THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: February 25, 2021

WEATHER REPORT – 8:30

February 25, 2021 /

This is one of those amazing albums that you can lose yourself in and is pure joy to listen to. This was the 10th album that Weather Report released, and actually won a Grammy for best Jazz Fusion performance in ’79. It captures the classic line up of the band: Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, and Tye awesome Pete Erskine on the pots and pans. Very wide ranging in style, from world/African, Jazz, Rock, and fusion – this is just a fantastic record and is a lesson in groove and rhythm.

Check out opening track Black Market – it has everything I have just mentioned. It’s a wonderful track with some amazing playing by all concerned. If anyone was in any doubt just how amazing Jaco Pastorius was on the bass – just listen to his solo piece, Slang. Incredible! In places, this is an incredibly groovy record. With Teen Town the groove never stops, Birdland with its infectious boogie-woogie style, and The Orphan with its African rhythms.

I know there is more music now than there has ever been, but you really have to dig to find bands playing like this. Other than Snarky Puppy, there aren’t many young bands playing with this much freedom. If you would like to dip your toe into the waters of Weather Report, you could start with this or try anything after ’74 when the groove was the primary focus.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

JERRY CANTRELL – Degradation Trip

February 25, 2021 /

The Alice In Chains album that never was. Rumour has it that the majority of these songs were to be for the next AIC album, but due to Staley’s on going substance problems, Cantrell used them for this solo release. Staley would die of his drug problems two months before this album’s release, and it is dedicated to him.

Jerry is joined here by Metallica’s Robert Trujillo on bass (who at the time, was part of Ozzy’s band), and Faith No More’s Mike Bordin on drums. The record sounds very much like Alice In Chains as Jerry’s voice is so distinctive, and he provided the melody with Staley to create that sound. He doesn’t get enough credit for those albums other than being the guitar player.

For me, this album is one of the best grunge albums of all time. This is not all doom and depression – there is a lot going on here, great well written songs, awesome playing, and superb production. The opening track could be the best song that Alice In Chains never recorded. There were two singles released: Anger Rising and Angel Eyes, Angel Eyes being the most commercial. Other stand out tracks are Side 2 close out track Hellbound (which I like a lot), the unusual Castaway, which starts off real slow until the fat guitar kicks in, the awesome Chemical Tribe, which is a very dark tune with a very simple riff, and the fat heavy riff of Spiderbite. There are a couple of tunes that aren’t great, but overall it’s a good album.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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