THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: January 31, 2023

DEEP PURPLE – Perfect Strangers

January 31, 2023 /

After having broken up in ’75 and all members going their separate ways with varying degrees of success, it was a huge surprise when it was announced that Purple were reconvening, and with Ritchie Blackmore on guitar. After all the animosity between members, especially Gillan and Blackmore, I was stunned to say the least. One things for sure, it would have to be a killer record.

While it’s not the band’s best, it certainly is a strong record and the lead off track Knocking At Your Back Door is a great way to open with. A very melodic tune with a great hook and chorus, and Ritchie is on fire playing some great licks. Mean Streak is a throw back to old Purple with that heavy shuffle very similar to Strange Kind Of Woman, and yet the main melody is very US radio-friendly. Listening to the intro of the title track with the unmistakable sound of Jon Lords Hammond brings a tear to the eye, knowing he is no longer with us. My favourite track would have to be Gypsy’s Kiss. An old school uptempo Purple romp with Ritchie and Jon trading licks is pure joy.

I know Purple are still a going concern, but we won’t ever hear this sound again.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS – Core

January 31, 2023 /

Stone Temple Pilots are a band often criticized for gate crashing and riding on the coat tails of the whole grunge movement. They were from San Diego so you could aim that at them I guess, but they were never a grunge band, just as Janes Addiction weren’t either. A lot of the press at the time also called them a one song band because of Sex Type Thing.

Now I agree that is a killer track, and one that I love. It has one of those big guitar riffs and a groove you just can’t ignore, but there are other golden nuggets lurking herein. Wicked Garden is my favourite track, as I love everything about it. The band are playing a serious groove and the that subtle guitar tone is monster. Sin starts like a Rush tune before descending into that hypnotic riff and groove. Then there is that simple, yet so effective simple riff and pounding four four to Crackerman. The hook and chorus is just fantastic on that one.

So there we go, the bands best album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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