THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: January 2022 (Page 9 of 12)

THE ARISTOCRATS – Culture Clash

January 12, 2022 /

This is the second studio album by The Aristocrats – a band put together by three of the best musicians in their field. I suppose you would classify this as a fusion album. On guitar, Guthrie Govan, on bass, Bryan Belller and on drums, Marco Minnemann. There are no hit singles on this album, just three guys showing us all what they can do. None of the songs are collaborations as they have each contributed pieces on their own.

I’m sure you have gathered by now, if you have read a lot of my reviews, that I am a total guitar nut and this album just scratches that itch for me big time. Guthrie is just on a different level to any other player today. The title track alone is just insanity, so many different styles and time changes in one song – it’s just incredible. Marco is one of the world’s go to drummers in this genre, and it always seems as though he has an extra limb while he is playing.

My favourite track on the whole album is Ohhhh Nooo!, such a wicked groove and rhythm, and the guitar playing is incredible. This album is choc full of jaw dropping moments, and if you’re a fan of great instrumental music played by insanely talented musicians who just go for it on every track – then this should be high on your list of albums to purchase.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

BE BOP DELUXE – Drastic Plastic

January 12, 2022 /

This is the final album from the Be Bop’s, released in ’78. In a short space of time, they released 5 studio albums and a live album, and each one is different from the previous. This album is quite new wave sounding – before it became fashionable to use the term new wave. There are lots of keyboards on this album, and I have always found it very American sounding – in line with a Talking Heads sort of vibe.

Bill Nelson’s vocals and his guitar make this album way above any other bands around at the time. I was quite sad when Bill called it a day with the band, and then he formed the short lived, Red Noise, before going solo and collaborating with too many people to mention here. My favourite Be Bop Deluxe album is Axe Victim, which is a million miles away in style from this album – as the emphasis was on the songs and the guitar. Here, however, the songs are still of great importance but presented in a futuristic style.

I love the opening track, Electrical Language, which has a superb groove and some great guitar. New Mysteries is a killer track with a very off beat and groove with some superb playing from Bill. Love In Flames is as close as the band came to a punk vibe, especially the vocal line. The start of Panic In The World reminds me of Heroes by Bowie, whom Bill was influenced by early on.

Not their best album, but still a very enjoyable record.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

VANDEN PLAS – Beyond Daylight

January 11, 2022 /

600!!!

Another milestone reached as this is my 600th review.


This is a vinyl reissue of the band’s 4th studio album, originally released in 2002. Their second album, The God Thing, is one of my favourite albums of the genre. They have the perfect sound for me, with the huge guitars and the crystal clear production, it’s what your hi-fi was made for. This album is a continuation and it’s just superb. Very strong songs and arrangements with a killer production – this is Prog metal at its best. Equal parts Dream Theater, Metallica, and Dokken is about as close as I can get to describe their sound, but they are much more than that.

Nightwalker opens up the album in fine style and is an epic tune in the truest sense of the word. Cold Wind will blow you away with the perfect balance between crunch and melody – a superb track. They know how to tone it down and change the pace perfectly, as the beginning to Scarlet Flower Fields has such beauty before the power takes over, add to that a killer instrumental section, and ladies and gentlemen we have a contender. Healing Tree is a power ballad with the emphasis being on the power as well as melody. End Of All Days starts off at a pace with pounding double kicks that you can feel. The beauty and the power vie for your attention, and the guitar sound is freakin’ huge. Free The Fire starts with the heavy Metallica style chuggas, and Andy Kuntz’s soaring vocals. This track really drives hard and fast, and the keyboards just sit behind the guitar to really make this a huge sound.

Can You Hear Me is the one true ballad on the album, but the melody is just superb. Phoenix closes out Side 3, and I love the heavy off time grooves, those harmonies and vocal melodies are just awesome, and the guitar solo…well!!! Side 4 is given over to the title track, which is killer as it twists and builds into the inevitable crescendo. This version has a bonus track, Point Of No Return, which, if you can imagine, sounds a bit like Yes with heavy guitars.

A truly superb record that you should grab a copy of ASAP. A final warning however, this is my third copy of this album. The previous two were unplayable as they had defects in the same place on both records, and the copy I have now is very noisy. Frontiers need to get their quality control in order as this is not the first problem I have had with their pressings.

10/10 (for the music) from The Grooveman.

BETH HART – Screaming For My Supper

January 11, 2022 /

This is a vinyl reissue of Beth’s second album which was released back in’ 99. The single, LA Song ,would be a success for her as it reached the Billboard Top 10. For those that don’t know, she won the Star Search show on US tv and that’s how she got her big break.

In my opinion, she is one of the best vocalists around today as she pours so much feel and soul into everything she does. This is much more singer/songwriter style to what she is doing today which has more of a blues/roots vibe going down. As with a lot of her work, it’s semi autobiographical and if you read between the lines, a lot of her songs are very personal.

This album is a such a great record I cannot recommend it high enough. There are no loud guitars or pounding drums, just superb songs performed by one my generation’s great artists. I won’t point out a favourite as I love it all.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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