Deep (Silent Running album) explained

Deep
Type:Album
Artist:Silent Running
Cover:Silent Running Deep 1989 Album Cover.jpg
Released:September 1989
Genre:Rock
Length:45:05
Label:Atlantic
Producer:
Prev Title:Walk on Fire
Prev Year:1987
Next Title:Live in Voodoo, Belfast
Next Year:2020

Deep is the third studio album by Northern Irish band Silent Running, released by Atlantic in 1989.

Background

Deep was Silent Running's second album for Atlantic and showed the band shift towards a more rock-orientated sound. Drummer Ian Gault performed on most of the album and co-wrote seven of the tracks, but he left the band over musical differences before recording was completed.[1] The band were satisfied with Deep, believing it to be their best work and were hopeful that it would achieve commercial success, particularly in the US.[2] "Local Hero" was issued as a promotional single in the US.[3] The band were scheduled to shoot a music video for the song in January 1990, but this did not materialise.[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Guy Henderson of the Torquay Herald Express felt that, with Deep, Silent Running "prove themselves a valuable commodity, putting a hard edge onto some first class songs". He described the band as "a good prospect to watch for in the future" and picked "Deep in the Heart of Nowhere" as "the best of ten top-quality tracks".[5] Hi-Fi News & Record Review considered it "state-of-the-art wall-of-sound music which should endear this fine Irish trio to American ears" and noted the album's "wonderful melodies, plenty of gloss but with a suprisingly 'live' feel".

Eamon Carr of the Evening Herald wrote, "Silent Running's new album is certainly noisy. At times it's naggingly familiar. A bit like Big Country imitating U2 jamming on Cactus World News covers, though the songs are slightly better than C.W.N.'s."[6] Sunday Life noted there were "no surprises" on the album, "just a professional refining of their sound for the American stadium market" with "singalong anthems" and "squealing guitar solos". The reviewer added, "All fine and dandy as far as it goes, but it lacks any real character. Hundreds of bands are ploughing the same furrow, and enough are doing it better to leave Silent Running superfluous to requirements."[7]

Personnel

Silent Running

Additional musicians

Production

Other

Notes and References

  1. News: Greer . Robin . Band digs deep for inspiration . . 25 August 1989 . 20 . . subscription . 15 December 2023.
  2. News: Fitzsymons . Paddy . Silent prayer . . 18 June 1989 . 24 . . subscription . 15 December 2023.
  3. Local Hero . . 1989 . US CD promotional single . . PR 3148-2.
  4. News: Greer . Robin . Hot-shot trio hit US chart . . 22 December 1989 . 17 . . subscription . 15 December 2023.
  5. News: Henderson . Guy . Record review: The Stones are still rolling . . 11 October 1989 . 15 . . subscription . 15 December 2023.
  6. News: Carr . Eamon . Aye... Niall leads the bid for stardom . . 1 September 1989 . 12 . . subscription . 15 December 2023.
  7. News: Nightlife3: Dylan back in top form . . 17 September 1989 . 25 . . subscription . 15 December 2023.