THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: December 2024 (Page 2 of 8)

BLACK SABBATH – Cross Purposes

December 27, 2024 / / 0 Comments

I thought these Tony Martin fronted Sabbath albums would never get the reissue treatment. As with most non-Ozzy material, they seem to get forgotten and brushed aside. This is my favourite album with Martin on vocals. It first came out in ’94 with his second stint with the Sabs. Very reminiscent of RJD with his phrasing and tone but with a more melodic element as well.

Iommi is still the riff meister he always was and he comes out with some belters on this album. I Witness is about as good as it gets in the Iommi iconic riff category and one of my favourite tracks. The riff and groove to Psychophobia seems to be taking references from Seattle and Martin’s vocal with a hint of Roger Daltry in there.

Virtual Death is pure old school Iommi at his most evil sounding. There are even elements of groove here with Back To Eden. A great swing to the main groove and Iommi is riffing up a storm. That feel continues with The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. A slow build up to the funkiest groove that the Sabs have ever put to wax.

I know a lot of people passed on this version of Sabbath and are actually discovering these records for the first time. How lucky are they?

9/10 from The Grooveman.

TREAT – S/T

December 27, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Here we have a record label cash-in album that was a compilation of the bests bits from ’86 and ’87 which was put out by the UK label. Treat were quite big in Scandi and had some success in Germany. but other than that they just scratched the surface in the US. I can’t remember them doing a whole bunch in the UK, so it was a bit bizarre that they put this out at all.

I actually love this band because they sure could write a catchy good time rock song and with most things Swedish, they did it a whole lot better. If you are remotely into melodic rock/AOR from the classic period, then you should definitely give this compilation a listen to.

Somebody at the record company did their homework on the band because you won’t get a better song to start the album with than The Winner. This is Treat at their most rockin’ with a killer riff and groove, and I guarantee you will be singing this one when you least expect it. Sole Survivor is slightly more AOR, but what a killer tune. Massive hook and chorus that would put Leppard to shame.

So many killer tunes here: Strike Without A Warning, Rev It Up… all great songs from an awesome band.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

POISON – Native Tongue

December 27, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Album number four for the sleazy glam ones, only this time, they were not so glam or sleazy. With the hiring of Richie Kotzen they went for a bit more credibility with the songs. Even though this was released in ’93, which was grunge central, the album still went gold in the US. Richie Kotzen looms large all over this album, not only did he gain a new wife (oops) but he brought a sense of his trademark R’n’B blues sound to the music.

Hardcore poison fans hate this album and I can see why, but I really like it. Stay Alive, Body Talk, Bring It Home, Aint That The Truth, Strike Up The Band, and my favourite Bastard Son Of A Thousand Blues are all really great songs. If any of you want to know what a Richie Kotzen solo album sounds like with Brett Michaels on vocals, you should give this album a spin.

Cool record.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

KIK TRACEE – No Rules

December 22, 2024 / / 0 Comments

A perfect example of a one and they’re done glam metal band that appeared too late and were swept away by the great grunge unpleasantness. Slaughter’s Dana Strum had a big hand in the creation of this album. Not only did he produce the album, but he also arranged it and had a hand in writing five of the songs.

This album was released in ’91 and spawned two singles Don’t Need Rules and the rock ballad You’re So Strange. Pretty predictable major label formula. Don’t Need Rules is not a bad song if I’m being honest, with a nice groove and riff. I also really like the sleazy version of Mrs. Robinson by Simon And Garfunkel. In fact, there are quite a few highlights to give your ears a good rockin’.

Trash City has a killer sleazy riff and groove as does Hard Time. Generation Express has that roots Americana vibe added to the sleaze. My favourite however, is Tangerine Man because I love the intro, and that hook and chorus is perfect. You can hear why they were compared to GnR and LA Guns as they have that similar vibe and sound, with a hint of old school Aerosmith thrown in as well.

They started recording a follow up to this, but everything fell away.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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