THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: July 2022 (Page 3 of 8)

BABYLON A.D. – s/t

July 14, 2022 /

You don’t usually associate mega record label boss, Clive Davis with bands like Babylon A.D. as he usually is in the company of all the pop diva’s, but he signed these guys after seeing them do a showcase. I remember Kerrang magazine drooling all over the band as well, saying they were the next big thing.

This is a good album, which came out in ’89. The band did quite well from touring the album but when it came to doing a follow up, the great grunge unpleasantness had arrived and BOOM.

This is a good old Californian hair rock in the finest of traditions, and again if this had come out three years earlier thing’s would have been a whole lot different. I know I say that a lot, but it’s true.

Bang Go The Bells is a kick ass opening tune with a great riff and hook. Hammer Swings Down is more of the same, and this track really swings with some great guitar. Desperate has that Joan Jett stomp groove, with a big sing-a-long hook and chorus. The Kid Goes Wild closes out Side 1 with police sirens wailing before the main riff kicks in with a very sleazy groove.

Side 2 starts with Shot O’ Love and it starts real slow before a very dirty slow pounding groove takes over. Maryanne follows with a very simple riff, groove, and a pounding beat. Back In Babylon is my favourite on the album, it has a slow build in the beginning before the main riff kicks in with a great hook and chorus. Sweet Temptation is a fairly typical sleazy groover, and Sally Danced closes out the album with an acoustic blues shuffle until they plug in to bring it on home. If I’m honest, it’s a fairly generic album of the genre but it’s done well.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KEEL – The Right To Rock

July 14, 2022 /

This is the band’s second album, released in ’85. It was affectionately called “The Right To Cheese”, as a lot of rockers thought it is a tad on the cheesy side and aimed at younger fans. Nevertheless, they found their niche and they milked it for everything under the guidance of Gene Simmons who produced this album.

Every song is a big, anthem, hands-in-the-air style rocker – very reminiscent of tracks that Gene came up with for Kiss. The only track that steps out of that format is Speed Demon and You’re The Victim I’m The Crime, which is my favourite on the album, and both groove along at a fair pace. Mark Ferrari is a decent player and he rips it where he can.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

NEAL SCHON – Late Nite

July 13, 2022 /

This is the first solo album from Journey’s founder and guitarist, Neal Schon. He recorded this at the same time Steve Perry was recording his first solo album. He doesn’t step too far away from his day job, as the album is a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks. He does all the vocals as well as all guitars.

It starts with a short little intro piece called Le Dome before we get into the album properly with the title track. It feels just like a Journey track; a slow brooding ballad but with Neal providing the melody with guitar instead of voice. Superb playing and Neal is for sure one of the greats as his phrasing and tone is top drawer. Softly is more of the same, but this time Neal provides vocal to accompany the guitar.

Next up are two instrumentals to close out Side 1. The Theme is very cinematic, and as the title suggests, it feels like a theme to a movie. The last piece is I’ll Be Waiting, and the vibe is very similar.

On Side 2, the vibe and groove are a lot more uptempo with I’ll Cover You. Rains Coming Down starts with very Santana style runs, and the track just builds and builds till the main chorus which has a very funky groove. Smoke Of The Revolution is my least favourite track, even though the guitar playing is cool. Inner Circles is my favourite on this album; a killer instrumental with a superb main riff and groove, and Neal really gives it everything on this piece. Steps is another cinematic theme piece before we get to album closer, Blackened Bacon. It starts with Neal just ripping up the frets until we settle down into an acoustic blues romp. A really enjoyable record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

G-Force – s/t

July 13, 2022 /

Now, Gary Moore has covered just about every style of music as a guitar player, starting and ending his career with the blues he loved the most. This album was recorded in 1980, and was Gary’s attempt at the flash hot shot guitar hard rock albums that America was starting to pump out after the huge success of Van Halen. In fact, the band supported Van Halen on some shows.

The songs are sort of secondary on this album as it’s all about Gary and the incredible guitar that he plays. White Knuckles is Gary’s answer to VH’s Eruption; a short intense blast of guitar savagery which rolls into Rockin N’ Rollin. One of Gary’s best tracks (and my favourite) is Because Of Your Love; a superb melodic rock monster with a great hook and harmonies, and Gary gives it everything. A song that bubbles under the radar on this album is She’s Got You, where Gary’s playing is just insane. Of course this project didn’t last long and Gary went to being a solo artist with the release of Corridors Of Power, but this is a great album that passes most people by.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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