THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: October 2023 (Page 1 of 8)

DANGEROUS TOYS – s/t

October 30, 2023 /

When I heard that vocalist Jason McMaster had left Watchtower to hook up with these guys I was a bit confused, as you can’t get much further apart in musical terms than those two bands. However, it all makes sense when you play this record as his voice fits like a glove and this album actually sold really well and was certified gold.

The two singles open up the album: Teas’m Pleas’m and Scared. This was a really good call as they are the most commercial tracks. Scared is a great tune and my favourite on the album.

It’s the deeper cuts that do it for me though. Bones In The Gutter has a crazy little groove and nice riff. Take Me Drunk is funky as hell and the hook and chorus are awesome. Outlaw has a crazy opening riff and a cool middle section.

Dangerous Toys are not your typical sleaze band and there’s a lot going on here if you give it time.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

SVEN GALI – s/t

October 28, 2023 /

Sven Gali are a great early 90’s Canadian melodic rock band that came around just a little too late. Even though they had a tougher edge to their sound to reflect what has happening at the time, they weren’t around too long.

Under The Influence rips open the album with a riff to die for. Man, what a killer groove to introduce yourself with and yep, it’s my favourite track. Tie Died Skies follows and the groove is way more 90’s indie rock, but that melody and hook are never far away. Great tune! Sweet Little Gypsy has Sunset Strip written all over it with a nice and sleazy groove. In My Garden has lots of prime time Alice Cooper vibes, especially the vocal with what is essentially a ballad. Nice funky heavy riffing to Freakz, with a vibe very similar to Skid Row and I love the middle section. Love Don’t Live Here Anymore closes out Side 1 and it’s AOR ballad time. I have to say, it feels way out of place compared to what’s gone before.

Stiff Competition opens up Side 2 and it’s double kicks, four to the floor all the way (I guess they were feeling guilty about that ballad). Real Thing has that glam slam vibe down to a tee. And, what’s that? Another ballad? Yep, Whisper In The Rain is just that. 25 Hours A Day blows the ballad blues away with a fun uptempo party rocker. Nice to see the speedy grooves continue with Here Today Gone Tomorrow with plenty of attitude. Disgusteen ends the album on  a sleazy high. You can’t go wrong with a simple riff and pounding groove.

I haven’t played this in a long while, and I remember it being a lot more glam. They have played a few shows to coincide with this release and hopefully we might get new tunes.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

CJSS – Praise The Loud

October 27, 2023 /

In case you are wondering, CJSS are the initials of the last names of each of the members of the band. I’m sure the only one you will have heard of is band leader and guitar whizz, David T Chastain, unless you are the parents of the other three.

As far as I’m aware, this is the band’s second release (although Mr. Chastain has released a million solo albums) which came out in ’86 and it’s fairly representative of US metal at that time, but with lots of shred in every spare space. There is no doubt Mr. Chastain is a very talented guy who can shred with the best of them. Highlights from the album are the thrash grooves of Don’t Play With Fire with a suitably insane solo, Citizen Of Hell is quite cool as they are trying some odd grooves which are quite ahead of their time, and my personal favourite track is the gloriously over the top Metal Forever. Indeed it is!

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ELECTRIC BOYS – Grand Explosivos

October 26, 2023 /

A 2023 release for Sweden’s kings of funky rock n’ roll, it is their ninth album. I’m so pleased they came back after nearly twenty years of inactivity with 2011’s “And Them Boys Done Swang.” They are one of those bands that flick all my switches.

I’m a huge fan of all things funky, especially when it’s rocked up and this album has grooves and vibes a plenty. We open up with When Life Treats You Funky, and boy we have hit the the spot immediately. A killer, funky, rockin’ groove with a hook and chorus that’s so infectious, this sneaks it as my favourite tune. Better Safe Than Sober slides straight in with a big swaggering riff, telling a tale about the demon drink. Ladies and germs we are on a roll.

I’ve Got A Feelin’ is a fun pop rock masterpiece. We get back to the funky grooves with And The Band Played On 1, with just a hint of country (you could see Govt Mule doing something like this). Side 1 closes out with Domestic Blitz, an uptempo sleazey groover.

Side 2 opens up with the down and dirty funky groove of Karma’s Gonna Get You, and this really swings. Missed Her By A Minute is a mix of acoustic and power pop that would make a great radio tune. A switch back to sleazy rock n’ roll vibes is next with Learjet, this song would do the Sunset Strip wannabes proud. Cozmic Jagger is a short, fun, funky romp with the main tag line repeating.

The Great Believer is up next and this is a close second for my favourite tune. A whole bunch of fun wrapped up in a simple riff and funky groove. The record closes out with And The Band Played On 2, which is an instrumental reprise of the Side 1 tune.

As usual, this is a highly entertaining album from The Boys.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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