THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: July 2021 (Page 1 of 14)

KANSAS – Leftoverture

July 31, 2021 /

Kansas are America’s finest Prog export, and purveyors of the finest melodies and grooves – it’s just that the rest of the world need to catch up on that fact. It’s hard to describe just how big the band are over this side of the pond with multi platinum albums a go go. Having got together in ’73, this is the band’s 4th album released in ’76 – and what an album it is.

First track in and it’s the band’s biggest track ever with Carry On My Wayward Son, and it doesn’t get much better than that. I think everyone will agree it’s an amazing song. The band basically revolves around the talents of multi instrumentalist and vocalist Steve Walsh, and Kerry Livgren. The Prog starts in earnest with The Wall, and other than the vocals, it sounds very British with nods to all the usual Prog influences. Why’s in My Mind is great tune with a superb melody and killer guitar. I know Cary On is an undeniable classic, but I do love Magnum Opus, a typical Prog epic in 6 parts that sees the band stretching out to cover all of their musical influences – a superb piece. I love the dual vocals of Walsh and violinist Robbie Steinhart, they sound almost medieval at times.

I still find it hard to believe that this band came out of the US as they don’t sound like any other US band, and their musical roots are firmly British.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

BULLETBOYS – Freakshow

July 31, 2021 /

Call them what you will: good old glamsters, flash rock n rollers, Van Halen wannabes, they were called them all by the rock press at the time, but who cares when their debut album was kick ass! So how would they do on their second album? Well, the answer is rather well – although it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the first. Again, it’s produced by Ted Templeman who squeezed every ounce of quality he could from the guys. Everything seems to be beefed up sound wise, the guitars sound huge, the separation of the rhythm section is fantastic, and Marq Torien’s vocals are right in your face.

Hell Yeah is a real kick ass tune to open things, it has a killer riff and groove. THC Groove carries on where the first track left off – a great 1, 2 opening. Thrill That Kills is a full on glam rocker – complete with sing-a-long chorus. My favourite track is next, Hang On St Christopher, with a super sleazy blues grove and swing – it adds that little element of surprise to the album. A pretty standard blues boogie is next with Talk To Your Daughter – one of the songs that falls a bit short for me. The title track closes out Side 1, and again it falls short compared to the first 4 tracks – even though Mick Swede plays some tasty licks.

Side 2 opens up with Good Girl which has a whacked out riff and is a standard rocker of the time. Do Me Raw is a return to slow and sleazy with a trickle out blues riff and groove. Ripping Me speeds things up and is as close as we get to ripping off VH on this album – it is a great tune with a fat riff. Say Your Prayers is – what I would call – a trademark Bulletboys track. Big riff, in your face vocal, and the sing-a-long chorus. Oh Me Oh My is as sleazy as it sounds and is just ok. Save the best to last they say, and it’s no exception here with the instrumental Huge. Well it does have one line “Have You Got The Balls”. I love this track and I would have bought the album just for this alone. They are great when they try some away from the norm.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

MONSTER TRUCK – Sittin’ Heavy

July 30, 2021 /

Monster Truck are Hamilton Ontario’s contribution to the whole revisiting of retro rock – and a mighty fine rock n roll band they are. This is the band’s second album, and a continuation from their first album, Furiosity. Formed back in 2011, the band’s rise as been quick – mainly due to the fact they write great songs that rock hard with big hooks and melodies.

The opening salvo of Why Are You Not Rockin’ and Don’t Tell Me How To Live will have you bouncing round your room of doom singing along. Great stuff!!! She’s A Witch has a very heavy Sabbath vibe going down at the intro, and then it breaks into an almost southern groove with a great old school solo and a killer ending. For The People has a guest appearance from Big Wreck’s Ian Thornley, and is another visit to southern territory with an almost underlying country vibe. A big shout out to Jon Harvey who has such an amazing powerful voice that really carries the tunes along.

Black Forest opens up Side 2 and slows the pace right down with a killer soulful ballad. Another Man’s Shoes has a big fat riff that grooves hard. Things Get Better is driven by the bounce of the opening piano, and again the southern vibe is very strong. If your from the GTA, then chances are you will be a Maple Leafs fan, and to have your track played after every goal the Leafs score must be an awesome event – that’s what happened with their track The Enforcer. The big sing along whoa whoa’s lend themselves to any sporting event.

Over to Side 3 we go with To The Flame, the huge fat riff gives way to a slow almost funk groove – with a vocal that reminds me of Chris Cornell. Midnight (which is a bonus track to this version) is next and has a choppy heavy riff and groove. New Souls follows and is a great modern rock song that drives and pounds hard. Enjoy The Time is the last track and has a heavy Black Crowes vibe as Side 4 is given up to the dreaded etched side – and we all know how I feel about those!

A really good record that just rocks hard and has a couple of nice slow moments that breaks up the pace nicely.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

RUSH – Grace Under Pressure

July 30, 2021 /

I’ll admit to not being the world’s biggest Rush fan – I can take them or leave them. For me, this was the last album that held my interest (up until Clockwork Angels), as I thought they had lost the thing that made them interesting – all because they were hell bent on changing for changes sake. For some bands and artists, this can be a good thing, as it inspires them to new heights of creativity (Steven Wilson), However, Rush lost me completely after this record.

This album was a departure for them as well, and I remember Rush fans falling over themselves to hate this record when it came out. You can identify the time this album came out by just listening to it. It’s full of all the things that were popular at the time, keyboard heavy, lots of guitar effects, spacey vocals, and it sounded almost poppy in places – it even has a bit of fast reggae with The Enemy Within. The band also wanted a change from long time producer Terry Brown, and went with a modern producer in Peter Henderson. The emphasis is more on the song than the big instrumental sections, even though there are still moments of brilliance from Lifeson on guitar. There are quite a few highlights for me on this record, the opener Distant Early Warning, The Body Electric and Kid Gloves all hit the spot. It’s quite sad that they will no longer be around as it’s another part of my youth that is no more.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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