THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: October 2023 (Page 4 of 8)

ARGENT – Hold Your Head Up

October 16, 2023 /

Now, I’m not usually tempted by “best of’s” because I much prefer to buy the full album to see how the songs sit within the album per the vision of the artist. However, even though Argent were perceived as a Prog band, they released killer singles that were very commercial and had chart success.

The radio edit of Take Hold Your Head Up was devoid of the huge Rod Argent Hammond solo, making it a great radio tune and I vividly remember being shocked hearing this version some years later with the added solo. Every one is familiar with God Gave Rock N’ Roll To You as made famous by Kiss, but I have always loved this version and it made a huge impression on me as a kid. Thunder And Lightning is almost an R’n’B tune, especially with the main groove, and I love the melody on the main chorus. My favourite Argent tune is Its Only Money. Superb opening, it’s very dramatic and builds into a killer song. It also has a great groove with a driving bass that changes gears into a something that early Deep Purple would be proud of.

I highly recommend this collection and if you’re any way curious about the band as it’s a good place to start.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

HEAVENS EDGE- Get It Right

October 14, 2023 /

Another album brought to you by the folks at Frontiers’ back from the dead records. Other than their classic self-titled release from 1990 and an out of the blue release on MTM records in ’98, this new release is their only recorded works to date. Of course, putting out a melodic rock record at the beginning 90’s was like throwing your wallet into a bottomless pit, as it would never be seen again.  

So, what does this latest comeback album offer in terms of classic tunes? Well, opening track Had Enough is smokin’. The bass line is killer, and the riff and groove are right on the money – a nice uptempo rocker to wet the appetite. If rock radio was still interested in melody and memorable tunes then What Could’ve Been would be lighting up the charts. It’s an AOR classic with a huge melody and chorus.

Raise Em Up is another uptempo groover with a nice riff reminiscent of Schenker in his UFO days. 9 Lives (My Immortal Life) is the heaviest track on the record and romps along at a fair pace. My favourite tune however is the close out piece, I’m Not The One. A brooding monster of a track with a different vibe to it than the rest of the album, but still with a huge hook and melody.

Well, I’m glad they returned with a strong record. My only peeve is that the pressing I have is a bit on the quiet side.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

PORCUPINE TREE – Closure/ Continuation

October 13, 2023 /

Imagine my delight when one of my favourite bands, that for all intents and purposes had split up and may never have recorded again, came back from the dead with the announcement of a new record. Yep, I was pretty stoked to say the least. Then, rumours started to appear about how they were now down to a three piece as Colin Edwin, whose glorious bass grooves would not be taking part. Seemingly, there was animosity in the camp.

This album does have its high points, but it’s by no means the band’s best effort. Harridan opens up the album and this is a classic PT style tune well, since the arrival of Gavin Harrison anyway. A nice, heavy, almost industrial groove and a song that meanders its way through its take. A very strong start. Of The New Day follows and this song feels like an SW solo tune. A very delicate song full of SW’s trademark melancholic vibes, until the burst of energy mid way. Rats Return is one of my favourite tracks on the album. A nice, heavy, metallic groove with lots of Richard Barbieri’s soundscapes, I think this is the most PT track on the album.

Dignity feels like a throwback to Sygnify with an acoustic vibe driving the song along. The third of the outstanding tracks on the album is next with Herd Culling. This one takes it for favourite overall tune. I love the dark weird intro before the song explodes into life, something that SW says he no longer gets inspiration and drive from anymore. Well, I guess if you didn’t put huge crunching metal grooves into PT music at this point, only the sheep that seem to buy everything that SW touches would be down with it.

Walk The Plank has Richard Barbieri written all over it. Lots of keyboard and electronic weirdness that are a treat. His solo albums are so cool. This bring us to the last track, well on this version at least. There are bonus tracks on the deluxe version, which dilute the album. Chimeras Wreck has Side 4 all to itself, a slow builder with lots of killer touches that you have to listen carefully to. The layered harmonies sound huge and the production is top drawer.

It took me a while to like this record and I still think it sounds somewhat mechanical and lacks groove. Maybe that’s because a guitar player is playing bass? It’s just how it feels to me. They are still a million times ahead of the pack.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BE BOP DELUXE – Futurama

October 12, 2023 /

This is album number two from one of the most underrated bands ever. I was quite jealous of a kid I went to school with at the time because he got to play on this album as a member of a brass band that were local to me.

This was a follow up to the awesome Axe Victim and Bill, being a chameleon-like character, wanted to move on and away from the glam sound from the first record (which is a killer album by the way). This is my second favourite Be Bop album behind Axe Victim. The songs are so strong on this and are driven along by Bill’s superb voice and guitar playing. There’s not a bad song to be seen as I love them all.

The first “hit” single was released from this album, Maid In Heaven. A superb song that really defies description. Yeah it’s rock n’ roll, but it’s so much more. Listen closely and there is a lot happening. It’s also very Queen like in places. Sister Seagull is my favourite song ,not only on the album but from the band as a whole. It’s a killer dramatic song with Bill weaving his spell with the vocal delivery as only he can, and then his guitar playing his so freakin’ cool. Another favourite of mine is Music In Dreamland. It has such a great intro before Bill starts his tale. The melody is so good on this song and we are veering into prog territory here, same with Between The Worlds which echoes Bowie and Genesis.

They are band I miss so much as they were so unique and a blast from my early teenage years.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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