Francis Rossi – The Accidental

Albumreview by Jan Vranken

Seven years is an eternity in rock and roll, but Francis Rossi wasn’t counting. The Status Quo frontman had no plans to make another solo album. He was just tinkering in the studio, plugging in guitars, making noise with Hiran Ilangantilike—a young guitarist who’d once been a school friend of Rossi’s kids—when lightning struck. What emerged wasn’t just another record; it was *The Accidental*, a raw-knuckled reminder that some of rock’s greatest moments happen when you stop trying so damn hard.

This is Rossi’s first solo outing since 2019, and it marks a fierce departure from the acoustic balladry of his previous work. Gone are the layered harmonies and country-tinged introspection. In their place: fourteen tracks of no-bullshit, guitar-forward rock that recalls why Rossi’s three-chord boogie made Status Quo arena gods in the first place. The album title says it all—this wasn’t manufactured, it was discovered.

Opening track “Much Better” sets the tone with its Americana-kissed swagger, but it’s when Rossi fully unleashes his Les Paul that *The Accidental* finds its pulse. “Go Man Go” bursts with springloaded guitars and a thumping beat that could wake the dead, while “Something In The Air (Stormy Weather)” introduces a darker, more sinister edge with its choppy riffs and chant-like rhythms. This is the sound of a 76-year-old national treasure who still knows how to make speakers sweat.

The album’s secret weapon is its middle section. “Picture Perfect” delivers that signature Rossi groove—instantly recognizable, irresistibly rhythmic, the kind of song that gets under your skin and refuses to leave. “November Again” follows with a melancholic refrain that builds into a soaring chorus, courtesy of bassist John ‘Rhino’ Edwards and drummer Leon Cave locking into a groove that recalls the best of late-period Quo. Then comes “Beautiful World”—six glorious minutes of vintage boogie that channels the Frantic Four at their peak. Think *Rockin’ All Over the World*-era thunder, the kind that made Glasgow Apollo balconies bounce.

“Push Comes To Shove” takes an unexpected left turn, its rhythm reminiscent of The Clash’s “London Calling” before devolving into music hall theatrics that shouldn’t work but absolutely do. It’s these moments of controlled chaos that elevate *The Accidental* above mere nostalgia. Rossi and co-producer Andy Brook understand that playing to your strengths doesn’t mean playing it safe.

The supporting cast deserves recognition. Ilangantilike’s fresh blood energizes Rossi’s old bones, while longtime collaborator Bob Young contributes to two tracks that bear the classic Rossi/Young hallmark. Amy Smith’s backing vocals add dimension throughout, and there’s genuine chemistry in these performances—the sound of musicians actually enjoying themselves rather than going through the motions.

Not everything hits. “Dead of Night” feels perfunctory, and tracks like “Be My Love” tread familiar ground without breaking new dirt. Hardcore fans of Status Quo’s harder-rocking ’70s output might find some material too gentle for their tastes. The album would have benefited from another track or two with the bite of “Something In The Air,” adding more contrast to the straight-ahead rockers.

But these are minor quibbles in an album that gets the fundamentals right. “Back On Our Home Ground” ventures into ZZ Top blues territory with understated refinement, while closing ballad “Time To Remember” proves Rossi can still deliver poignancy without sacrificing power. Built around swaying piano and melody, it’s a fitting coda to an album that never asked for permission to exist.

*The Accidental* isn’t about chasing relevance or recapturing youth. It’s about instinct, groove, and fifty-plus years of knowing exactly who you are with a guitar in your hands. Rossi has nothing to prove and everything to say, and that paradox is where the magic lives. In an era of calculated comebacks and strategic releases, here’s an album that happened because someone couldn’t help but make noise. Sometimes that’s all rock and roll needs to be.

**Standout Tracks:** “Beautiful World,” “Something In The Air (Stormy Weather),” “November Again,” “Picture Perfect”

**(7.5/10) (earMUSIC)**