THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: April 2022 (Page 5 of 8)

GENERATION AXE – Live In China

April 21, 2022 /

I’m a huge fan of the G3 tours that Joe Satriani put together, and I got to see a couple of them. The one with Satch, Petrucci, and Paul Gilbert was one of the best gigs I have ever seen. So when this package was put together I was super stoked – this is a widdly fans wet dream. The guitarists are Tosin Abasi, Nuno Bettencourt, Yngwie, Steve Vai, and Zakk Wylde, and this show was recorded in China.

The album kicks off with all of them together playing a version of Foreplay by Boston. Next up is Tosin playing Tempting Time from the first Animals As Leaders album, and it’s killer and shows how much rock instrumental music as advanced. Tosin is joined by Nuno for another Animals track, the stunning Physical Education. It’s great to hear what Nuno brings to the piece as its totally different to what he usually plays. Nuno plays a piece called a Side Of Mash, which starts with the solo piece from Extreme’s first album, and then highlights from lots of other pieces from Extreme albums. I’m a big Nuno fan, l love his style and groove. He is then joined by Zakk for a track called Sideways. It’s the first track with vocals but it’s the solos that will blow your mind. Zakk is by himself next for a rendition of the Allman’s Whipping Post, and it’s as over the top as you would expect.

Fun fact alert! Zakk actually auditioned for the Allman’s and didn’t get the gig. I guess they didn’t get all the behind the head thing.

Steve Vai is up next with his track, Bad Horsie. It starts with a small clip from the Crossroads movie which is cool, and then it’s Vai just ripping it. Superb piece! Yngwie is next and it’s pure widdle with lots of excerpts from various pieces of his in his own classical style. Yngwie is then joined by Steve Vai for the track, Black Star, and it’s widdle overdrive. Next to last track is a killer version of Edgar Winters’, Frankenstein, where everyone (apart from Yngwie) is playing. Last track is Deep Purple’s Highway Star with everyone on stage for the grand finale.

I do love albums like this, and they don’t come around too often.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Pronounced

April 21, 2022 /

For some reason, this album and Freebird had become a bit of a joke. Not sure why or how that started, but it shows a lack of smarts, as this, ladies and germs, is a bonafide classic.

I’m not sure when I first heard Freebird, but it was probably on the Old Grey Whistle Test (a wonderful late night music show on British TV where I discovered lots of wonderful delights). I love Freebird – I did then, and do I now – and it still brings goosebumps on my arm when I hear it today.  

You would be forgiven in thinking, that due to all the hype, that this is a one song album. That, my friends, could not be further from the truth as this is rammed full of classic tracks. The album opens up with that groovy phased drum beat of I Ain’t The One, and it’s pure Southern rock n roll with that hint of Country, RnB, and the obligatory killer guitar solo. That just sets the tone perfectly for the whole album. Simple Man is one my favourite tracks – it has so much feel and vibe you actually feel as though you are in Alabama hearing them play it on a front porch somewhere – this is up there with Freebird for me.

This is a killer record and it gets 10/10 all day everyday fro The Grooveman.

RED DRAGON CARTEL – Patina

April 20, 2022 /

This is the second album from Jake E Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel, and after having a few problems with Darren Smith when playing live, he is back for this album. I really like the first album and I’m a big fan of Darren Smith as a drummer from his work with Harem Scarem, and I really like his vocal style too.

Opener, Speedbag, is a great modern melodic rock track with a nice vocal and groove. Second track in, Havana, was the first track released and is the best track on the album. The main riff and melody are killer and will have you humming away to yourself. Also nice to hear Jake ripping it up somewhat as there seems to be more leads on this album. Crooked Man has the same opening drum fill as Rock Candy by Montrose, but has a more downbeat feel to it. The whole album has more of a raw feel to it than it’s predecessor, and the use of fuzz pedals does add to that somewhat – listen to the tracks, The Luxury Of Breathing, and Bitter, to see what I mean. Chasing Ghosts is a really cool track as they are trying to do something new in a very tired format, and I really love that choppy riff and groove.

All in all it’s a good album, but doesn’t quite reach the heights of their first.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THE JEFF HEALEY BAND – See The Light

April 20, 2022 /

Being an avid aficionado of all things rock guitar, I actively seek out the newest releases every week to feed my habit. I first heard Jeff on a radio show in the UK, then I managed to watch a clip of him a short time after and I could not believe he was blind. His skill and mastery of the guitar was insane, and I was lucky enough to see him a few times at his club in Toronto after I moved there. To see him up close was an inspiration.

This is his first album and was released back in ’88 and it’s the one I love the most. He has the feel of an old blues man and the chops of a seasoned rocker. It’s the title track that gets all the attention because of Jeff’s incendiary playing, but there are some really great blues tracks like the shuffle of Don’t Let Your Chance Go By, and Blue Jean Blues that really float my boat.

It’s a real shame that he is no longer with us, but he has left us with some great tunes and some killer playing to remember him by.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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