THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: October 2021 (Page 8 of 13)

HUGHES/THRALL – s/t

October 14, 2021 /

Cards on the table straight away – this is the best album that Glenn Hughes has put out, and the same goes for Pat Thrall. I know Hughes was involved with some great Deep Purple albums, but he wasn’t the main focal point. Thrall was on some great Pat Travers records, but he was just a part of a machine. It’s mind blowing that they only made the one record when you hear how good this album is. The main reason is that they were both off there faces with every exotic substance known to man, and they both agree if they had stayed together they would both have probably died. I know there were rumours a few years ago that they were going to get together again, but alas, nothing so far apart from the odd track.

This is superb eighties rock that came out in ’82 and I can guarantee that every song is winner. Straddling the lines between rock, funk and pop, this album grooves in every possible way. The highlights for me are the superb opening track, I Got Your Number, which rocks, grooves, and swings all in three and a half minutes of pure genius. The heavy groove of Muscle and Blood which has a killer riff by Pat. The amazing funk rock of Hold Out Your Life which is my favourite track on the album. If someone had their head screwed on right at the record company, this should have been released as a single. And finally the big close out number, First Step Of Love – that’s how you finish a record!

The music business is a strange thing – this album should have been huge. Every home should have one, and it’s a 10/10 all day, every day from The Grooveman.

KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Lay It On Down

October 13, 2021 /

This is the 7th release from Kenny and it was put out in 2017. The one thing I have noticed more and more as Kenny has progressed, is how much country has crept into his sound. I first became aware of him when he opened up for Van Halen. Blues players were all the rage after the initial breakthrough of SRV. This is also a very clean and polished record, no rough edges – a very un-blues album you may think, but the songs are really good and the production is first class.

I like Kenny the best when he is doing that down South blues funk groove, like on Diamonds & Gold, as I think his style of playing and his voice suits that type of tune. When Noah Hunt sings, like on Nothin But The Night, that is where the country creeps into the sound, mixed with that funky under groove. Kenny still has the chops that made everyone take notice, it’s just they are almost hidden away on this album. It’s interesting that this album is categorized as blues, and I wonder if that frustrates him a bit, as this is obviously aimed at the country market. My favourite track is the last one, Ride For Your Life, as it’s the one track that does feel as though Kenny still has the blues – even though Noah’s voice tries to drag the song to country town.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SHAKIN’ STREET – s/t

October 13, 2021 /

Unless you are French or were paying attention in Britain around the NWOBHM era, I’m guessing you may not have heard of this band ,or more importantly, their singer Fabienne Shine. She is an amazing person and has had a very adventurous life, but I will concentrate on the music. She started writing songs quite early, and decided to tour the world with her guitar in case of inspiration. While doing this, she met and befriended Led Zeppelin who liked her songs and she became romantically involved with Jimmy Page. Page and Plant encouraged her to form a band, which she did on her return to France.

This is the second album and is of note because ex-Dictators and Manowar guitarist, Ross The Boss, is lead guitarist on this record. At its simplest, it’s very punk pop, like on the tracks No Time To Loose and Susie Wong, but it’s when the the groove hits harder that I like this album the most. No Compromise, Soul Dealer, Every Man, Every Woman Is A Star, and the best track on the album, I Want To Box You with that killer riff are the stand out tracks for me. I have a soft spot for this album because of Box You. She released a biography called Sexe, Drogues & Rock n Roll in 2014. Track it down if you can find it, she is some lady.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

PRONG – Cleansing

October 12, 2021 /

There are no hairs and graces with this album – it’s straight to the point no nonsense hard core heavy metal. Prong sprang into existence in NYC back in ’86. This absolute classic is their 4th album, and was released in ’94. Tommy Victor has the gift of writing very simple catchy riffs, and matching them with an undeniable groove that makes you want to bounce around your room of doom.

Whose Fist Is This Anyway is the lucky tune that has two monster riffs for you to groove to. The main riff that starts off, and the extra killer riff that closes out the song. That is followed by Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck, which carries on the killer vibe with another monster riff. The huge fat sound and relentless beat is a Prong trademark – this song just smokes! Cut Rate is almost Metallica-esque in its thrash metal delivery. Broken Peace is a step away from the norm as the groove is decidedly funky, and that mixed with the overdriven feed backing guitar is freakin’ awesome. My favourite track is the absolute monster sounding, Home Rule. That raw riff and groove is so infectious. I dare you not to exercise your groove muscle and start grooving like a thing possessed!

In case you have missed the clue, I love this album and it gets 10/10 all day everyday from The Grooveman.

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