REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: September 22, 2023

TRASH – Burning Rock

I don’t know a whole bunch about these guys, other than they were from Sweden and released two albums in the mid eighties, this is the second. I remember the first album being more true to the name and a bit of a disappointment. This release however shows a band that have played and toured together, honing their chops before hopping back into the studio.

The first track Boogie Woogie Man reminds me of AC/DC. Great tune with loud guitars and a basic four to the floor groove. The title track is some what different, with added keys and a slower groove, but that guitar sounds great. Rock Me…Rock You is back to that simple DC loud riffage and groove with added radio friendly sing a long hook and chorus. Side 1 close out tune is I Can’t Get The One (I Want). Again, big loud crunchy guitar but this time with a slower plodding beat.

Night After Night slips Side 2 into gear nicely with more of that DC repeating main chord and matching beat. Great tune! Bad Reputation is slower with a pounding groove, and I love the middle eight. Hot Legs Black Stockings is up next, and it’s my favourite tune. This time we are mixing the DC vibes with some LA glitz thrown in. You can’t fail to nod your head and groove when a song is as infectious as this. Yeah I know it’s not rocket science but remember, sometimes simple is good. Take My Flight is a slow blues with a really cool sounding, clean guitar. We close out the record with Rock N’ Roll Riot and it does exactly what it says, with some added punk attitude.

Definitely the best of the two albums, and a great fun listen.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM THEATER – A Change Of Seasons

This is technically not an album, it was an EP slotted in between the albums Awake and Falling Into Infinity, but the main and title track weighs in at over twenty three minutes. The rest of the piece is put together with cover tunes recorded at Ronnie Scott’s in London, a bit of a legendary show amongst DT die hards.

A Change Of Seasons is all that was great about DT at the time, a huge song split into seven different parts encompassing a varying of styles. A very personal piece for Mike Portnoy as it’s about the cycle of life and is a reference to the death of his mother. The date on the calendar on the sleeve that is circled is November 16th, the day she died. An absolute joy to listen to. The covers are from Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, and Kansas to name a few but the best of the bunch is a ripping version of Funeral For A Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding.

This is a great look back to a band approaching the height of their powers.

9/10 from The Grooveman.