REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: November 20, 2023

THE POLICE – Synchronicity

I used to look on this album as The Police’s weakest record, but over time I have grown to really love it. Stewart Copeland’s contribution to the band often gets overlooked but his stamp and grooves are all over this record. Right from the off with the heavy groove of the title track (which is one of the best songs the band did), it has Stewart’s DNA everywhere.

The production is superb and Hugh Padgham should take a huge credit here. The only down point is Mother. I get that Andy wanted his songs on the album but sometimes you just have to take a back seat. It stands out so much because everything else is so damn good. The rest of the record is just the best and some of the best pop tunes laid to wax. I’m going for Synchronicity, that opens the album, as my favourite tune. It’s just a beast of a tune, and just consumes you with joy as it speeds on by.

The album would have been a nailed in 10 if it wasn’t for Mother.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

VENGEANCE – We Have Ways To Make You Rock

This is album number two for one of Holland’s best hard rock exports. It was released back in ’86. Vengeance were a big deal in Holland and other parts of mainland Europe, but they seemed to struggle with the rest of the world.

They do remind me a bit of Saxon in their heyday, especially on songs like Dreamworld where singer Leon Goewie does a fine impression of Biff Byford. Power Of The Rock is one of my favourite tunes by the band as its NWOBHM influences are easy to spot, and the speedy riff and groove help.  

They don’t take themselves too seriously and the music is not gonna change the world, but that’s what good old hard rock and metal was all about in the eighties. It was something you could escape to after a hard days grind, and this is a perfect album to do just that. My favourite tune goes to Second To None, a fun uptempo rocker with a great riff and some killer guitar.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.