The next song "Prince Kajuku" has a very cool muted intro that leads into a very Joe Walsh like riff.  Andy Parker's drumming is amazing, especially when he comes in to the song.  The whole time he gives a wild Bill Wardish beat to the song.  The next song is the sequel to "Prince Kajuku," and it is called "The Coming Of Prince Kajuku."  It like the intro, because it features some very mellow from Mick Bolton.  Then when the drums start to march in, the riff gets a little harder, and then a Led Zeppelin like riff comes in.  I think that the rhythm section from Pete and Andy is amazing on this song as it always is, and Andy especially plays some of his best drumming on the song.  The song is an instrumental, but it never gets boring at all.  The last song on the album is my favorite, and it is the title track "Flying."  This song features the best guitar playing I ever heard from Mick Bolton.  His guitar solos are extremely emotional, especially the intro solo.  I feel that this is the song that shows he was no slouch on the guitar at all.  Phil Mogg gives a haunting vocal performance on this song, and the lyrics are just as eerie.  I love how this song can be almost a half hour long, but not once does a person get lost, because it is truly a rock masterpiece.

    Flying is the album that UFO really found their niche with.  It was a departure from the boogie songs of the first album, and it is so fun to listen.  I feel that any fan should listen to this album, because it is very different than the other periods of the band, and it is extremely neat.  So if you want to check out a new album by UFO, then this is definitely a great option.