THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: November 2022 (Page 1 of 13)

HARDLINE – 2

November 30, 2022 /

Hardline were originally put together by the Gioeli brothers and Neal Schon, and the original album came out in ’92. This is another of the Frontiers’ think of a band from the past releases, where they get a minimal amount of original members to record a follow-up. To be fair, this is a really good aor/melodic rock album, and Neal Schon does play on and co-wrote final track: This Gift.

Hold Me Down opens up the album in fine style with a nice uptempo groover and a nice hook and chorus. Y is more of a laid back yacht rock tune. Paralyzed however, is really great tune. Superb hook and melody, it is one of the heavier sounding tunes. Face The Night is a top grade power ballad with a really nice solo from Josh Ramos. Side 1 closes out with Do Or Die, a mid tempo groover with a Whitesnake Ready And Willing riff.

Hey Girl opens up Side 2  with a slow ballad-esque opening before the heavy crunch of the hook dives in, and big bonus points for the killer solo and ending which makes it my favourite tune. Only A Night has a name-the-Journey-track opening and it’s AOR 101! Your Eyes has a killer riff and groove, it bounces along until the earworm hook and chorus. Another killer solo! Weight follows, it is the track that sounds like nothing else on the album. A weird time signature and choppy groove make this a really interesting tune and a break from the softer vibes. Way It Is, Way It Goes is up next and that slightly different vibe continues with a heavy chugga riff and groove. Really nice track!Then it’s on to last track This Gift and Mr Schon’s involvement. If syrupy ballads are your thing then you may be drooling, however for me the solo is cool but I like to go out with bang.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BOOTSY – World Wide Funk

November 30, 2022 /

A lot of Bootsy’s albums involve a lot of funkin’ around, if you pardon the phrase. A lot of gibbering in and in between tracks. I’m pleased to report the emphasis here is on the tunes and the grooves, although he does disappear to the planet Bootsy on occasion.

World Wide Funk opens up the album and I’m glad to say all funks are blazing with a killer groove and added Buckethead noodling. Bass Rigged System is actually what it says. Three bass players, Bootsy, Victor Wooten, and Stanley Clarke giving it plenty with a Prince-style groove. Pusherman slows the pace slightly but it’s a deep and dirty groove. Thera-P closes out Side 1 and that really dirty groove keeps on a comin’. Love the vocal on this!

Hot Saucer opens up Side 2, and why wasn’t this released as a single? A very urban vocal and melody welded to the funkiest of grooves. Heaven Yes is a very laid back R’n’B groove. Ladies Night is a rap/funk crossover. Candy Coated Lover is a 70’s old school soul funk vibe. Snow Bunny sees a return to that heavy Prince style groove. Hi On Heels is my least favourite track on the album. A real slow urban groove doesn’t float my boat. A Salute To Bernie is next, and it’s a a bit of a throw away tune. Boomerang closes what is a quite an average side, and it’s the best song on the album. It has a killer superb funky groove that’s different to everything else on the album. The final side, other than Worth My While, is really stellar. Come Back Bootsy has that loose funky jam vibe ,with some great guitar from Eric Gales. The close out track Illusions is a monster rap/funk crossover and is my favourite, with Chuck D on vocals and Buckethead on guitar. This would have made a killer single album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ROYAL HUNT – Clown In The Mirror

November 29, 2022 /

Another superb reissue from the Night Of The Vinyl Dead label, their quality is top notch. This time it’s the second album from Denmark’s finest, Royal Hunt. I have mentioned before the amount of Euro bands that don’t mean a whole bunch in North America, and Royal Hunt are definitely are one of them. They are classed as progressive metal but they lean way more to the melodic side and come across as a heavier Kansas, well on this album anyway. The band revolves around main man and keyboard maestro Andre Andersen, and the majority of the songs are driven by the keys.

A huge pomp intro starts off the album in a very grandiose way that leads into opener Wasted Time, a great and very melodic track. On The Run mixes the pomp of the keys with an over the top operatic harmonies, and the double kicks driving all the way. Definitely my favourite track. Third Stage reminds me of Yngwie with huge classical overtones. Here Today Gone Tomorrow starts off at a killer pace and grooves hard.

They would change vocalists after this album, bringing in the great DC Cooper and I can see why as Henrik Brockmann’s vocals are the weak link on the album. Great music though!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – Blind

November 29, 2022 /

Let’s go all the way back to ’91 with what is COC’s best album. This is a killer reissue, as not only do you get the album but you get a whole albums worth of demos and B-sides. The liner notes are a superb read as well, they actually asked Chris Cornell to join the band prior to the recording of this album. Before this album they were more of a hardcore band and there are elements of that here, but ultimately this is quite a technical metal record with some killer grooves.

Dance Of The Dead is quite simple with a basic descending riff, but it’s a really cool song with hints of Sabbath. In fact, those Sabbath tones are sprinkled liberally throughout the album. Break The Circle has a hint of hip hop with the groove and vocal.  My favourite track is the brutal Vote With a Bullet, such a dirty riff and groove that just bounces along. This is the 30th anniversary reissue and it’s rather excellent.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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