THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: September 2023 (Page 1 of 11)

MARK LETTIERI – Things Of That Nature

September 30, 2023 /

This is solo album number five for the part time Snarky Puppy guitarist, or should that be full time? Mark is a very prolific musician. As well as the eleven Snarky Puppy recordings, there are seven of his own, five with the Fearless Flyer, and a squillion other sessions he has contributed to. I do love some instrumental rock/fusion/funk tunes, and Mark’s style certainly floats my boat.

Album opener Blockheads has a touch of the Jeff Beck Wired vibes to the main groove, at least with some very cool playing from Mark. I would have bought this record just for Naptime alone. Absolutely freakin’ awesome funky groove. There is so much melody to his playing, and it’s not always about playing all the notes at the same time. This is my favourite track, it’s a beast of a tune! A massive shout out to the groove twins Jason Thomas on drums and Wes Stephenson on bass. Definitely a dynamic duo! Seuss Pants follows and the tone and feel on this slow groove is just wonderful, even when he goes through the gears. Side 1 closer is Point Iz. Another slow groove piece all about the clean tones.

Flipping over to Side 2 is Chicory, with a very understated reggae vibe. Again, I love the tone and feel, and when we click into the slow funk and the sax kicks in… soooo cool. The switch back to the reggae is just wonderful. Bubinca has a wicked groove, and I think we have switched to the Barritone on this one. The groove and tempo increases somewhat on next track Huh, man this tune slays. Superb grooves and playing, switching tones and sounds, great stuff! Ojai closes out the album and the acoustic comes out to play as well as a resonator, and they sound so clear.

There we have it, another quality album from Mr. Lettieri. I think this would be a great addition to your collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SLEEZE BEEZ – Look Like Hell

September 30, 2023 /

This is a repress of the band’s first album that originally reared its ugly head in ’87. It’s also featuring original vocalist, Tiger. They hadn’t quite mastered their groove at this point, that would come with the next record.

Still, there are quite a few fun tunes to grab your ears around. My favourite of those is Hit And Run, a full on uptempo rocker with double kicks and max riffage. Girls Girls Nasty Nasty is a tune more aligned with what they are famous for and was released as a single, it has one of those stuck in the head sing a longs. Too Wild To Be Innocent is another fun tune with a great riff. Dyin’ To Live has a great riff and guitar sound, it reminds me of early Def Leppard.

However, there are some bad moments. Of which, Warchild is the worst. The song is pretty basic but the vocals are just awful, and you can see why he was replaced before the next record.

Just stick with Screwed Blued And Tattooed, it’s their finest hour.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

HURRICANE – Reconnected

September 29, 2023 /

Hurricane are another resurrected back from the dead band. These guys are unique as they have been resurrected twice. Once in 2001 with the album Liquifury and now twenty-two years later with this release on Escape Music. Well, at least there are two original members with Robert Sarzo and Tony Cavazo in the band. So was it worth bringing them back from the dead? Yes, of course it was. Class musicians don’t make stinkers and that is proved here. That is, apart from their Under Pressure cover.

Rock Star Cheater opens up in fine style and this is exactly what I expected. A kick ass, uptempo, melodic groover that hits the spot perfectly, it’s my favourite song. You & I follows and has a different vibe and groove adding that variety, I’m loving the vocals and harmonies on this one. Under Pressure is next and there are some songs that you should just leave alone, this is one of them. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that the original was so unique and can never be bettered. It’s big ballad time next with Behind Your Shadow. Yup, it’s a ballad. The vocals are strong, and the solo is decent. Innocent Girl closes out Side 1 and it’s AOR-a-plenty here with a big hook and chorus and a simple chugga riff.

Don’t Change Your Love kicks Side 2 into gear with a hands in the air anthem. A great simple riff with a hook and chorus that you can’t help but sing a long to. That happy party groove continues into the next tune I’m On To You complete with “NaNaNa” sing a longs. A hint of psychedelia next with the intro to Hand Of Souls, which is essentially a country rock power ballad. Disconnected carries on the vibe, although this one is a bit darker. I love the vocals and harmonies. Back to the party vibe with Blind Love. Another simple riff and groove, but so effective. We close out the album with an acoustic piece called Wishing Well, with a nursery rhyme-style vocal.

All in all not a bad return, but not a classic either.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

NO SWEAT – s/t

September 29, 2023 /

This is the only album from Ireland’s hard rockin’ band, and also a favourite of one Joe Elliot who produced the single Heart And Soul. I think they were also managed by none other than Louis Walsh, the famed British Pop Idol judge. They came together in ’86, the single was released in ’89, and the album followed in ’90. It was produced by Keith Olsen, who gave the album a super slick production. Super commercial sounding and should have done way better than it did. I have to say, I really like this album. If it wasn’t for that guitar sound, this album could easily been a pop record.

Heart And Soul opens up the album with a band. A killer pop rock groover with massive hook and chorus. The seriously infectious Shake follows with a killer uptempo polished groove that will definitely get you moving. The huge power ballad that is Stay is up next, and Paul Quinn’s gravelly tones make this pop. On The Edge is straight out of early 80’s US pop rock. All built around that massive hook and chorus, and where have you heard that outro riff before?

Waters Flow feels like a Zeppelin re-write until those multi-layered vocals hit you. Tear Down The Walls has a huge Def Leppard feel to it, especially in the chorus. It’s favourite tune time next with Generation. Such a slick groovy rocker with killer bv’s and harmonies. A close second in the favourite tunes department is Lean On Me. It has a great snappy groove and massive hook and chorus. Mr. Olsen sure knows how to record vocals. Stranger keeps the vibe going with yet another pop rock crossover gem. We close out the record with Mover. A nice blues intro slides right into another slick pop rock masterpiece.

It’s a crying shame that these guys appeared when they did, as this is such a good record that would have been massive a few years earlier. I know I keep mentioning that, but there are so many great records that just fell between the cracks.

9/10  from The Grooveman.

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