THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: January 2023 (Page 6 of 11)

SAVATAGE – Gutter Ballet

January 19, 2023 /

This is Savatage’s fifth release. It came out in ’89 and sees the band expanding their sound with a more progressive edge. The whole album is a concept split into two acts, which just happen to be side 1 and 2. The concept came about after Jon Olivia went to see The Phantom Of The Opera on Broadway and was so inspired he immediately on his return wrote the music to the title track.

A superb collection of the operatic mixed with the metallic, this was (at the time) quite a groundbreaking record, from a metal band anyway. This copy is a reissue with a bonus 10-inch record containing Thorazine Shuffle and a Iive version of When The Crowds Are Gone. It’s hard to listen to this without listening to the whole thing as it doesn’t fit if you dip in to a random tune. My favourite segment (shall we say) is She’s In Love. It’s a more traditional metal part of the opera with an absolute monster riff and groove, this track just pounds along. Act 2 has more of the heavier moments, but taken as whole this an ambitious piece of work and still sounds great today.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

BAD COMPANY – s/t

January 19, 2023 /

Bad Company are one of the bands I instantly think of when I hear the term Classic Rock. Formed in ’73 by ex-Free members Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, ex-Mott The Hoople guitarist Mick Ralph, and King Crimson bass player Bozz Burrell – the word supergroup was invented for these guys.

Taking that Free sound and giving it a slightly more commercial edge, they were onto a winner from the get go with lead single Cant Get Enough. A superb track with a very simple riff and groove, and yet catchier than a virus at a COVID convention – an all time classic tune.

Paul Rodgers is superb throughout the record, especially his performance on Ready For Love and the title track. He has such a beautiful warm tone to his voice that many have tried to copy. The production on this album is awesome. The separation of the instruments and the clarity with which they come through, I have to say this is one of the best sounding records I own. Favourite track has to be Can’t Get Enough, it is one of the best songs ever made.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

THE STRUTS – Strange Days

January 18, 2023 /

This is The Struts’ third release, it came out on vinyl as part of RSD 2021. A product of COVID, and what was meant to only be a an EP turned into a full album thanks to the extra downtime.

The opening track is quite a laid back affair in a very britpop kind of way, you even get Robbie Williams as a guest, the song sees the band reflecting on very strange times. All Dressed Up is very reminiscent of The Stones with that very simple riff and added dose of 70’s glam thrown in. Next up you get a cover of Do You Love Me by Kiss, a very sleazy glam sounding version and the drum groove at the intro reminds me of Bags by PIL. I Hate You How Much I Want You is pure 70’s glam with a very TRex vibe, and you get Joe Elliot on bv’s. Wild Child follows and has a guest appearance from Tom Morello. The riff is something straight off of Rage and again with that big 70’s vibe, it gets my vote as favourite track.

Cool opens up Side 2 with a huge Stones style riff and groove. Burn It Down could be by the Faces, it’s that close. A nice homage! It’s country rock time next with Another Hit Of Showmanship, well at least at the intro anyway, then the song gears into a really cool pop song. Can’t Sleep steals the beat and groove from early 60’s soul and R’n’B, and couples it with a killer glam sound. The album closes out with Am I Talkin’ To The Champagne, another cool R’n’B groove and bass line that builds into a superb groovy pop track.

I think we are due another album from Derby’s finest, as a I read somewhere they were in the studio.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

RAGE – Nice N’ Dirty

January 18, 2023 /

Rage were born out of what was the Liverpool band, Nutz. This album was actually released in ’83 and was (I think) their second release under this incarnation of the band. They were another band tagged with the NWOBHM label, even though the band’s sound is a lot more radio friendly melodic rock.

It is a very competent release, but again they are missing that spark and a really killer track to make it memorable. The best track is the opening track to Side 2, Long Way From Home. It’s a nice up tempo pop/rocker with a nice beat and groove, and quite a catchy hook and chorus.

One more album after this and they were done, I guess they just didn’t have the songs.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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