REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: November 19, 2021

THE BEATLES – Abbey Road

Even though I was born in 1960, The Beatles had past me by. I did not become aware to their music around until 1970, by which time they were almost done. I hate early Beatles as it’s way too basic for my tastes, and I only own three albums, if which, this is one.

I’m a guitar lover, and the guitar playing is rudimentary at best, as the strengths of this band are all about song composition. I think by the time they had recorded this and Let It Be, they were done and they knew it themselves. They were a very lucky band, as Abbey Road studio was basically their playground which they could nearly come and go as they pleased. I firmly believe that if any band worth their salt were given the time that these guys had in the studio, that they would come up with something astonishing.

Anyhoo, I digress. This is my favourite Beatles album just for the fact it has Come Together on it. A great song that has been covered by every man and his dog (I really love Aerosmith’s version). Something is a beautiful love song – I wish I could have written something so romantic. Here Comes The Sun is another one of my favourite Beatles tunes that I love playing in the deep of winter.

There is no denying The Beatles influence on popular music and their contribution to rock n roll history, but they are not for everybody.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

HALESTORM – Into The Wild Life

I bought this on a whim having seen it cheap in a sale, and it was still sealed. I was intrigued as people like Eddie Trunk had been fawning all over them so I thought I would dive in. I was quite surprised when I put it on as I wasn’t expecting the manufactured pop/metal that blew out of the speakers. It’s Shinedown and Nickleback with a female vocalist. There is no way they could play this live as a four piece, as there is so much peripheral noise going on. Lizzy Hale has a phenomenal power to her voice and it’s obvious this band is a vehicle for her talents.

I Am The Fire is a very powerful piece which showcases her voice perfectly. It has a strange showtune vibe to it which I really like. Sick Individual has a nice instrumental piece, but you can’t help feeling that this is production line rock with a whole team of people just cranking these tunes out. Mayhem adds a bit of angst and anger to the polish. Bad Girls World could be Pink or any other pop songstress singing back at me, and this is where I switch off nearly every time I listen to this album.

It’s not a bad album by any stretch, but it’s not for me as it all feels created for a purpose and not for the love of the art.

7/10 from The Grooveman.