THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: July 2022 (Page 2 of 8)

GIANT – Shifting Time

July 16, 2022 /

Is this really a Giant album, or an Alessandro Del Vecchio solo album? Del Vecchio has a hand in all but one of the tracks. For those who don’t know who he is, he is Frontiers’ in house guy who they try to shoe in on everything. The only connection with the original band is drummer David Huff, and bassist Mike Brignardello who have zero hand in writing any of the material. So are Frontiers just using a well known name in Giant? Anyway, let’s listen to the tunes.

Let Our Love Win is a pretty good hard rockin’ opener, with a nice vocal from Kent Hill and John Roth on guitar riffing it up. Never Die Young is a really good song, and props to Kent Hill for another superb vocal. Don’t Say A Word is AOR by numbers, not a bad song just very generic. My Breath Away opens with a really nice riff and melody before ballad city takes over. Highway Of Love has a really great opening, and the hook and melody are really good. It’s Not Over is another ballad and it’s heavy on the syrup. The Price Of Love is ballad heavy at the intro, and the power switch is found at some point to add a bit of oomph. Standing Tall adds some much needed balls to proceedings, with a nice riff and funky groove. Anna Lee is the only non-Vecchio track, and it’s yet another ballad. Don’t Wanna Lose You is another ballad; heavy track with a slight interjection of riffage. I Walk Alone close out the album with yes, you guessed it, another power ballad. So it’s a well played album, sounds great, with too much reliance on ballads for me but, the overriding question is, is it a Giant album?

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TNT – Tell No Tales

July 16, 2022 /

There were three years between the release of the amazing Knights Of The New Thunder and Tell No Tales and in the 80’s, unless you were Def Leppard, that was suicide. Those three years enabled the band to take stock and change their sound slightly to a more melodic rock sound, which suited Tony Harnell’s more.

The riffs are still there though, as opener Everyone’s A Star is carried by an epic riff and groove, with Harnell adding that killer voice. 10,000 Lovers is next up and was released as a single. This song is all about the melody and harmonies but Ronnie Le Tekro still has time to put in a ripping solo. As Far As The Eye Can See carries on with the quality; another epic hook and chorus, and those trouser tightening high notes. Ronnie is such an original player, his tone and feel is incredible. Sapphire is an instrumental piece which starts with a very classical keyboard before some serious over the top fast guitar licks ensue. It’s hands and lighters in the air time with the ballad Child’s Play next. Side 1 closes out with another instrumental piece in Smooth Syncopation, and it’s Ronnie noodling on an acoustic.

Listen To Your Heart kicks things off in Side 2, and it sounds like a beefed up Styx song, especially in the hook and chorus. Desperate Night is straight up riff heavy 4-4 rocker. Northern Lights is another ballad highlighting Harnel’s voice, and is lifted somewhat by a great solo. Another weird instrumental piece in Incipits follows before the album close out with my favorite and title track, Tell No Tales. This is a throwback to the Knights album as this is full of fast speedy metallic goodness. A ripping riff and solo from Ronnie and what a killer vocal from Tony. A monster of an album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM THEATER – Octavarium

July 15, 2022 /

A very pivotal album for Dream Theater as a lot changed after this album, culminating in the departure of Mike Portnoy a couple of albums later. This was the last album on their major deal before they relocated to Roadrunner, and the sound beefed as well.

This album and Falling Into Infinity are my two favourite DT albums. I got to witness the band on this tour at Hammersmith Odeon for two nights. On the first, this album was played in its entirety, and on the second night they played Dark Side Of The Moon in full. Not much will ever beat those two shows and I think they plateaued after this.

This is such an incredible album, both in the writing and execution, it doesn’t get better than this in DT world. Take my word for it, this album should live in your home and you should play it often. Every track is epic. From the heavy riff and groove of The Root Of All Evil, to the delicate and beautiful The Answer Lies Within. My favourite track on this album, and possibly my fav DT track of all time, is the 24 minutes of utter Prog metal brilliance on the title track, Octavarium. Words cannot express how I’m affected by this track. From emotional feelings of euphoria and joy, to melancholic sadness at its ending. The band suffered with the departure of MP, as he was a huge part of the creative process, but life goes on as they say.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

MOLLY HATCHET- Flirting With Disaster

July 15, 2022 /

This is Molly Hatchet’s second album, released in ’79, and they most definitely are carrying on that southern tradition of producing some kick ass rock bands that started with the Allman Brothers. The Molly’s had that harder edge to their music though which aligned them more to the hard rock crowd. That three guitar attack, perfected by Skynyrd, was great live as the sound was really beefed up.

I’m not sure how many of the band on this album are still alive, as they have been struck by their fair share of tragedy over the years and the version of the band that goes around today has no original members. This is the album that I like the best as it has the right balance of crunch with that southern twist. Whiskey Man, the title track, and the amazing Boogie No More are my favourite tracks. Boogie No More starts with a real slow groove before the pace picks up and ends with all three guitarists duelling it out Freebird style, which is obligatory for every southern band. Haven’t played this in a while and it’s great to reconnect as it’s a really fun record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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