REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: July 8, 2022

VIXEN – s/t

You have to wonder sometimes how bands get signed. Now, I’m not knocking Vixen here but did they have any songs written by themselves before they were signed? Or was it just that they could play covers and looked good? There are a few versions of how the band came into being so I’m not sure on that one, all I can say is this album sounds good but it does sound like how sessions guys would sound if they did a rock by numbers album.

Now every song bar two have been written by outside writers and they are some of the best, namely Richard Marx, Jeff Paris, and Fee Waybill. I don’t care too much for the ballads, even though Cryin’ was huge and I do like the chorus. It’s the rockier tunes that float my boat though like Edge Of A Broken Heart, I Want You To Rock Me, and Cruisn’. The best track though is Hell Raisers as it’s the least corporate sounding and it has the most balls with a great vocal from Janet Gardner. All in all there is some great playing on this album and it’s a solid…

8/10 from The Grooveman.

NAZARETH – Malice In Wonderland

This is the only Nazareth album I own and that is purely down to the fact that ex-SAHB guitarist joined the band for the album before this. I was sure the reason he was asked to join the band was just to add balls, and beef up the band’s sound. Couldn’t have been more wrong of course, as he has a co-write on all but one of the songs, and three of them are sole Zal compositions.

Big Boy would first appear on the SAHBWA album, and was one of my favourite tracks on that album. Showdown At The Border has USA written all over it and has a big ear worm chorus. Hearts Grown Cold is a big power ballad, and I think it was released as a single. I always associate Nazareth with being a rough around the edges rock n’ roll band, but this is a very slick and well produced album with an eye on America. My favourite track is Talkin’ To One Of The Boys, as it has a very un-Nazareth vibe to it. A very quirky riff and groove with an almost new wave feel ,and some great guitar.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.