THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: August 2022 (Page 7 of 10)

KINGS X – Gretchen Goes To Nebraska

August 17, 2022 /

There was a time when I thought Kings X were going to be the biggest band in the world. Their blend of heavy grooves, amazing vocals, and incredible harmonies should have led them to world domination, but the music fans as a whole just didn’t get their brand of rock and major success eluded them.

This record is in my top five of all time, it’s just an incredible album from start to finish. It contains heavy balls out groovers like Over My Head (which got heavy MTV airplay), and songs with all the feels like Summerland and The Burning Down. Then you get tracks with really heavy, funky time signatures like Everybody Knows A Little Bit Of Something which is an incredible piece of music, and has an awesome groove and vibe. I love everything about this album and to pick a favourite track is really hard ,but today’s choice is Fall On Me. This is an OG pressing and sounds great, I also have a Metal Blade reissue that is a very noisy pressing. My advice is track down an original.

10/10 from the Grooveman.

EUROPE – Wings Of Tomorrow

August 17, 2022 /

This is Europe’s second album, released in ’84, and it was the album before The Final Countdown and mega stardom. Europe became popular in their native Sweden thanks to them winning a televised rock talent contest. Melody has always been the main focus for the band, but the first couple of albums were actually quite heavy with a very Deep Purple/Rainbow vibe in places.

Scream Of Anger is one of the heaviest tracks the band have done as it grooves along at a fair pace, with double kicks a plenty. You even get a Maiden-style gallop in Wasted Time. Of course there are ballads with Open Your Heart and Dreamer, showing where their future will lead. It’s the rockier numbers that do it for me and album close out track, Dance The Night Away is my favourite with its very NWOBHM vibe and great guitar from John Norum. It’s interesting to hear Joey Tempest sing with a much rawer tone to his voice on these earlier albums than the polished sound of The Final Countdown, and beyond. I really like Europe and Last Look At Eden is a killer album. A really solid album.

8/10 from the Grooveman.

ED WYNNE – Tumbling Through The Floativerse

August 16, 2022 /

I am a big fan of the Ozrics, and when guitarist Ed Wynne put out his first solo album, Shimmer Into Nature, I was over the moon – it was such a great record. What a great title for an album, Tumbling Through The Floativerse. If you are aware of where Ed comes, from then I think the title describes the music perfectly. Very trippy grooves that fall into space rock at times, with some superb playing from Ed.

Oilyvoice opens the album up in fine style with some great trippy soundscapes overlayed with some superb guitar. Seen The Sun is trance dance grooves mixed with textured keyboard soundscapes and some superb guitar. Magnetophoria closes out Side 1 and has a wicked slow groove and vibe that touches on dub and reggae.

Side 2 opens up with Floating Plates and the dub reggae vibe continues. This is such a chill piece! Infinity Curtains follows, and the initial vibe is very much fusion – Ed is giving it the beans, and the keys have a very Herbie Hancock vibe at times. Starseeds closes out the album and the overall piece feels quite laid back, but rhythmically there is so much going on. My favourite track is Seen The Sun as this is such a fun groovy piece. Another great album from Mr. Wynne and long may he keep arousing my aural senses.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

CHROME MOLLY – Angst

August 16, 2022 /

After the initial burst of NWOBHM, there were bands coming out of the woodwork that wanted to attach themselves to (what was then) a successful movement. These bands were second and third wave NWOBHM, and Chrome Molly were part of the third wave. By the time this (their 3rd album) came out, they had a very commercial sound to their heavy grooves.

Opening track, Thanx For The Angst, is a kick ass melodic beast of a tune with a great riff and groove. I’m very confused by the next track, Take Me I’m Yours, which is a cover of the classic Squeeze tune. The Squeeze original is pure genius, and unless you are doing something amazing, it should be left well alone. This version just confuses, as the vibe is all new wave and the sound is far removed from the opening track. Don’t Let Go is a very American sounding pop rock tune with hints of new wave and is lifted somewhat by a great solo. Come Back has a killer opening riff and this is what this band do well – ROCK! I Want To Find Out closes out Side 1 and it’s as though a different band is coming out of the speakers – you would be forgiven for thinking this was a new romantic band playing.

Side 2 opens up with Take It Or Leave It and sees the band doing their best Def Leppard impression. Living A Lie is up next and is not a bad attempt at doing something a tad different. The production, although clear, is very sparse at times which leaves it sounding a bit empty. My favourite track is Thanx For The Angst, which is head and shoulders above any of the other tunes. This is a very confusing record, at times its killer, but I think the overall impression is did the band know what they wanted to be?

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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