THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: March 2023 (Page 2 of 11)

HOUSE OF SHAKIRA – Lint

March 29, 2023 /

This album first appeared in ’97 and I thought it was through the now defunct MTM Music, but google tells me it was Blue Stone Music. This copy is a reissue through Frontiers, and has a bonus album of demos. Believe it or not, the band have released ten albums, and this was album number one. They sort of float between very slick melodic rock and adding a Prog element to some songs.

Morning Over Morocco is a superb opening to the album. A killer melodic masterpiece with a great riff, and superb hook and chorus. The title track Lint has some of those proggy moments I was mentioning, but is still a great song. Method Of Madness follows and starts with a great riff, but the rest of the song is more at home in aor world. I have very fond memories of them playing this song at one of the Gods festivals in Wigan. #8 opens up with what sounds like an African choir singing, and then we move firmly into ballad territory. Who’s Lying Now follows and is a super catchy, slick sounding, ping aor groover. Side 1 closes out with Elephant Gun, a decent enough tune with a nice opening riff but as with most of the album, the songs sound empty. Don’t get me wrong, the album sounds super clear, it just needs an injection of oomph.

Our Love Was Good opens up Side 2 and the first thing that pops into my head is the Eagles, and I guess the riff reminds me of Life In The Fast Lane. A nice bluesy intro of what is essentially a ballad with track, The Story’s The Same. Canned Laughter starts with a nice guitar riff, and the groove is really cool. The vocal harmonies are superb and that is one of the high points of the whole album. Remember follows and is a pleasant enough tune, it just doesn’t seem to go anywhere. The album closes out with Everything’s Fine.

The album started in fine style with Morning Over Morocco, which is easily my favourite track, a great hard rockin’ tune and then the album ends as though it was part of the Laurel Canyon crowd at the end of the sixties. A decent enough album that has a bit of an identity crisis.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

FASTER PUSSYCAT -Whipped

March 29, 2023 /

This is album number three for the kings of the sleazy underbelly of the Sunset Strip . It was released in ’92, right in the middle of the change in the musical climate. Whereas a lot of their peers were changing there sound to a more harder sound because of the grunge takeover, Faster Pussycat stayed true to themselves. I’m not sure if the band would have broke as big if it wasn’t for MTV, but they certainly made the most of of it.

The album opens up with Nonstop To Nowhere, a blast of power pop-tinged sleaze to shake your cobwebs away. I really like the hook and melody to this one. Body Thief blows in with an Aerosmith-style groove and riff that is really cool with a great attitude. Jack The Bastard follows and it’s textbook sleaze-o-Rama from LA’s finest. A simple riff and a groove with lots of swing. It’s double entendres time next with Big Dictionary.  A change in groove and pace as the riff is funky, and we get horns. Madam Ruby’s Love Boutique slides on in and this is pure old school Aerosmith, and my favourite track. Great tune! Only Way Out has a weird jazz groove happening with a great swing and groove.

Side 2 dives on in with Maid In Wonderland. A nice melodic chord sequence gives way to a heavy, dirty groove and a very psych hook and chorus. It’s sleazy barroom ballad time next with Friends. Cat Bash is an odd track where the vocals are insults aimed at the band over a telephone with a sleazy groove played underneath. Loose Booty is a killer Chilli Peppers funky romp. Mr. Lovedog feels as though you’re listening to part of a film score, if that makes sense (a sleazy one of course). The album closes with Out With A Bang, another dirty Aerosmith groove with accompanying sleazy story lyrics.

Definitely on par with their first album, and major props for not changing the sound and style.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

RAMMSTEIN – Zeit

March 28, 2023 /

A few of my friends are amazed at my liking for this band, and wonder what I could possibly like that has me raving about them. Now, I’ll admit that some of the imagery they use when playing live is a bit over the top, but there is no denying that most of their songs are built up from huge guitar riffs, and we should all know by now that is what I love the most. I also like some electronic music, and Rammstein do combine them both very well.

Sonically this album is killer, and super clear even when played at higher volumes. Just to blow my assumption about their reliance on guitar, the first three tracks are more electronic in nature with the guitar taking a back seat, but normal service is resumed with Giftig and the single Zick Zack, which is killer. That riff and groove are undeniably awesome and it is most definitely my favourite track. OK is the perfect mix of electronic and crunch, and Dicke Titten with the intro of the oompah band is genius.

I like this album a lot and it adds some light and shade to my collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

URIAH HEEP – Demons And Wizards

March 28, 2023 /

Another band that I still love from my schoolboy days. Nothing can compare to when I first heard the voice of Dave Byron opening up the album with The Wizard. This album was recorded in ’72 and still sounds fresh to me. The Heep were huge around this time and sold out everywhere. Just before COVID, I saw them in a small bar near where I live. How the mighty have fallen!

Lots of live favourites and Heep classics are enclosed in these grooves: Traveller In Time, Easy Livin’, Circle Of Hands, and the monumental Paradise/ The Spell. That huge Hammond sound of Ken Hensley combined with Mick Box’s raw guitar used to blow me away, and this is pure nostalgia for me. I have to go with Easy Livin’ as my favourite, I just love singing along to the earworm hook and chorus.

Mick Box is still playing with the band and has been there for way over 50 years. Happy days!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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