THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: June 2024 (Page 4 of 6)

MORAY PRINGLE – Good Times

June 14, 2024 /

Moray Pringle was a new guitarist of interest for me after I heard a couple of clips over on his bandcamp page. I was super stoked to find out that Sheet Happens were distributing this album in Canada. I love the pressings they do so this was a no brainer for me. I think Moray is from London, or that is his base anyway.

Quite a list of peeps who play on this record: Anup Sastry ex of Skyharbor and Monuments is on drums, Olly Steele also ex of Monuments plays rhythm, Joe Calderone is on bass, and Bumblefoot makes an appearance on Scotty Scotty Scotty. Now, I love instrumental guitar music so when a player I haven’t heard before releases a record as good as this it feels like Christmas. Before you run for the hills, this is  a very accessible record. It’s full of killer grooves and beats so Moray can lay some serious playing over the top.

I tend to lean towards tunes that are slightly off the curve for albums like this and there are a few that stick out. Scotty Scotty Scotty is such a joy, veering from a Latin to a reggae groove with Moray and Bumblefoot ripping it up with some stellar playing. Very cool track. Jaywalk has a killer groove and feels at times as though they are all playing in different time. I also love the clean tone. My favourite however is Cowboy, a delightful pier with hints of blues and jazz and just a tad of funk. Moray is giving it the beans on this one showing what a killer player he is, even with some tasty slide.

Great first album!! More please!!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

FREAK KITCHEN – Everyone Gets Bloody

June 14, 2024 /

It’s always a good day when a new Freak Kitchen album is announced, and I have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. They are definitely one of the most inventive and original bands around, both lyrically and musically. They must be doing something right as we are now up to album number ten, and it’s more of the same I’m glad to say.  Now, that doesn’t mean it’s a carbon copy of its predecessor, it’s full of the usual twisted rhythms, odd time signatures, crunching riffs, eastern influences, and thought provoking lyrics all blended together to make wonderful Freaky music.

I was first drawn to Freak Kitchen through Matthias’ other worldly guitar wizardry and heavy grooves, and this album does not disappoint on that front. In fact, this record out grooves nearly all the others. Gravity Works, Psy Co Op, Slip, Small Acts Of Rebellion, The Expert, and Pissing Contest will have your groove muscle fully loaded and primed. There is some killer low end crunch riifage that I find irresistible, coupled with IA’s usual wizardry and Bjorn and Christer playing epic rhythms to hold it all together, this record is up there with my favourite Freaky people releases.

My favourite track? Well, today’s it’s Gravity Works. A riff and groove to die for that other bands can only dream of.

It’s been 6 years between releases and I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next one.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

PRETTY MAIDS – Sin- Decade

June 12, 2024 /

This is album number four from Denmark’s finest, released back in ’92. It has always amazed me how Pretty Maids weren’t bigger outside of mainland Europe. They have everything that any decent hard rockin’ band should have. Great songs, a killer sound, a frontman and vocalist that sure can sing and work a crowd, plus a rhythm section and guitar player that can really play.

This album came out in prime time grunge yet, unlike other bands of the same persuasion they carried on releasing records and never veered too far from the path. The album kicks off with Running Out, a supercharged rocker with a chain saw guitar riff that rocks your world right from the get go. Who Said Money follows and is more of a patented hair band anthem. A huge hook and chorus coupled with a hands in the air groove with a very simple riff. Nightmare In The Neighbourhood is a ballad masquerading as a killer mid tempo groover. Slow start with a lighters in the air intro then crunch, we’re off and running. Love the guitar sound and riff, man these guys sure can write a hook and chorus. Great track!

The title track is up next and after the spoken word intro it is four to the floor double kicks and killer riff city. The added keys and superb vocal and harmonies make this my favourite track. A nice, fat, low end, chugga riff opens up Come On Tough, Come On Nasty and again the hook and chorus are massive. Five years earlier a American radio would have been drooling all over this one. Raise The Flag closes out Side 1 with a blast. Melodic rock meets speed metal.

Credit Card Lover gets Side 2 underway with another melodic rock anthem. Huge hook and chorus that just sticks in your head. Know It Ain’t Easy slows the tempo down with the first proper power ballad of the album. The riff returns with Healing Touch, a massive stomp groove coupled with a massive hook and chorus, and a middle eight to die for, this is another winner. In The Flesh is the pedal all the way to the metal. Love this track and it’s a very close second to being my favourite. The album come to a close all to quickly with Please Don’t Leave Me, and if I’m honest it’s a bit of a Debbie Downer. After a selection of songs that are so good, to go out on a whimp-o-rama ballad is such a poor choice.

Apart from the last track this album kills.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

VANDENBERG – 2020

June 10, 2024 /

After releasing three albums, culminating in Alibi which was released back in ’85, Vandenberg were put to sleep apparently over and done while Adrian was with Whitesnake and the brief project Moon Kings. So, I was quite surprised when Adrian resurrected the band with Ronnie Romero on vocals (well, for this album anyway).

Adopting a more harder edged approach this time around, but still with a ton of melody, this is a great record that went by largely unnoticed when it appeared in 2020.  Adrian obviously picked up some influence from Mr. Coverdale as there are a couple of tunes that could have been on any Whitesnake record. Hell And High Water being one of them is drenched in that heavy soulful blues groove and Ronnie sings those songs so well. My favourite tune is Freight Train, a straight up groove rocker with a dirty killer riff and a hook and chorus to match.

A welcome return from Vandenberg with a superb production job from Bob Marlette makes this a worthy addition to the collection.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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