THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: April 2022 (Page 1 of 8)

TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN- Truth and Lies

April 30, 2022 /

This is the band’s third album released in 2019. I’m a big fan, and loved the first two records – the first thing I notice right from the first track, Shock & Awe, is the tone is a lot heavier and a tad retro. It has a killer riff and wicked slow groove, and I really dig the hook and chorus. On To The Next is superb! A really dirty funkyish vibe with an almost spoken vocal. Ride brings the blues to proceedings with some killer fuzz guitar. Shape I’m In has a very country blues vibe with a great vocal from Tyler and is a very emotive tune. The retro vibe is strong in Eye To Eye with a very evil main riff and this track just smokes. Panic Button has a superb off-groove with a big hook and chorus. Side 1 closes out with Judgement Day and it’s a return to the country blues.

Side 2 explodes into life with Drive Me Mad – a turbo charged rocker. Without You has a killer main riff and then slows down with a very atmospheric slide playing underneath, which leads into the superb hook and chorus. Trouble is next up with a very dirty country blues groove, and some killer slide. Out There is just one man, and what sounds like a resonator, until the end anyway – a beautiful piece. Cry Wolf has a very modern rock vibe with that hint of retro. The album closes out with Couldn’t See The Fire, a slow brooding beast of a tune, the highlight is Tyler’s superb vocal and killer guitar. A great record by a great band.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

TEMPLE BALLS – Pyromide

April 30, 2022 /

Before we start with the tunes – a quick mention on the band’s name. I mean, a quick huddle down the pub over a pint, and putting a H where the B is would have made the name a tad more mysterious don’t you think?

Anyhoo, that doesn’t detract away from what is a really great hard rockin’ melodic record. The eighties never went out of style in Finland apparently, and band’s like this are cranking out great records. Every song feels like an anthem with huge monster melodies and hooks.

Thunder From The North is a superb opener with a great riff and pounds along. Long Ways, Long Lies has the big anthem style groove. T.O.T.C  is a sleazy beast of a tune with killer hook and groove – it feels like a speeded up Monkey Business. Fallen Youth has a Dokken style chugga riff and another huge hook and chorus. Bad Bad Bad has a modern pop feel to the whole thing – but in a good way. Side 1 closes with the up-tempo beat of What Is Dead Never Dies.

A monster sounding riff and groove announce the arrival of Side 2 opener, Unholy Night. This track sounds huge and the production is epic. Heart Of A Warrior starts with another killer sounding riff – the chorus and hook remind me of so many 80’s bands – I can’t pin it down. You Better Run follows and it’s more of the same, big riff, big hook, and killer chorus. If Only I Could is the power ballad I’ve been dreading, but these guys make it tolerable with a great solo and massive melodies. Something To Die For closes out the album with a huge riff and groove with a Bon Jovi style chorus.

This is the band’s third album, and I guess you are like me and had never heard of them. Great record!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

THE ROYAL COURT OF CHINA – Geared & Primed

April 29, 2022 /

Weird name for a rock band as it more suits something with the vibe of Tears For Fear.  This is the band’s third album released in ’89, and is a sleazy dirty rock n roll album (for the most part anyway). The first two tracks, Geared And Primed and Half The Truth, are textbook LA sleaze rock n roll – even though they are from Nashville. Third track in, It Came Crashing Down The Staircase, sounds like a completely different band as the song has a strong indie vibe. Six Empty Bottles goes in a different direction again as the groove has a distinct funk vibe. Side 1 ends with Mr. Indecision and is the best track on the album. A nice and dirty riff coupled with a stomp 4/4 beat is always a winner to get the toe tapping and the head bopping.

Side 2 starts of the same as Side 1, with the fast big sleazy groove of Tijuana Go. To me, this when the band really click. Dragon Park again has that hint of funk mixed with the sleaze, and Jeff Mays plays a tasty solo. So Your Love Is True feels like something Billy Idol would do. I really like the main riff and groove, but the chorus is a bit weak. This Time Around is probably the weakest track on the album and doesn’t seem to fit with the overall vibe of the record. The album closes out with Take Me Down which is an uptempo rocker.

Not a bad album but could have been better. It feels as though the band had a bit of an identity crisis.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

GOLDEN EARRING – Moontan

April 29, 2022 /

There is no doubt that Golden Earring are Holland’s greatest export to the rock and roll universe – they were in existence for 60 years. Sadly they called it a day when guitarist and leader George Kooymans was diagnosed with ALS and would retire. This is their classic 1973 album reissued on the excellent Music On Vinyl label.

We kick things off with the superb Candy’s Gone Bad – a great uptempo groover. Are You Receiving Me is a lot more spacey and reminds me of King Crimson -especially with the saxophone – and I love the extended jam at the end. Suzy Lunacy closes out Side 1 and is basically a blues shuffle.

Side 2 opens with the legendary Radar Love, and unless you have been living off planet for the last 50 years, I’m sure you have heard this track. A killer riff and groove drive the song along, and it is the song that everyone associates with the band. Just Like Vince Taylor is up next and was the B Side to Radar Love (at least in the UK anyway) and is a straight up boogie. The album closes out with The Vanilla Queen and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was Arnold Layne-era Pink Floyd – at least with the beginning. I saw them a couple of times and they always put on a great show.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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