THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: November 9, 2021

DANKO JONES – A Rock Supreme

November 9, 2021 /

Hailing from Toronto, this is the band’s 9th studio album and continues their stripped down rock/punk sound. There are no surprises here as it’s a tried and trusted formula: short, sharp, and to the point – no frills rock n roll with attitude.

First track in, I’m In A Band, pretty much sums Danko Jones perfectly – he just wants to play the music. I spoke to him at a gig (I think it was the Mod Club) and he was a really down to earth guy and was surprised I knew who he was. Stand out tracks for me are Dance, Dance, Dance, which has a really cool groove and a god sing a long chorus, Fists Up High, which starts with a nice riff and a great choppy groove, and also Burn In Hell, which is the fastest song on the record and has Danko channeling his inner Phil Lynott – certain tones in his voice remind me so much of Phil.

If stripped back rock n roll is your thing, then this could be for you.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

RATT – s/t

November 9, 2021 /

Formed in ’76 as Mickey RATT, it wasn’t until ’81 and a name change to just RATT that success came their way. This is the first EP that was originally released on their own label, Time Coast, and I remember buying a licensed copy on Music For Nations.

The six tracks on offer here are very raw sounding, but you can tell they were going places. Opener, Sweet Cheater, is a killer up-tempo rocker and quite possibly the heaviest thing they released, with a great solo from Warren De Martini – one of the unsung guitar heroes of the LA scene. You Think You’re Tough is a blueprint for the direction they would take after this album. I Got It is pure sleaze glam (before it became fashionable) with a real dirty riff. Tell The World would reappear later in a more modified version as Lack Of Communication. Back For More would be re-recorded on Out Of The Cellar, and this is a tad slower and dirtier sounding. Walkin’ The Dog closes out the record and I love the intro as it sets the tone for the track – which is pure dirty LA sleaze.

Well worth getting – especially if you’re a RATT fan – and if you’re not, get it anyway because it’s really good.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Archives

© 2025 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑