THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: December 2022 (Page 9 of 11)

HAREM SCAREM – Thirteen

December 6, 2022 /

I recently reviewed Harem Scarem’s first album (and gave away a copy). Let’s move forward nearly 25 years to the release of this, Thirteen. Yup, they are still with us after having a few blips on the way and thankfully they are still making great records. There is no doubt that these guys know how to write killer melodic rock songs, and I’m glad to report this album is full of them. Highlights of which there are many.

Garden Of Eden is a superb track with a killer hook and chorus. Early Warning Signs is a great uptempo groover with a kick ass riff and groove, add to that Harry’s killer vocals and it’s my favourite tune. The superb close out tune Stardust has everything from a ripper of a riff to a superb groove, and I defy anyone not to sing a long to that hook and chorus . Superb tune! If melodic rock is your bag and you have not heard of these guys then where have you been?! This is another great album to add to anyone’s collection.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KILLING JOKE – What’s This For…!

December 6, 2022 /

This is the Killing Joke’s second album, released back in ’81. I remember Sounds magazine giving it a 5 star review at the time and thinking, “what the hell were they were smoking?” Of course, I was in full on metal mode at the time and it wasn’t until a few years later that I discovered what a superb influential band they were.

The grooves and rhythms they used were completely unique at the time and have been much copied since. Listen to Tension, with that pounding tribal drum groove and a simple distorted guitar, so many bands since have used that and still do. Follow The Leaders was the big song from this album, again with that super loud drum blast, distorted guitar, and a pulsing synth that is very reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder. Lots of styles clashing together here. My favourite though is Butcher, which when you listen to it now you wonder if Trent Reznor took this as inspiration. They have released better albums since but this was a very pivotal record for its time.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KINGS X – Ear Candy

December 5, 2022 /

I’m a huge fan of the X and I have said it numerous times, their first five albums are cast in stone and cannot be touched. Each one is a gem and treasure trove of delights. However, after the split with Sam Taylor the band’s sound changed as they strived to get their own identity. This album is a lot more chill and quite psychedelic in places.

Opener, The Train, has a Ty lead vocal and that Beatles Sgt. Pepper vibe. Thinking And Wondering follows and it is one of their songs that just makes you want to melt. The vocal harmonies are just incredible with that hint of melancholy, it’s basically just an acoustic piece. It sometime feels as though it’s a jam with a very loose groove and production, but those vocal harmonies just get you and I love the riff. A Box has a slow groove with that patented X guitar sound, but again it’s the vocal that gives you all the feels. Looking For Love has the vibe and groove of early Kings X. It’s my favourite track, with its a killer riff, very heavy groove, and superb hook and chorus. Mississippi Moon has Ty singing and the vibe is very psyche with those big jangly guitars. 67 has very slow, deep, and heavy groove, and Doug’s vocals are so cool.

Lies In The Sand  a is real slow tune with a Ty vocal that reminds you so much of The Beatles. Run follows with an odd drum groove, and some real heavy guitar. Fathers again has a real slow groove with lists of jangly guitars and multi layered vocals. American Cheese sounds like something off any latter Beatles album. Picture has a very similar intro to Goldilocks, one of their all time classic tracks, but it reverts to a more pedestrian vibe. Life Going By closes out the album and it’s back to how we came in, with Ty taking the lead vocal with a deep psyche groove. By anyone’s standards it’s a good album, but Kings X don’t make good albums, they make great albums and I would put this at #6 in the list.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

RIOT – Restless Breed

December 5, 2022 /

The first three Riot albums are all killer records, and Fire Down Under is their best. They were just beginning to gain some traction with the release of Fire Down Under when vocalist Guy Speranza decided to leave the music biz altogether and become a rat catcher. His replacement Rhett Forrester first record for the band is this album. He’s a completely different style of vocalist to Speranza. Forrester has a much more gravelly tone to his voice and the music changed to fit his style. Consequently this record sounds like a completely different band.

If, like me, you loved the Speranza sound then this album was initially a disappointment, as it felt like a backward step and has a very 70’s sound. I have come to accept it more over the years and it does have some great songs, the best of which and my favourite is Loanshark. It has that classic Riot sound, as does the final track Violent Crimes. A very apt title as Forrester would be shot dead in an attempted carjacking.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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