THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: April 2023 (Page 1 of 7)

FEMME FATALE – s/t

April 29, 2023 /

A classic example of one and they’re done. Fronted by the talents of one Lorraine Lewis, this album was released in ’88 and the lead single Waiting For The Big One did moderately ok in Europe. They were often accused of being a producers plaything but if you check the writing credits they wrote everything except the single. It’s such a strong song they’d have been crazy not to release it first, in fact the second track, In And Out Of Love is near enough a mirror image of Waiting, both benefiting from a huge hook and chorus.

My favourite track however is My Baby’s Gun, it’s more of a hard rocking fun Friday night special tune. Other highlights include Side 2 opener Fortune In Fame, a nice little up tempo groover; If, the heaviest sounding track on the album; and close out track Cradles Rockin’.

I’m not sure why there wasn’t another album as it’s not bad by any stretch.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

STEVE LUKATHER – I Found The Sun Again

April 28, 2023 /

Steve Lukather is not only one of the best guitar players of my generation, but also one of the best session players as well. His list of “appeared ons” is incredible. This is his seventh solo studio album and was released in 2021, it is pretty much what I would expect him to do. A superb sounding record with some super cool tunes that float in that west coast vibe, but with some monster playing from all involved.

The opening burst of Along For The Ride is a superb track to open proceedings. Luke is on vocals as well as ripping on guitar, and the vibe is quite groovy. Serpent Soul is up next and the vibe is a well funky jazz/rock groove that Toto do so well. A cover of Traffics Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys follows, and man this sounds so cool. I love that laid back feel that this track just oozes. Journey Though follows and it’s an instrumental, the vibe feels like something Jeff Beck would do. Welcome To The Club is a cover of the Joe Walsh tune and it sounds incredible, so clear. Luke’s playing is superb!

The title track is next: a slow ballad type of tune but it sounds oh so cool. I know Luke plays in Ringo’s band but it must be a huge honour to have him play on your album, and that’s what happens with next track Run To Me. The album closes out with a cover of Robin Trowers’ Bridge Of Sighs, the album of which is in my top five albums. A monumental sound that is quite different to the original and yet does it justice in all the right ways. Safe to say the guitar playing is par excellence.

Well done to Mascot Records for making this a double album and giving the songs space so that the album sounds a s good as it does. Such an awesome record!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

KINGDOM COME – s/t

April 28, 2023 /

What Greta Van Fleet are getting fired at them with the accusations that they are ripping off Led Zeppelin, is exactly what happened to Lenny Wolf and Kingdom Come over thirty years ago. Whereas GVF are definitely imitating that style, Kingdom Come were not and it was just the vocal tones of Lenny Wolf gathering the armchair critics anger, especially on tracks like Pushin’ Hard. However, this album is one hell of a classic rock record with another production credit for the one and only Bob Rock.

The album originally appeared in ’88 and not many bands at this time were playing that classic rock sound. Highlights for me are the opener Living Out Of Touch, the heavy blues groove of 17, the kick ass boogie of The Shuffle, the first single release Get It On (which I admit is a straight Zeppelin lift), and my personal favourite Hideaway with that eighties pop vibe thrown into the mix.

Anyway, I like this album and everyone is welcome to their own opinion.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

LILLIAN AXE – Fields Of Yesterday

April 27, 2023 /

This is a first time vinyl release for this hard rockin’ record. It was originally only available through the UK boutique rock label Z Records back in ’99. The material on here was originally demos and outtakes but have been cleaned up and I really like this record.

The vibe on the first track Death Valley Days reminds a little of Saigon Kick, I think mainly through the vocal delivery of Ron Taylor but it’s still a kick-ass tune. Do It follows and starts with a huge progressive feel and I’m loving the quirky feel to the melody, and that solo sounds killer. Twilight In Hell rips in with a huge sounding monster riff and I’m not sure anyone sounds quite like these guys as they do have their own sound, and I mean in that in a good way. For Crying Out Loud closes out the first side and we are now in a power pop groove as the vibe is definitely Cheap Trick with a classical undertone.

The Last Time carries on that power pop groove with a really catchy hook line. Calm Before The Storm does feel like it was a cleaned up demo as the production is a bit mushy in places but it doesn’t spoil my enjoyment of what is a a great song. Pulling The Rats Out reminds me of classic Aerosmith, at least with that initial riff and groove. When It Rains brings Side 2 to an end with a ballad.

It’s favourite track time with Side 3 opener Daddy Long Legs. Superb riff and groove with some epic guitar. The mushy drum sound reappears however. A big epic intro to Blood On The Moon gives way to a more straight ahead anthem rocker. Kill Me Again is the one track you can definitely say this sounds like a demo. Great song with a very flat sound. A seriously nasty guitar sound announces the arrival of Become A Monster, quite literally a beast of a tune. Superb vocal harmonies at the intro to Throw You Away, another great tune but the drum machine is a tad tiresome. The album ends with Thirst, a huge sounding tune that travels into the realms of Prog metal.

I’d like to hear some of these “demo” tracks fully completed, but I guess there isn’t much chance of ever happening.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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