THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: December 3, 2021

SAMSON – Shock Tactics

December 3, 2021 /

If you were like me and around when the NWOBHM hit, then Samson were thought of as something as a goof band – especially the first 2 albums and Live. They hammed it up quite a bit and you got the impression, especially from Bruce, that this was something he did as a giggle until he got a proper job. Then they released this album, and then I guess they thought they might have a shot.

Opening track, Riding With The Angels, is the best thing they ever put out. I guess it made certain people in the Maiden camp take notice as he was poached shortly after. The best thing about the next track, Earth Mother, is the sheer power of Bruce’s vocal. Nice Girl is a typical blues rock riff but with a very suspect lyric. Go To Hell is a fast shuffle and is ok. Communion could have been Bruce’s audition for Maiden, and I’m sure Steve Harris heard this and thought of the future.

It’s an ok album, but there were a lot better bands around at this time. You can see how Samson never reached much farther, though it would have been interesting to see what the next Samson would have been like if Bruce was still on vocals.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BOSTON – Don’t Look Back

December 3, 2021 /

Imagine the pressure that the band (and especially Tom Scholz) were under when they had to follow up what was one of the greatest debut albums of all time. It took almost exactly two years for them to come up with this – their follow up. As much as the record company wanted you to believe that Boston were indeed a bonafide band, you didn’t have to dig far to realize that everything revolved around the genius that is Tom Scholz.

When you hear the opening notes of Don’t Look Back you think “wow”, it’s as though they never stopped after the first album – a killer track. A cool little instrumental piece, The Journey, leads into Its Easy, and this is the first weakfish track for me. Side 1 closes out with the big power ballad and single, A Man I’ll Never Be, which when it gets going, is a great song.

Side 2 kicks off with another single Feelin’ Satisfied, which I would class as a typical Boston song heavy on the melody. As is the track after, Party, which is nearly a mirror image. Of course Tim Scholz’s guitar playing is fantastic, but when you look at how long it took him to record to get that perfect sound, then it should be. The album plays out with Used To Bad News and Don’t Be Afraid – both are good tracks but nothing stands out and grabs you.

I guess if this was their first album then people would have hailed it as a good album, but when this is your second album and it follows an absolute monster of a first album then it’s going to disappear somewhat.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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