Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow: Black Masquerade

Shot in 1995 for German television, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow: Black Masquerade will largely please guitar ace Blackmore's fans, as the former Deep Purple axe legend heads up a reformed version of his band Rainbow, playing an 18-song set that draws from Blackmore's heavy-metal and progressive rock past. Anyone not interested in those genres or in Blackmore's way with intricate noodling on his instrument will find little to excite them here, but aficionados will likely delight in the anthemic “Too Late for Tears,” the undistinguished crowd favorite “Long Live Rock ‘N' Roll,” the monotonous and pompous “Wolf to the Moon,” and the slightly more shapely “Temple of the King.” “Still I'm Sad” offers an actual guitar hook instead of aimless riffing, while the Deep Purple classic “Smoke on the Water” reminds us that there was once melody and form to Blackmore's music. And the performance of the traditional classic “Greensleeves”—with altered lyrics celebrating the sloshy joys of alcohol—is an eye-roller. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, this is optional, at best. (T. Keogh)