THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: November 2022 (Page 3 of 13)

THE HANDSOME BEASTS – Beastiality

November 25, 2022 /

The NWOBHM movement threw up a whole host of wannabe bands that saw an opportunity to further their careers by attaching themselves to it. I always thought The Handsome Beasts were a bit of a joke, and the cover of this their first album did nothing to change my mind as it features frontman Gary Dalway attempting to have relations with a pig. Yup, they didn’t have the best image that’s for sure.

The tunes are mostly heavy blues workouts with very sparse production, and yet they do have a somewhat endearing quality to them. I look back fondly on this period of music in the UK as it was a fun time to be around with new bands appearing constantly. Breaker is my favourite track of the bunch. It’s the one track that feels like a NWOBHM tune with attitude alone. I think they are back doing the rounds and good luck to them.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

CINDERELLA – Live At The Key Club

November 25, 2022 /

This album was originally released on CD in ’99 and it contained fourteen tracks, whereas this version has been shrunk to fit on a single record with only ten tracks. You basically get the beginning and the end.

“No overdubs to fix the rubs” is proudly displayed on the back cover. It is a warts and all performance and that’s how it should be. No songs played from Still Climbing, they are just concentrating on what they do best. Great versions of The More Things Change, Push Push, Somebody Save Me, and my favourite, Shake Me. They always were a great live band and this is a pretty good recording captured in a hot and sweaty club.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

THE SCREAM – Let It Scream

November 24, 2022 /

I really like the album John Corabi recorded with Motley Crue, and let’s face it he was a serious upgrade on Vince. But, the fans have an image of what a band is and when the money and ticket sales start to drop, it was bring back Vince time. This band had all the elements to be huge. A killer vocalist in John, half of Racer X in Bruce Bouillet and John Alderete, and Walt Woodward from Shark Island. Yet, this is the only album they made other than one stuck in the vaults. To break a band like this in ’91 was a very tough thing to do. So, like many others they didn’t last long. It’s very LA sounding with hints of Cinderella at times, it’s a fun album.

Outlaw is a killer opening track with a great opening riff and a very sleazy vibe. Man In The Moon has an old school heavy blues vibe and feel. Give It Up is LA Glam pure and simple, a dirty rock n’ roll beast and it is my favourite tune on the album. A touch of the Stevie Wonders with the clarinet opening to Tell Me Why, and a slight heavy funk. Killer tune! Loves Got a Hold On Me should have been released as a single as it has a great hook and chorus. I Don’t Care, which closes out Side 3, is a superb example of dirty rock n’ roll sleaze, and Catch Me If You Can reminds me so much of early Aerosmith who were the grandaddies of the whole vibe. Five years earlier and I’m sure they would have been contenders but…

9/10 from The Grooveman.

AIRRACE – Shaft Of Light

November 24, 2022 /

This album’s claim to fame is being the first album that Jason Bonham would appear on. Also with More’s guitarist Laurie Mansworth in the line up. A very British attempt at the AOR market, which was huge at the time, although not so much in the UK. Produced by Beau Hill, the sound is very slick indeed.

The opening one, two of I Don’t Care and Promise To Call are very radio-friendly with one eye firmly on chart position, and they’re really good catchy songs. However it’s Caught In The Game that is my favourite track. The guitars have an heavier edge and I really like the choppy riff. I guess the band didn’t warrant a second album as they split after this one.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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