THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: February 10, 2024

TOY ROZ – S/T

February 10, 2024 /

I should have a category in my collection for “records I bought by just looking at the cove,” because this album is definitely one of those. It was released in ’88 and was (I believe) a private press by the band. I think they are from California, or at least they were there when this came out. But, this is just a six track EP of the glam rock variety.

The picture on the front of record of the band would say Bon Jovi, but in reality it’s more of a Poison or Tuff vibe going down. It’s okay and it’s not gonna change the world but it’s not gonna make them famous either. And, it didn’t. They split up not too long after the release.

My favourite tune is Crazy mainly due to the killer guitar sound and a great rhythm section. There are a million of these one and they’re gone rock albums and Toy Roz were just one of them.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

SAVATAGE – Sirens

February 10, 2024 /

This was the first album released by Florida’s finest Prog metallers. Although this version of the band was more straight ahead metal, a few of the west coast thrash bands cited them as an influence. It’s quite funny to look at the sleeve notes because instead of saying what instrument they play they gave themselves titles like Shrieks Of Terror, Metalaxe, Barbaric Canons, and The Bottom End.

This was a strong a metal release, and it holds up surprisingly well. The Oliva brothers are grasping the chance they were given with both hands. The production (especially for drums) is not that great. The snap is not there but the riffs and Chris Oliva’s playing is exceptional throughout. I’m going for Rage as my favourite tune because the riffs are  huge and the beat pounding lays it down hard.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

GIRL – Wasted Youth

February 10, 2024 /

This was Girls’ second and last album, released back in ’81. After this, Phil Collen would go on to join Def Leppard and Phil Lewis would join LA Guns. I loved their first album, but when I first heard this I wasn’t too taken with it. I think that’s because the band were trying different styles and grooves, and in the UK in ’81 that was not the order of business.  

The album kicks off in fine style with Thru The Twilight, a great uptempo groover that carries on from the first record. Then you get Old Dogs which is essentially a rock-reggae tune. Then Ice In The Blood follows, which has more in common with Sly Stone than NWOBHM. There are also Faces-style tunes like Nice N’ Nasty which is a bit all over the place style-wise and not too focused, which may be its main problem. My favourite track is the already mentioned, Thru The Twilight.

It’s not a bad album and it’s an interesting listen all these years later.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

THE B52’s – S/T

February 10, 2024 /

I think the first time I heard the B52’s was in a clip on the Old Grey Whistle Test. This was back in ’79, the fall over from punk was still in place and we all thought they were part of that movement. If you listen, you can hear the surf rock influence with a punk attitude but with added 50’s sci-fi B- movie schtick. The UK had something similar with the Rezillos, but they were way more comic book. What set these guys apart from the other punk bands was the killer production from Island Records’ boss Chris Blackwell.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 45 years, I’m sure that most people will have heard at least Rock Lobster from this record, as it’s now ingrained in pop culture. This was and is such a fun record to listen to and they had such a great sense of humour with it. I’m going to pick one of the lesser known tracks as my favourite: 6060-842. Such an off the wall track that just rings my bell. The guitar riff that repeats over and over is so cool and it sounds superb.

I don’t care for much else the band did after this. It’s definitely a time and place album for me.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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