THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: March 2022 (Page 3 of 14)

RIVAL SONS – Feral Roots

March 26, 2022 /

It’s hard to believe it, but these original retro rockers released their first album in 2009, and this is album number six. They seem to hit the right spot between blues, rock, and groove for me that sets them above the rest of the copyists – and in Jay Buchanan they have one hell of a frontman with a great set of pipes.

The lead off track, Do Your Worst, was released as the first single and is a total banger. Sugar On The Bone has an old school blues swagger vibe with a killer vocal and really grooves along. The title track is an epic slow piece that reminds me of all the bands from the southern US in the seventies – it has such a great vibe. Too Bad is my favourite track on the record and one of their best – it has so much feeling and is such a powerful piece. Stood By Me has that Sticky Fingers feel with the groove and the vocal is epic. Imperial Joy is old school rocked up R&B. The big surprise for me on the album is The End Of Forever with the electronic intro before the most monster of riffs takes over. This track really swings. This band just get better and better.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ALDO NOVA – Twitch

March 26, 2022 /

This is the third album by guitarist/songwriter/producer Aldo Nova , and was released in ’85. After having scored major success with his first album (and the hit single from it, Fantasy), the follow up album, Subject, didn’t do quite as well (even though I think it’s the best). So when it came to this album, the record company interfered big time and old Aldo was not pleased. There were two singles off the album that did ok, Rumours Of You, and Tonite, but Aldo would disappear after this for 6 years until his contact ended.

This album is very AOR and relies too heavily on syrupy ballads, but there are still rockin’ moments like on If Looks Could Kill, which has a great riff and cool chorus, Fallen Angel, which reminds me of Fantasy from the first album, and the Def Leppard sounding track Lay Your Love On Me. There are moments when Aldo shows what a great player he is, and the title track is a quirky electronic piece with him ripping over the top.

It’s not a bad album and it some great moments, but if the record company hadn’t interfered it would have been a whole lot better.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

GEORGE LYNCH – Seamless

March 25, 2022 /

This is the last solo album from George, and was released last year. He seems to be involved in a lot of projects, but still his output has been of a very high standard. I am always stoked for anything by George as I am a huge fan.

He is joined here by ex-Bulletboys drummer Jimmy D’Anda, and on bass a guy I don’t know, Eric Louiselle. First track in, Quiver, is a very heavy sounding track with a great riff and lots of cool playing. Cola has a slowed down almost funky groove with a fat mean main riff, plenty of wah wah, and lots of George. TJ 69 is next up and has a killer groove and swing. Death By A Thousand Licks is just that, a fast paced riff with George laying down lick after lick. I Think closes out Side 1 and starts with with a fuzzed out main riff with a cool groove – and yup – lots of George. I think you get the picture by now – every track has lots of George.

Side 2 kicks off with Sharks With Laser Beams, and this is the most up-tempo track so far – I love the tone of the guitar in the solo. Octavia is a contender for my favourite on the album. It starts off with some nice acoustic playing before the main riff kicks in, and George is using some really cool effects. Supersonic Hypnotic Groove Thing is a straight up rocker, and the guitar is epic on this track. The album closes out with Falling Apart and is the closest to a Dokken-esque track you’ll get here as the guitar is covering what would be the vocal line.

This album is guitar all the way. If you want George playing tunes with vocals then there is plenty of that out there with The End Machine, Wicked Underground, Dirty Shirley, and Ultraphonix (to name a few). I am really glad he does these instrumental albums once in a while.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

POINT BLANK – Airplay

March 25, 2022 /

Hailing from Irving, Texas and produced by ZZ Top’s Bill Ham, this is the band’s third album released in ’79. A very southern rock sounding band with hints of Skynyrd, the Allman’s, and ZZ Top of course. I remember seeing their name listed in tour listings all the time as they were one of those bands that toured relentlessly.

The album is a well played and well produced record – it’s just lacking the songs. That’s not to say it’s a bad album – it’s not – it’s just missing that spark. However, it does have it’s moments when they rock out. Side 1 closer Penthouse Pauper is a nice slab of southern style rock with a great main riff. The other track that did it for me was Thunder And Lightning, and when they raise the tempo they seem more comfortable as a band. Big shout out to Rusty Burns who plays some great guitar on the album.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2025 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑