THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: September 2022 (Page 5 of 11)

DREAM THEATER – Train Of Thought

September 15, 2022 /

Album number seven sees the band continuing with, and increasing, the heaviness and taking the band in that more metal direction, but still having those trademark hooks and harmonies. It’s hard to believe it’s nearly twenty years since the release of this monster. I clearly remember being at Manchester for the first night. I love this album in all of its magnificence. D-tuned riffage and killer grooves and songs make this one of my favourite DT albums.

What a freaking opening with As I Am. It has a massive massive riff and it doesn’t get any better than that kiddies. Well actually, the opening to This Dying Soul is equally as awesome and huge. Portnoy is really pounding at the kit. If this doesn’t get the goosebumps up on your arms nothing will. Endless Sacrifice starts with this big power ballad that builds into this huge monster tune. The Honour Thy Father intro is just insane, what a killer riff with that odd time groove from Portnoy. Vacant is one of those slow mood pieces that La Brie is so good at with that breathy style he has. The album closes with two massive numbers. Stream Of Consciousness and In The Name Of God, which is such a poignant tune with the state of the world today. My favourite on this album changes but today it’s This Dying Soul. At this point they could do no wrong.

10/10  from The Grooveman.

VIC VERGAT – Down To The Bone

September 15, 2022 /

At the time of this album’s release in ’81 I was heavily into all things guitar and would buy anything I thought would have some great playing held within the grooves. When I saw the cover for this I was straight in. It’s quite telling that after this he would not release anything until 1988, and released an album with Marc Storace of Krokus. Sometimes you win and sometimes…..!!!

At the time I thought this album was sort of half and half. Half I liked and half I wasn’t too bothered with, but I’ve mellowed with age I guess and I rather like all of it. There is no doubt he can play the guitar. Check out the title track, which is my favourite, old Vic really lets it fly. Walk is all about the guitar and sounds a bit like a Ned Tangent. Hot Love is a short sharp blast  with a ripping solo. Most of the songs are based around old riffs and grooves from the rock and roll era, but when he veers away from that in I Believe In Love Music it has more of an impact. I believe he is still out there performing, good on ya Vic!

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SHOOTING STAR – s/t

September 14, 2022 /

Shooting Star was the first US band Virgin Records’ signed and when you consider what bands they had signed in the UK and Europe, this was a bit of a head turner. Journey were just becoming huge at the time and I guess all the record companies were scrambling around trying to sign the next Journey.

Now, if you haven’t heard of them before you should now have some idea of where they stand with their brand of aor/ melodic rock. The majority of tunes fall into that category with a fair sprinkling of ballads, but they do rock out. Tracks like opener You Got What I Need, Stranger with that great classic rock riff, and my favourite Bring It On which has a great groove and the middle section is awesome. They refined their sound more, and had some chart success in the US before they disappeared.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

IT BITES – The Big Lad In The Windmill

September 14, 2022 /

The general public were given a bit of a false impression of It Bites with the success of their second single Calling All The Heroes. With it being such a huge hit they were mistaken for a pop band of the time and they were lumped in with all the other frilly shirts and haircuts. In fact, they were anything but a pop band. They were the next in a long line of great Prog bands that Britain did so well. Yes, they had a great sense of melody and boy could they write a catchy hook and chorus, but then again so could Genesis.

The first track I Got You Eating Out Of My Hand lays it all in the table with the very catchy hook and chorus, and then the middle section goes all Prog with hints of fusion. It’s a great track! Just to show you how record companies have no idea how to market the bands they have, Virgin released All In Red as the lead single. Now, it’s a great song but was it a lead single? The answer is no it wasn’t, and it bombed. It’s a good thing they got it right with Calling All The Heroes or else It Bites could have died before they started.

Everything sort of revolved around frontman and guitarist Francis Dunnery, who has such a distinctive voice and was such a presence live, plus he is great guitar player. Mixed in with their brand of quirky pop/prog fusion are some epic tracks like You’ll Never Go To Heaven, and my favourite tune Screaming On The Beaches. Which is a wonderful song with a great hook and a quirky groove, but the chorus is so good. They would strike gold with their next album Once Around The World, but this is a great stepping stone for that one.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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