THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: July 2024 (Page 2 of 7)

RATT – S/T (1999)

July 25, 2024 /

“Wait a minute, this Ratt album has never been released on vinyl!” I hear you cry. And you’d be right, as this is one of the ever increasing amount of counterfeits flooding the market at the moment. The sound quality, other than being very quiet, is as good as you would expect from a rip off a CD. The cover however, is a bit of a mish mash. The front is correct but the back cover and the inner sleeve are taken from earlier Ratt albums.

Musically, I like this album. The band are only a four piece and they have moved away from that glitz and the glam sound. The album opens up with two great songs in Over The Edge and Live For Today, both of which would have made killer singles, and not what you think Ratt would do at all. Other songs that shake my tree are Breakout with its cool psyche-guitar intro, my favourite track Luv Sick with a killer riff and slight funk groove, and the killer riff and groove of So Good So Fine.

If you don’t know Ratt other than their golden years then this will be a pleasant surprise.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

PINK FLOYD – Animals 2018 remix

July 21, 2024 /

I have reviewed the original version of this album before, so if you read that then you will know how I rate this record. However, I thought this 2018 remix version was worthy of a mention also, as it breaths new life into an often overlooked album in Pink Floyd’s catalog. James Guthrie has done a brilliant job. Sonically, the album sounds amazing and little things have been brought more into the mix. Sheep is still my favourite track and it sounds superb here.

Still a great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

THE END MACHINE – The Quantum Phase

July 21, 2024 /

So, this is album number three from this Fontiers project band, and with a change of vocalist. Here they introduce Girish Pradhan from another Frontiers’ band, Girish And The Chronicles. Now, this guy can sing and he is a great addition. I think the original brief was for George and Jeff with Mick Brown to revisit that classic Dokken sound and I think they have achieved that especially on this record.

Black Hole Extinction opens up the album and it’s a belter of a tune. It’s got a classic George riff and that Dokken groove with Girish delivering with the vocal. It’s favourite track time next with Silent Winter. Killer opening with George ripping at the intro before the song blasts in with a killer uptempo groove and superb hook and chorus. Killer Of The Night follows and it has a more laid back groove and vibe but the vocal and harmonies are excellent. Hell Or High Water keeps the pedal to the floor with a high octane opening with Girish hitting all the notes. I love George’s guitar tone.

Stand Up has a much slower groove and is the one song that doesn’t quite do it for me, although I love the solo. Burning Man has a slow bluesy groove with Girish delivering a killer vocal, ranging from the full on power to the beautiful clean and quiet. Shattered Glass Heart is classic Dokken (musically,) but with a much more powerful vocal. I love the intro to Time, it has a great riff and some tasty George guitar. Hunted sees Girish giving it the full power Glen Hughes vocal assault with a killer solo from George.

The one thing this record has an overload of is killer intros, and Stranger In The Mirror is no exception. It has a killer intro and that guitar sound is off the hook, plus what a great middle eight and run out. We close out the album with Into The Blazing Sun. This one is all about George. Great solo and again, what a tone.

I hope George keeps making music after the Lynch Mob farewell tour is over as it will be a sad day when he stops.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SHANGHAI – Take Another Bite

July 21, 2024 /

So this is Shanghai’s original four track EP that came out in ’89, and they did not record a follow up album until 2001. They are back together again I think, as they have a presence on social media.

If you love your rock with a huge party vibe, then you may just want to grab yourself a copy. Please Me Tease Me is a glam classic and I’m amazed they never got a break with that song alone. It’s a great fun tune that kicks ass. Push It In (not very subtle) and Big & Sleazy follow a similar line, both great fun party rock anthems. Without Love has more of a serious hard rock vibe to it, showing that these guys can actually play.

There are plenty of bootleg copies of this album, and it is available online if you can’t find the vinyl. A whole bunch of fun.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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