While it has been fifteen years since Ritchie Blackmore traded in his leather trousers and Fender electric guitar for a lute and tights, it still seems odd to not hear him rock. After all, this is one of the most influential electric guitarists in history. Instead of headlining tours, he is telling ghost stories and dancing around campfires. Still, as odd as life sometimes turns out, one can’t help but admit that Blackmore’s Night is an interesting band. I would have traded fighting with Ian Gillan for snuggling up next to Candice Night as well, but one wonders how powerful a spell she has Blackmore under as he has seemingly turned his back on his past, despite its importance to the genre.

Autumn Sky fits right in with the rest of the albums the band has released. There is nothing new and exciting. There are no rules being broken, and truth be told, it is pretty much interchangeable with anything else they have done. Despite all of this, the album is a good listen and is the music is very interesting. Lets face it, whether Ritchie is playing a Stratocaster or a lute doesn’t really matter, as it is still Ritchie. Candice sings and dancing and puts her heart into the tunes as only she can. Damn it, just for the sake that we will seemingly never get to hear Ritchie on a rock stage, with a rock band, ever paying “Long Live Rock n Roll” and “Highway Star” again, I want to hate this band and this album. I can’t, however, as, even thought it ain’t rock n’ roll, it is done well. It is no wonder it debuted on Billboard’s New Age charts at # 1.

Maybe one day the pagan gods and the castle ghosts will convince Candice to let her man reunite with Joe Lynn Turner for a Rainbow reunion and live the rock star life one more time, but until then, if you want to hear Ritchie play new tunes, then Blackmore’s Night is it. It could be worse. It could be polka.