THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: June 2022 (Page 11 of 14)

MAGNUM – On A Storytellers Night

June 8, 2022 /

Magnum had been slogging around for a few years with not much success, and they were supporting anyone who would have them. Then, with the release of Chase The Dragon, they made a breakthrough in the UK. When this album was released in ’85, the rest of the world began to listen.

The main focus of the band has always been singer Bob Catley, and guitarist Tony Clarkin, who wrote all the music and lyrics. I always thought they should have made it big in the US, as their sound sits comfortably in the area that Styx operate in. It’s very melodic with the big pomp production and sound, you think they would be a perfect fit.

How Far Jerusalem is opens up the album and is almost Prog in its feel, but the melodies let you know that we are in AOR territory. Just Like An Arrow was a single in the UK and I remember hearing it on the radio at the time. Endless Love is my favourite track, and there are parts of this song that remind me of Journey. It has a great hook and melody, and Clarkin’s guitar does remind of Schon at times. All England’s Eyes has that US radio feel to it and I was surprised that never was released as a single. Is this Magnum’s finest hour?

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TANK – This Means War

June 8, 2022 /

This is the band’s third release, and was also the third album to be released on the fledgling UK label, Music For Nations. The band also expanded the line up to a four piece with the addition of a second guitar player, Mick Tucker. This would turn out to be a nightmare for band founder, Algy Ward, much later on with two versions of the band doing the rounds. Algy’s trademark Lemmy style vocals are still there, but this time the songs have a lot more melody present (whether this was Tucker’s influence or management, who knows?), but this was the best album the original band did.

Right from the opening track, Just Like Something From Hell, you can hear the songs are longer and more intricate. The production is more polished and Tucker’s guitar playing is a definite upgrade. His solo on Hot Lead Cold Steel is very UFO. I love the riff and groove to the title track, it’s NWOBHM at its best. This is a real catchy record, and If We Go Down Fighting will get the head a nodding and the toe tapping – the hook and chorus is a total earworm. Last track, Echoes Of A Distant Battle, is quite possibly the best thing the band have done.

If you are a fan or a collector of NWOBHM, then you should definitely have this in your collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

JOE BONAMASSA – Driving Towards The Daylight

June 7, 2022 /

There is one thing for sure, since Jo Bo teamed up with Kevin Shirley his career has exploded. It seems every week there is another project, or tour, or something Jo Bo related that his fan base just eat up. Well I guess he has to fund his guitar addiction someway, right kids?

Joking aside, he doesn’t make bad albums and they try to make them different in some way to keep it all fresh. This album came out in 2012, it is a very clean sounding, and uncluttered record; an almost back to basics sound. Dislocated Boy opens up the album and is trademark Jo Bo, a very groovy beat and lots of Jo. The tracks I love the most are more of the traditional sounding tracks, like I Got All You Need which is a beautiful shuffle with some killer guitar. Lonely Town Lonely Street which has a very dirty groove, and I love the swing to this track. Jimmy Barnes makes a stunning appearance on Too Much Ain’t Enough Love and steals the show for me.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

JEFF SCOTT SOTO – The Duets Collection Vol. 1

June 6, 2022 /

I’m not usually a fan of these done-to-order projects that Frontiers put together, but this one is done really well. Killer selection of songs with some amazing vocal performance from Jeff and his guests.

Things get off to a rockin’ start with Livin’ The Life, where he is joined by his bandmate in WET, Eric Martensson. Next up is a track Jeff recorded with Yngwie, Don’t Let It End, where he is joined by the amazing vocals of Dino Jelusick. Boy does this guy have a set of pipes (check out the Dirty Shirley album he did with George Lynch). Next up is the first of the Talisman songs: Mysterious, where Eric Martin shares the vocals. Tough song to do especially as the original is so good. Believe In Me has Nathan James from Inglorious as the duet, and it’s the one song that doesn’t quite live up to the rest. Coming Home, a song Jeff wrote with Neal Schon and has Deen Castronovo on vocals. What a killer voice Deen has. It has to be tough when Jeff is covering his own songs. I’ll Be Waiting is another Talisman tune which he sings with Alirio Netto, and again the original is so good that he maybe should have done it in a different style.

Calling All Girls is next up and Jeff is joined by super lungs Russell Allen, and it’s strange to hear him sing anything other than power metal epics but it works. Colour My XTC is another Talisman track and he is joined by Renan Zonata, who I do not know but this is the best cover of the Talisman tunes, with extra killer guitar from Jorge Santos – who until now I have not heard of. Always liked Johnny Gioelli when he was in Hardline and nice to see him appear on the Axel Rudi Pell track Warrior. I guess it was inevitable that a ballad would rear its ugly head and Holding On is it, with guest BJ who apparently is in Brazilian band Spektra. The album closes out with Again 2 B Found, which I think appeared on the Humanimal band project. Joined by Mats Leven, I think this my favourite of the whole album. Always loved the original and this definitely does it justice.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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