THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: January 2021 (Page 4 of 14)

DEEP PURPLE – Machine Head

January 23, 2021 /

Another iconic album that every one and his dog has waxed lyrical over. This is the 3rd album recorded by the classic Mk2 line up of the band, and their peak with them. The animosity between Gillan and Blackmore also reached its peak at this point as they were hardly talking to each other. So it’s amazing it turned out the way it did.

Kicking things off with the epic driving song Highway Star, with the Hammond intro and driving beat before that Gillan trademark scream that announces the arrival of this future DP classic. Every rock band for the next 10 years and beyond would follow this format. All the elements that you associate with Purple are here, namely over-the-top everything. Now the next three tracks Maybe I’m A Leo, Pictures Of Home, and Never Before are not bad tracks – it’s just they are nestled between some of the most iconic tracks in the history of rock, so they have this tendency to get lost somewhat, which is a shame – if they were picked for Made In Japan things may have been different.

Over on Side 2 and we get the most recognizable riff ever in rock music with Smoke On The Water. Now I don’t care if I ever hear this song again as it has been played to death, but you can’t take away from the fact that it’s a good song with a simple structure – and the simple ones are the ones that people remember. Now what set Purple apart from most other bands at the time is they were all amazing individual instrumentalists in their own right, as well as performing as a band. If you ever caught them live you would know what I mean with all the extended solo sections.

The next 2 tracks are both Purple classics as they emphasize that point to the max with Lazy, and Space Truckin’. Lazy starts off with that over top Hammond sound that only Jon Lord could do, followed by that Blackmore riff, and we’re away and runnin’ – great stuff. The perfect end to an album with Space Truckin’, which shows a band at the height of their power.

I would say this is my favourite version of Purple, even though I have a soft spot for the Burn album which will come later. My favourite track is Lazy.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

MOLLY HATCHET – s/t

January 23, 2021 /

Good ole Southern Rock! Its roots probably go back to the Allman Brothers and the Jacksonville Florida area – as they had their first jam in a park there. Now, Moly Hatchet also hail from the same area, and they too, have that almost country vibe to their sound, but they probably have more in common with Lynyrd Skynyrd and their three guitar attack. These guys have been around since ’71, but it wasn’t until ’78 that they got to record this, their debut album, after signing to CBS. I bought this in its first week of release as I heard the opening track Bounty Hunter on the radio, I was already a fan of Skynyrd and when I heard this I had to dive in.

Second track in Gator Country has that country/rock feel going down with some tasty lead guitar to top it off. Big Apple is an ok track, followed by the almost funky groove of The Creeper – again, with a great lead brea. Then into the Side 1 closer The Price You Pay, with a very funky/blues feel and again more geetar!!!

Side 2 starts with the epic Dreams I’ll Never See – a Gregg Allman penned tune, which lends itself perfectly to MH style of southern grooves with some great trade offs with all three guitarists. I’ll Be Running is next up with a choppy staccato feel and a very Allman vocal from Danny Joe Brown – and even more GEETAR!! The only throw away track is next in, Cheatin Woman, and then into album closer Trust Your Old Friend – a trademark Hatchet tune.

Not their best album as that would come with their next release. If you were listening to this for the first time and didn’t look at the cover – you would know where these guys came from – the influences are that obvious – but I like it. The band still tour today, even though there are no original members left making them a tribute to themselves.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

BLUE OYSTER CULT – Fire Of Unknown Origin

January 22, 2021 /

This BOC’s eighth studio album and was produced by Martin Birch who worked with Deep Purple and Iron Maiden. I am a big fan of early BOC, and after this album I started to loose interest somewhat. This is the audiophile Music On Vinyl release, and it sounds super clear – it’s also the last album to feature the original line up.

First track in is the title track co-written by Patti Smith, followed by the hit single Burning For You, which after Don’t Fear The Reaper and Godzilla was their biggest chart position. Veteran of the Psychic Wars is next and was co- written with sci-fi writer Michael Moorcock – who you may remember hooked up with Hawkwind in the 70’s. The very average Sole Survivor is next followed by Heavy Metal The Black, and The Silver, a track from the movie of the same name – this is more of an old BOC vibe and the best track on the album.

Side 2 starts with Vengeance, a solid rockin’ track that speeds into an almost Maiden gallop as the track moves on. After Dark is next with an almost punk/new wave intro and has a cool sing-a-long chorus. Next in, Joan Crawford vies with Heavy Metal for the best-track-on-the-album Championships. It starts with it’s almost operatic beginning and great chorus telling us “she has risen from the grave”. Don’t Turn Your Back closes things out in typical BOC style.

This is the album that saved their career – as the previous two releases bombed commercially – so the pressure was on. Thanks to the great choice of singles, and a solid production major label status was secured, for a while anyway.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

PORCUPINE TREE – Nil Recurring

January 22, 2021 /

This is the 2007 release on KScope, which is the companion piece to Fear of a Blank Planet. These songs were written at the same time and were part of the concept for the album, but were deemed not to fit with the original piece and were finished after the recording of Blank Planet. That’s not to say they are bad songs, as they are not, most bands would be ecstatic to have them.

Things get moving pretty quickly with the instrumental title track, with a heavy riff that builds with some wild drumming from Gavin Harrison into an odd middle section with out-there guitar from Robert Fripp. Next up is Normal, which has the same chorus/melody as Sentimental from the Blank Planet album. If anything, Normal is a heavier piece with some fat heavy riffs. Cheating The Polygraph is next, which is my favourite track. Again we have a great heavy riff with some industrial drum grooves and odd time signatures. This is such a great song. Last but not least is the beautiful What Happens Now, with an atmospheric beginning that builds into a really cool groove and a wonderful odd time signature. This track fits with Way Out Of Here on Blank Planet, as What Happens Now is referenced in the lyrics.

So at 29 minutes in length and only 4 songs, we are in Van Halen- Diver Down territory. You may feel it could be longer, but it was only intended as an EP and the quality of the material is so good it gets.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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