THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: March 2023 (Page 5 of 11)

QUIET RIOT – QR

March 22, 2023 /

This album does not feature Kevin DuBrow who was replaced by Paul Shortino when DuBrow was fired before the recording sessions began for this album due to him running his mouth off all around town. Nothing new there right?

The only single released was opening track Stay With Me Tonight, which dented the lower regions of the charts. Truth be told the vibe and groove is totally different on this album, with a much more mature blues rock feel. Shortino is a great vocalist and they played to his strengths, but that wasn’t what the fans wanted. I really like this album, the songs are great just not very commercial.

Calling The Shots has a great groove and Carlos Cavazo plays some great guitar, and the hook and chorus are really cool. King Of The Hill is my favourite track. Killer riff and groove, and Shortino sings his ass off. This should have been a single! The Joker has a slow stomp groove and would have been great live with that call and repeat vocal. If the record company wanted to release a big commercial track they should have released Don’t Wanna Be Your Fool. Put a big video to that and winner winner chicken dinner.

I think the problem was that it wasn’t the guy with the big mouth fronting the band and the sound was just too different. Great album though!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – Alcohol Fueled Brutality

March 22, 2023 /

This is a reissue of a live album from 2000. I’m sure everyone is familiar with Zak’s homage to Black Sabbath that he’s been doing for nearly twenty five years, as well as playing with the Oz man himself. It’s really noticeable how d-tuned everything is on this album with a real sludgy tone.

I actually like BLS on the album as Zak has some killer riffs and grooves, but this album is all one paced doom. My favourite track is actually his version of No More Tears, where the doom vibe works really well. I think Zak reached his peak with BLS with Order Of The Black and the tracks Parade Of The Dead, and Godspeed Hellbound, but unfortunately there is no groove like that on this album. His guitar tone is killer at times, but a lot of the time it’s down in the sludge and apparently Limp Bizkit sucks dick.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

JOHN NORUM – Another Destination

March 21, 2023 /

This is solo album number three for the Europe axeman, and the sound is a lot more heavy and edgy this time around. He’s joined on vocals by Kelly Keeling who originally came to prominence singing with Baton Rouge on their debut, but has since seemed to have been the hired gun for everyone.

We get things under way with Inside, a kick ass melodic groover with a strong hook and chorus, and a very tasty riff. Resurrection Time is a whole different beast with a fat huge riff and a kick ass groove with an added killer solo. Superb track! Strange Days is next and it’s a cover of the Humble Pie tune. A slow, dark, heavy blues groove and Norum’s playing is just off the hook on this track, so much feel. Spirit World is up next and the vibe has taken a turn for the funk. Killer hook and chorus and that solo… damn! Shimmering Highs closes out Side 1 and the jaw hits the floor. A slow instrumental that builds, and builds, and it’s all guitar. Freakin’ Awesome! Definitely my favourite track!

Side 2 kicks off with an absolute face melter: Whose Side Are You On. The intro is killer and the groove and riff are superb. Next up is the Cream classic Sunshine Of Your Love. It’s a decent enough rendition, pretty close to the original until the solo then…BOOM! And, that ending is so heavy. Catalina Sunset is next up and John shows his chops on the acoustic with a nice chill out moment. Next up is Half Way Home, a kick ass uptempo rocker with yet another ripping solo. Next to last is Healing Rays. The song starts with some epic guitar and a killer off-tempo groove, and the guitar is off the charts. Onto the last track Jillanna, another acoustic piece. You know, I don’t mind a ballad if the guitar is playing the vocal melody and this is really cool.

If you’ve read a few of my reviews you will know by now that I am a guitar nut, and this album hits all my favourite spots all at the same time. Great record!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

ENUFF Z’NUFF – s/t

March 21, 2023 /

A band that had everyone falling over themselves after the release of this album, that seemed to just slowly disappear after the release of each following album. Which is amazing, seeing as they have never given up and to date have released seventeen studio albums.

This album first came out in ’89 just before the whole musical landscape changed, and the follow up came out in ’91 when no one seemed to care about melody and great songs anymore. I would say they have been heavily influenced by Cheap Trick and The Beatles because there are little references there in each song. Donnie and Chip have the knack of writing super catchy pop rock songs and every one of the songs here could have been released as a single.

I’m sure everyone is familiar with Fly High Michelle, a very sleazy glam groove that was the smash single from this record, but I really like New Thing. It was the lead off single and I think it’s a much more of a complete pop song. My favourite track is In The Groove; a huge sounding Friday night dirty party anthem.

I guess some bands are destined not to be the next big thing, which is a shame because this album wipes anything that Poison put out around this time but hey…that’s just my opinion.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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