THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: January 2024 (Page 2 of 7)

VANDENBERG’S MOONKINGS – S/T

January 27, 2024 /

Before joining Whitesnake, Adrian released a string of really good melodic rock albums. But, if you were thinking that this project is more of the same, you would be very wrong. The tunes on offer here go way back with their influences. Think Zeppelin crossed with early Whitesnake, add quite a raw fee,l and we have hit the jackpot.

This album first came out in 2014, and other than Adrian all the band members are unknown (to me) Dutch musicians. Mixing that earthy blues rock groove with Vandenberg’s era for a good tune and melody really works well here. My favourite tunes are List And Lies, Close To You, Steal Away, and Leeches. They all have that same great blueprint: a killer groove with a a great swing and a very catchy hook and chorus.

I think this the best thing Adrian has done and long may he continue with this project.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

DANGER DANGER – Screw It

January 22, 2024 /

Released in ’91, this is album number two from one of the great melodic rock bands of the late eighties. A hotshot guitar player was a necessity in all bands of this ilk, and they definitely had one of the best in Andy Timmons. There were so many great melodic rock albums that were put out around this time and this is definitely one of them. Danger Danger should have been huge.

I think everyone has heard the song Monkey Business, and what a great way to open the album. But, Slipped Her The Big One (ahem) just blows it out of the water. It has a killer riff and great playing from Mr. Timmons. Also, the hook and melody are just huge, and man that groove! Beat The Bullet is another ripping track with Andy giving it the beans, and the hook and chorus are massive. Get Your Shit Together, Puppet Show, Don’t Blame It On Love, and Horny SOB all killer tunes.

This is another record that is stellar right from the needle drop to the end. I can pick any tune as my favourite but today I am going with Slipped Her The Big One.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

BLUE TEARS – S/T

January 22, 2024 /

This is a great record, and just because another flavour of sounds were occupying youth at the time does not make good music bad.

This album appeared in 1990 and basically that was it for them as the colour of brown washed over the musical landscape. In these grooves, Blue Tears created one of the best melodic rock albums ever recorded. If this came out five years earlier, they would have given Bon Jovi a run for their money.

The album has great songs that have a great positive vibe that you can’t help singing a long to. And, in Gregg Fulkerson they possessed one of the great forgotten talents of the genre. Gregg, who passed away in 2009, had a stellar voice that was perfect for the tunes, plus he was a killer guitar player.

As for favourite tracks, I could pick any and that includes the ballads. Today I will go with Side 2 opener, Innocent Kiss. It has everything I love about Blue Tears all in one song: a massive hook and chorus, big fat guitar, and a melody to die for.

I urge anyone who loves melodic rock to seek this one out.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

STAGE DOLLS – Commandos

January 22, 2024 /

This is album number two from one of Norway’s finest exponents of AOR/ Melodic Rock. You can see why this album did really well in the US, because the whole vibe is tailor made for American FM radio. The production is huge and very clear, all the tricks and gizmo’s have been applied to give the songs that extra everything. There is no way that they could do this live. Well, not without help anyway!

Commandos (the song) is a quality piece of music with a great melody and hook, it was a huge single for the band. Young Hearts is another song that you can imagine playing in your soft top cruising down the Pacific coast highway singing along to the melody. My favourite tune however is Rock You where they mix the rock with the smooth, crank those guitars, and give it the full rock party anthem.

A very good album that sounds great.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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