THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: July 2021 (Page 2 of 14)

GOLDEN EARRING – Live

July 29, 2021 /

Welcome to the world of Golden Earring – Holland’s greatest export to the world of rock. Believe it or not, they released their first album in 1965 – that’s before Zeppelin were even a twinkle in Jimmy Page’s eye.

This live album was recorded in ’73, and is a warts and all representation of the band at that time. Everyone knows Radar Love, and you get the ultimate 12 minute blow out version here. There is no denying what a classic song it is, but there is so much more to them as a band. Tracks like She Flies On Strange Wings are a left over from the late sixties, but here it’s mixed with a hard rock blueprint and it sounds great. There is a great version of The Byrd’s Eight Mile High that is beefed up – I think it gives the original a run for its money.

Guitarist George Kooymans announced he was suffering with SLS and would be retiring. Shortly after, the band announced they were calling it a day. It’s sad when things like this happen, but they have left a great legacy of music for us all to check out.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

THE RUTS – The Crack

July 29, 2021 /

So here it is, my favourite album from the whole punk side step. The release came in ’79, right at the very end of the first wave, but oh what a statement it made. To me this was what punk was all about, being angry and having something to say – and The Ruts had plenty to say. They were very politically tinged, and that reflected the time. S.U.S was written about the Southall riots and the laws that were introduced around them, and how the SPG that enforced them. A lot of the tracks have a reggae feel to them, and this mixed with the punk angst, works great.

The album opens with the best 2.30 of the whole punk movement. Babylon’s Burning is angry and to the point – with a riff and groove to die for. Even when I play this today I get goosebumps. It Was Cold is the big epic track on the album, and shows that punk was more than just two chords strummed fast. The dynamics of the guitar, the reggae funk undertone, and Owen’s vocal are sublime.

Unfortunately, just over a year later Malcolm Owen would die due to a heroin overdose, and the band would fold in ’83. It’s such a shame. To me, they were way better than The Clash as they were real. Grab yourself a slice of the best punk band – you won’t regret it.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

PAT TRAVERS BAND – Crash And Burn

July 28, 2021 /

This is the album where the blues took a backseat, and slick production gloss took over. It was also the last album to feature drummer Tommy Aldridge, who would later join Ozzy’s circus, and guitarist Pat Thrall. Pat would later join Glenn Hughes in their short lived partnership, and he left Pat with just Mars Cowling as his ever present bass player.

Travers is known for his guitar playing skills, so it was a bit of a surprise when the lead off track, Crash N Burn, was keyboard driven. Now it’s a great track with a killer groove, but if you have heard this done as a three piece with the keyboard parts now being played by a guitar, it sounds awesome. Snorting Whiskey has become a PT classic, with some killer guitar playing – it’s such a good tune. There is a sleazy groovy version of Booker T’s Born Under A Bad Sign, which I really love. My favourite track on the album is the final track, Material Eyes, with its multiple layered guitars and effects that lead into a very big fade out. I don’t think PT ever made a bad album and this is no exception. It’s good to see him still up and playing.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

OPETH – Blackwater Park

July 28, 2021 /

How very clever of the randomizer to pick this today – it’s the 21st anniversary of its release. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the album that brought death metal to the masses. Now, I know a lot of people don’t like death metal because of the deep screams, but when they are done to emphasize the light and dark within songs, then it makes perfect sense. Opeth have always been more than an ordinary death metal band. The musicality has always been above any other band, and in this album, everything came together perfectly.

The Steven Wilson production and mix lifts the music and puts the spotlight on the melody and intricacies of the band (that were somewhat lost before). Make no mistake, this is the finest album of the genre and tracks like The Leper Affinity, The Drapery Falls and Blackwater Park are genre defining tracks. Take away Mikael’s growls, and you have an amazing progressive metal band – in fact – now the screams have gone completely and the band are just a great progressive band. The twelve minutes plus of the title track is as good as it gets. The twists and turns within the music, and the groove and rhythmic changes – you will not hear better.

There is no other band like Opeth. They are unique and instantly recognizable, which is a very hard thing to be in today’s music flooded world. I heartily approve this addition to everyone’s collection, and you should acquire it immediately.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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