THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: July 2021 (Page 4 of 14)

LONG DISTANCE CALLING – Trips

July 24, 2021 /

This progressive post rock band from Germany changed tack on this album. Before this, all the tracks were mostly extended instrumentals, and this time we have four tracks with vocals due to the addition of their vocalist, Petter Carlson. Now I know what you’re thinking, there’s lots of widdly-diddly guitar and keyboards to fill and extend the tracks, but that’s not so. Each song is played as though vocals are there, but they are played using guitars and keys for the melody. I have to say, it’s hard getting used to the vocals being present for this album. It’s definitely changed the feel for sure, as the dynamic has shifted for these tracks. I know they have used vocalists for tracks before, but this feels different.

Trauma feels like the band of old with the hard rockin’ instrumental, which I like a lot – this is one of their best tracks. I also love the beauty of Rewind as the vocals really add something haunting. Side 3 is given over to the pic Flux, 12 minutes of pure joy. It’s as though every thing in the album as been condensed and re constructed as one big beautiful slab of noise.

Long Distance Calling are out on their own and are just a wonderful band. I wasn’t sure if the presence of more vocals would change them too much, but after living with the album for a long time, I do like it.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SPREAD EAGLE – s/t

July 24, 2021 /

Another band that slipped through the cracks thanks to grunge. I’m sure that MCA had thought they had signed the next Guns N Roses. The similarities are there for all to see, except these guys are better. Singer, Ray West, is the secret weapon – my god what a set of pipes! The guitarist, Paul Bartolo, is way better than Slash and has all the chops. I haven’t played this in a long time and I’ve checked it out on Discogs and apparently it goes for big money, I guess it’s down to the fact that not many were pressed on vinyl.

Broken City is a killer track and what a way to open the record. This band rocks hard!!! Back On The Bitch has very suspect lyrics to say the least, but the music and groove are outstanding. Switchblade Serenade is next up and could be the best yet – with an awesome hook and melody, and the cherry on the top is the awesome solo. More suspect subject matter follows with Hot Sex and the groove is decidedly funky with a killer guitar tone – jeez what a monster track! Suzy Suicide closes out Side 1 and we are flying here folks, the pedal has gone to the metal, and its the fastest track on the record!

Over to Side 2 we go with Dead Of Winter. It has a great slow build opening that leads into a sleazy beast of a tune. Scratch Like A Cat has an almost Aerosmith vibe, but faster and dirtier with a very EVH style solo – there was even a self financed video to this track. Thru These Eyes is the obligatory ballad, well that’s how it starts, but then transforms into a dirty sleaze fest. The band’s self titled anthem is next up and it’s a good old glam stomper. Let’s see those hands in the air🤘🤘. 42nd Street follows and is a short acoustic blues piece that leads into album closer Shotgun Kiss, which is the sleaziest the band get.

IMHO, this is one of the Top 5 glam/hair metal albums and should be a must have for anyone who’s into this type of rock. I know it’s hard to find even on CD, but you won’t be disappointed.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

GRETA VAN FLEET – The Battle At Gardens Gate

July 23, 2021 /

Depending on what you read, Greta Van Fleet are either the saviours of classic rock, or Led Zep copyists. The first couple of releases I would say they were definitely copying Zeppelin, as the vocalist was altering his voice to sound like Robert Plant – hence the voice problems he was having. His normal style is naturally a cross between Geddy Lee and Plant himself. But with this album, they have consciously changed direction slightly and it feels totally natural – and for the first time, I’m really liking what I hear.

From what I can gather reading the lyrics, it’s a loose concept piece based around ancient civilizations and loose biblical references. They still have that classic late seventies sound, but with a killer modern production. The Zep references will never disappear, but now instead of copying them, they be an influence. There is no doubt that Joshua Kiszka has an amazing set of pipes, and he seems to be stretching himself more this time out. In fact, the whole band seem to be out to prove something as the whole album is killer – and is highly recommended by me! Highlights are (and there are many): Broken Bells, Age Of Machine, and The Barbarians – but these are just my picks, I’m sure there is enough variation here to appeal to everyone. Well done Greta Van Fleet for proving me wrong.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SAVOY BROWN – Looking In

July 23, 2021 /

This is quite a pivotal album in the life of Savoy Brown. After the release and gigs for this album, all of the band (apart from founder and leader Kim Simmons) would leave the band to form Foghat. Foghat would have huge success in the States, and Savoy Brown would soldier on and release a stack of albums, but eventually disappeared from the musical map. The band were part of the late sixties blues boom that would come out of the UK. This album draws heavily from what the Rolling Stones we’re doing at the time with Sticky Fingers and Exile. It’s a shame that the band would fall apart after this, as Simmons had found a great guitarist/vocalist and songwriting partner in Lonesome Dave Peverett.

IMHO, this album is the best the band put out. My personal favourite tracks are the blues/jazz instrumental of Sunday Night, which is very of its time but still sounds great, and Leaving Again, which would be the direction Foghat would head down after the split. If you like the blues rock boom bands, then give this one a listen.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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