THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 131 of 492)

LONDON – Don’t Cry Wolf

November 10, 2023 /

This album number for the nearly band of Hollywood. Believe it or not, Nikki Sixx formed this band with guitarist Lizzie Grey back in ’78 and there was a revolving door of members until Nadir’D Priest and Brian West joined; this is the line up that recorded this album in ’86.

It’s typical Sunset Strip of the time really, except without having that one track just to get the album off and running. I guess the song with the biggest impact is For Whom The Bell Tolls. This song was written by Blackie Lawless when he was in the band and he would later record it with WASP, which appears on The Headless Children. Although, my favourite track is a lot simpler and more wham bam thank you mam. That would be Fast As Light, a four to the floor rocker with double kicks all the way.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

MAX WEBSTER – Universal Juveniles

November 9, 2023 /

This is the Max Webster’s fifth album, released back in 1980. They were quite a big deal in Canada, all their albums were certified gold and a Million Vacations was platinum. They made a little headway in the UK, but before any momentum was built the band quit in ’81. Kim had quite a successful solo career in Canada and some parts of the US and he is still gigging today. In the UK, they supported Rush on this tour (I think). The Rush guys play on this album, on the track Battle Scar.

I really like this record and it is the only one of theirs I can fully appreciate all the way through. It’s quite a hard album to categorize as yes, it’s rock but it’s also very progressive. All of Side 1 is a classic but it does tale off somewhat on Side 2. Kim is what I would call, an unsung guitar hero. He has some killer chops and he can riff with the best of them. Check for instance is all about Kim, and that riff. It’s a great, fun tune that oozes the band’s sense of humour. Most people seem to go for Battle Scar as their favourite tune just because of Rush playing on it, but I’ve always loved the more obscure Drive And Desire. It’s a more straight up rock tune with a great riff, but it’s the melody and the hook line that I love. A close second is the close out tune Cry Out For Your Life, which has a touch of King Crimson about it.

This is a band that definitely deserves to be heard by a much wider audience.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

VINCE NEIL – Exposure

November 9, 2023 /

Now, I am no way a fan of Vince Neil! “So why did you buy this record?” I hear you cry. Two words…Steve Stevens.

I think Steve is an amazing guitar player and whoever he plays with, he lifts the song to another level. Would Billy Idol be as well known as he is if it wasn’t for Steve? There’s one thing for sure, he absolutely kills it on this album.

After Vince left Motley Crüe in ’92 he was looking straight away to put a band together to record what would be become this record. It finally saw the light of day in ’93 and I hate to admit it, but it’s a classic of the genre. A nice production by Ron Nevison really makes the songs pop.

It’s hard to pick a favourite track as this is one killer album, but I will go for Edge. It has some great flamenco from Steve before maximum riffing kicks in, this is probably the heaviest song in the album. Honourable mention goes to Living In Luxury with its hint of Flesh For Fantasy.

Believe me, this is Steve’s album. His influence and stamp are all over this record. Killer record.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

ACCEPT – Metal Heart

November 8, 2023 /

I remember buying this album when it first came out and feeling a tad disappointed. Following Restless & Wild and Balls To The Wall, which were both great records, this album felt as though it was just plodding along. Were they trying to be too commercial? I think so.

Tracks like Midnight Mover and Up To The Limit just come across as trying to be a Judas Priest-lite. Too High To Get It Right even sounds like AC/DC, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that the intro to Living For Tonite was the Scorpions (well, the album was produced by Dieter Dierks). There are a couple of old school speedy tracks like Wrong Is Right and my favourite Teach Us To Survive, which is at least pushing the envelope and being a little different.

It’s not that it’s a bad album, it’s just that you can tell the record company was squeezing the band for hits.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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