THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: August 2022 (Page 6 of 10)

CAPTAIN BEYOND – Sufficiently Breathless

August 19, 2022 /

Somewhat of a supergroup at the time with the coming together of members of Iron Butterfly and Deep Purple. Rod Evans was the vocalist for Purple before Gillan arrived on the scene, who has a much more clean style to his vocals.

There is a bit of a misprint on the cover. My copy has Bright Blue Tango as the opening track when in fact it’s the title track Sufficiently Breathless, that gets things under way with an acoustic trippy romp. That trippy vibe continues with Bright Blue Tango. Their first album was a lot heavier than this, as the record company wanted them to be a lot more commercial sounding with this one and the result is a bit of a mish mash. The third track is a Santana latin style groover. Evil Man has an almost southern vibe to the tune, which I guess makes sense as Phil Walden’s Capricorn label released the album. Starglow Energy is a rather slow blues-based ballad. Following that is Distant Sun, a rambling tune that goes through varying styles and phases but the overall vibe is back to the psychedelic grooves. Voyages Of Past Travel is just noise and is utter garbage. Everything’s A Circle closes out the album and it’s back to the Santana vibe and is my favourite track on the album. I would suggest buying the first album as it is their best.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SOUNDGARDEN – Badmotorfinger

August 19, 2022 /

I’m not the biggest fan of grunge. I found it way too depressing, as it seemed as though all the bands thrived with a heavy downer vibe. Though musically, it had its moments and Badmotorfinger was definitely one of them as two of Soundgarden’s three best songs are on this album.

The album opens up with Soundgarden’s best track and quite possibly grunge’s finest hour in Rusty Cage. I mean what a freaking awesome tune to open up an album. The riff is super cool as it feels as though it’s played in a different time to the main groove, and Chris Cornell’s vocals are on a different level. My god, what a voice he had, and it’s so sad he is not with us today. Outshined is a nice follow up with a killer riff and a very busy groove. Slaves & Bulldozers has a very deep heavy groove and Cornell’s voice is huge, it’s just the main guitar that lets it down. Jesus Christ Pose follows and is another one of their best tunes, and I’ll forgive the wonky guitar at the intro as the main riff and groove are epic, and once again Chris’s vocals are otherworldly. Face Pollution is a fast paced up tempo rocker with that punky edge. Somewhere closes out Side 1 and is my least favourite track on the album.

Searching With My Good Eye Closed opens up Side 2, and it is grunge 101; very reminiscent of Nirvana. Room A Thousand Years Wide has a huge fat riff and a slow plodding riff that is carried by a great vocal. Mind Riot is up next, and it has an almost psychedelic trippy vibe. The rest of the album just seems to fade as they have loaded up the first part with all their best tracks. My favourite track is Rusty Cage, I mean how can it not be? It’s the bands best tune.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – 2

August 18, 2022 /

I’m not sure if this was released on vinyl when it first appeared in 2011, but this is the special glow in the dark reissue. Not a gimmick at all.

This is the second instalment of BCC’s mission to take us all back to the mid seventies and rocks finest hour. I mean Glenn lived and breathed it. In fact most of it went up his nose, so if anyone should be doing retro it is Glenn. But there is a lot more to this band of course, and Man In The Middle is a mix between old and new. A very old sounding riff mixed with a very heavy modern sound, and a killer hook and melody. The Battle Of Hadrians Wall is a killer track but with Joe singing it, it just feels like a Bonamassa solo tune and takes away from the band vibe. Save Me is a more laid back tune, but with still the heavy vibes and Joe’s playing is killer on this track. Smokestack Woman initial riff and vibe is pure Zeppelin and Jason is channeling his inner dad grooves. Faithless is pure Bonamassa with a great vocal from Glenn. An Ordinary Son is the big number of the album where vocal duties are somewhat shared. I Can See Your Spirit is just a huge riffed up rocker with Glenn doing his best to remind you it’s not a zeppelin riff. Little Secret is just good ole tats blues and this is all about Joe. Crossfire is what I would describe as a Glenn solo tune; a killer heavy funky riff and vibe, it’s what Glenn does best. The album closes out with Cold and it’s a big brooding monster of a close out track. I do like this band and I hope they record again, but I think it works best if they are a band and not doing solo songs within the band environment.

9/10 from the Grooveman.

DIRTY HONEY – s/t

August 18, 2022 /

Dirty Honey are the latest band to hang their flag on the retro rock bandwagon. Unlike most of them however, who go down the Zeppelin route, Dirty Honey are putting their own stamp on heavy 70’s grooves with a modern twist. They recently completed a co-headline tour with Mammoth WVH, and they showed what a killer live act they are. In fact, both bands just relied on killer tunes with no stage gimmicks.

California Dreamin’ opens up the album in kick ass style with a heavy melodic monster that should get the groove muscle throbbing. Mark Labelle has a stunning voice and The Wire sees him really letting it rip with his unreal range, and John Motto’s guitar adds that little spice. Tied Up has a deep Southern fried riff and groove with a funky undertone. Take My Hand has the biggest retro vibe so far with a killer monster riff and hook. Gypsy is my favourite track as it has an infectious riff and groove that will have your toe tappin’, couple that with a monster hook and chorus and we have a winner winner chicken dinner. The funk returns with No Warning and this is the only track with a hint of Zeppelin, but mostly Black Crowes vibes. Simple big fat chords announce the arrival of The Morning, and the guitars remind me of AC/DC somewhat. Last track Another Last Time is thick southern blues goodness with a killer vocal. There you have it, rock n’ roll is alive and well in young bands like this, and everything is looking good for the future.

9/10 from the Grooveman.

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