THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: May 2021 (Page 13 of 15)

GEDDY LEE – My Favourite Headache

May 6, 2021 /

So what would the bass player/vocalist of one of the world’s most iconic and distinct bands actually sound like? Well, would it sound like the singer of Rush being Rush but without the band? Or would you do something complete unexpectedly and left field? Unfortunately, the answer is somewhere in between as there are tracks that could be Rush (around the Signals period) and there are tracks where he is trading to sound anything but Rush. The problem when you have a voice as easily recognizable as Geddy’s, it’s hard to change people’s perception.

Anyway, for most part it’s a really enjoyable album with more simplistic song structures. Using musicians that are not on the radar of most people like Ben Mink on guitars (who I only know from working with KD Lang), and Matt Cameron from Pearl Jam on drums. They are maybe not the people you would expect him to work with. Speaking of Pearl Jam, it does have a slight Seattle feel to the album. Stand out tracks for me are the opening and title track, My Favourite Headache, which is a great heavy sounding track. Moving To Bohemia with it’s weird opening rhythm and groove. Home On The Strange with it’s strange funked up groove – it’s probably the best track on the album. Funnily enough, these three tracks are the the most Rush sounding tracks on the album, and believe me, I’m not the world’s biggest Rush fan. This was recorded over 20 years ago now and he hasn’t done another one, who knows, maybe one day he will try again.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN – Wild Child

May 6, 2021 /

There seems to be a ton of these Roots Rock/ Americana Blues type bands coming out of the woodwork at the minute, and it definitely is flavour of the month to have that earthy sound. With that in mind, this album was recorded back in 2013 so maybe they were ahead of the curve. In fact, Tyler had been around for about 15 years when he launched the Tyler Bryant band. Whether it’s pure coincidence or not, there is a strong Aerosmith vibe on some of the tracks, and Brad Whitford’s son Graham plays guitar as part of the group.

Opening track, Fools Gold, is a great opening track and the retro rock vibe is kicking hard. Lipstick Wonder Woman has a country rock vibe with a great guitar sound. Cold Heart has a really dirty sleazy groove – it is a great tune with a big rock ending. Downtown Tonight is pure Nashville country blues with a really cool groove and harmony – with plenty of fuzz guitar. Say A Prayer follows and has one hell of a dirty fuzzed up gospel groove. Great tune! House That Jack Built closes out Side 1 and has a very ZZ Top feel to the intro, before more fuzzed up goodness ensues.

Side 2 opens with Last One Leaving, and it’s Nashville country blues time with the big chant vocals. Still Young (Hey Kids) is next up and could be any power pop band from the eighties – it has single written all over it. You Got Me Baby follows and is another earworm song that just sticks in your head for all the right reasons. House On Fire starts with real punked up attitude, and is raw rock n roll romp. Penultimate track, Where I Want You, again is a killer tune with a deep seventies retro groove that kicks ass. All to soon – the last track, Poor Boys Dream, starts with an acoustic slide intro and is a modern take on a delta blues vibe. A really enjoyable album and a good addition to anyone’s collection.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SKIDS – Scared To Dance

May 5, 2021 /

There were some musicians in the punk scene that used the scene to springboard their careers in music, and it would take them away from the original ethos behind the whole punk movement. Billy Idol is one, Stuart Adamson was another. We all now how huge Big Country became, and that guitar sound – boys and girls – started right here.

There are maybe three albums from the old punk scene that in my opinion were really good. The Crack by The Ruts, the first Clash album, and this little beauty. The thing is the Skids can actually play, they don’t just rely on 2 chord stompers to get the message across. This record was released in ’79 and within its grooves are two punk classics and both were released as singles. The Saints Are Coming and Into The Valley. Into The Valley would prove to be more important as this was the blue print for the Big Country. A genesis moment! Other notable tracks are the title track, which has that indie vibe before it became fashionable – with a really cool chord progression, and Of One Skin, which I’m sure The Edge from U2 stole and made a whole career out of it. I like this album a lot and it still puts a smile on my face.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BE BOP DELUXE – Axe Victim

May 5, 2021 /

I absolutely adore this album. It’s such a thing of beauty to the ears, and yet Bill Nelson doesn’t care for it that much. In fact, by the time the album came out, he was already changing the image and the personnel of the band. Forever the maverick, Bill wasn’t prepared to play the record company game. At the height of the band’s popularity (especially in America), he folded the band and formed the alt/art rock combo, Red Noise.

Anyway, the Be Bop Deluxe albums that were records, are all different and you can hear the progression from glam to Prog and alt rock. The title track opens up the album and is amazing. Right from the first chord, Bill’s guitar just holds you with the sheer brilliance of the playing. The solo is timeless and I never tire of hearing this one. Yes, there are big Bowie overtones – especially with the image and the lyrics – but this to me is so much better. Bill is not just a great frontman, but a true guitar hero. Love Is Swift Arrows follows and lyrically is amazing – “Rules to be broken by reckless and young men”. I’ve always loved this song and that line in particular. Bill plays his amazing guitar lines all over the track, but it compliments rather than takes over. Jet Silver And The Dolls has deep Bowie influences with the subject matter alone, and musically it’s very similar in style to the Ziggy period. Third Floor Heaven is the closest he comes to actually mimicking Bowie. From the phrasing of his voice to the Mick Ronson style rhythm playing – its so close. The delightful Night Creatures is the last track on Side 1 and tells a tale of glams new children. It’s such a beautiful track and Bill’s vocals and phrasing are just perfect.

Side 2 starts off with Rocket Cathedrals and is souped-up old school rock n roll tune. Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape is a song that means quite a lot to me as I was brought up in a community like that. I lived about 10 miles away from where Bill Nelson grew up and lived, and the pictures the song paints are fresh in my memory. Jets At Dawn is a song that appeared on the Smile EP and is a re-working of the original. It is also the longest track at 7.20. It contains a brilliant solo from Bill as the tempo picks up towards the end of the song. No Trains To Heaven is the big rock track on the album. It’s quite simple in its style with the interplay with Bill’s vocal and the guitar answers, but kicks ass as the speed picks up. Final track Darkness (L’immoraliste) has strings, orchestra, and everything – one can only speculate the subject matter. This is a great album and comes highly recommended.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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