REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: December 10, 2022

JOAN JETT and the Blackhearts – Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth

This is the third album with The Blackhearts, it was released back in ’84 and this version was from RSD in 2014. Since leaving the Runaways Joan has done exactly what she wanted to do: recording fun, down and dirty rock n’ roll records with that attitude-edge.

A mixture of originals and covers, this album didn’t sell that well originally. I guess there is no obvious choice for a single to push the album with. I think they released the Gary Glitter cover I Love You Love as a single, which scraped the lower end of the charts.

Her punk rock attitude is still there with tracks like Long Time, which includes the 1,2,3,4 Ramones-style count in. I’m a sucker for a souped up rock n’ roll cover, and New Orleans is my favourite here. If it’s good enough for Joan and Ian Gillan, it’s bound enough for me. This record is not gonna change the world, it’s just a fun rock n’ roll record.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ANNIHILATOR – Set The World On Fire

This is the band’s third album, released back in ’93, and more line-up changes were incoming. The most notable of which is future Dream Theater drummer, Mike Mangini occupying the drum stool.

The opening tune and title track is awesome. The fade in guitars with that killer riff is a total winner. Mangini is earning his money with the second track No Zone, as the pounding commences right from the off. Jeff Waters is the technical riff king!!! Bats In The Belfry has a killer eerie intro, and the riff and groove in the hook is superb. Knight Jumps Queen is my favourite track as the riff is just superb, in fact the whole song has a great vibe. Don’t Bother Me is so Hot For Teacher by Van Halen, but sped up. Brain Dance is a speed metal masterpiece, and math metal before it was a thing. It has so many differing tempos and grooves.

Annihilator are one of those bands that should have been bigger than they were. Just can’t put your finger on why not!

9/10 from The Grooveman.