Ufo

Survival sans Michael Schenker will forever be the plight of English hard rock heavyweights UFO. Indeed, for many ardent fans, the validity of the group's existence appears to hinge on the presence of the irascible German within its ranks. But with all due respect to the incomparable mad axeman, even his formidable talents have done little to elevate UFO's performance during its reunions of the '90s and 2000s, so it's only fair that the enduring "classic" trio of vocalist Phil Mogg, bassist Pete Way, and rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Paul Raymond should be free to carry on with or without him. They do the latter on 2004's You Are Here, a steady but very workmanlike album (recorded, ironically enough, in Germany) on which the lineup is rounded out by drummer Jason Bonham and American guitarist Vinnie Moore…

Although Michael Schenker is not involved, UFO's 2006 release The Monkey Puzzle sees four-fifths of the classic lineup back in place - singer Phil Mogg, bassist Pete Way, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Raymond, and drummer Andy Parker are all back on board. However, the group has hired certainly no slouch to replace Schenker on the six-string: Vinnie Moore. While they've taken numerous stabs over the years at replicating the magic of when Schenker is present - with varying results - tracks such as "Who's Fooling Who" and "Down by the River" contain the classic UFO sound, and certainly wouldn't have sounded out of place on Lights Out or Obsession. Elsewhere, Mogg sings in a much more gravelly style than what he's accustomed to, especially on the Zeppelin-esque "Heavenly Body." Some fans will never accept UFO sans Schenker. But for those who do, The Monkey Puzzle is certainly one of UFO's stronger non-Schenker studio efforts.

Walk on Water finds the classic mid-'70s UFO lineup - featuring Michael Schenker - reuniting for another go-round. Much has changed in rock & roll since Schenker last played in UFO, but in UFO's world, things remain the same. The group continues to pound out heavy rockers without changing its formula much at all. To the disinterested observer or critic, this means Walk on Water is boring, but UFO diehards may be pleasantly surprised by the record, since it finds the band playing with energy and conviction, even if the music is predictable.