THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 187 of 492)

SAIGON KICK – Water

April 12, 2023 /

This is Saigon Kick’s third album, and if you believe some of the media reviews, this was the runt of the family. Over the three albums the band initially released, they changed a lot. Starting off within the “hair metal” brigade, then evolved into something a whole lot more. By the time this album came out they were a three piece with Jason Bieler being the main focus on guitar and vocals.

One Step Closer opens up the album and it’s clear the sound has progressed with a riff and groove reminiscent of Kings X. Superb tune! A cover of Bowie’s Space Oddity follows, and I have to say it’s one of the better versions I have heard. Jason’s voice just fits perfectly. The title track follows and is such a beautiful piece set to a sparse programmed instrumentation. Torture has a delicious, deep, heavy sounding riff with such killer melodic vocals, and a ripping solo. Fields Of Rape has a slow, almost country vibe to parts of the tune, with a short but awesome solo. We end Side 1 with I Love You which starts a bit like a child’s lullaby and is a love song to someone most dear.

Sgt Steve opens up Side 2 and I guess by design, it feels like the Beatles. My Hearts starts with a pounding native beat, with a fat guitar riff and vocal melody over the top. A very striking sound. On And On has a great funky groove to the main hook, with hints of the Police in there as well. The Way is an oh so slow, almost blues vibe, and it feels like The Black Keys before they were a thing. Sentimental Girl is a fun hard rock ragtime tune that feels a lot like Queen at their most adventurous. Close To You, again has those native drums and a vocal that sounds like The Cult. When You Were Mine  follows and those Sgt Pepper vibes are strong with a huge sounding string section. The album closes out with Reprise, a short book ending piece.

If you follow Jason Bieler on the web, it’s obvious that this was his baby as everything he has done after this has been a take off point. This is not an immediate catch on record, it takes time to sink in. Great band!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

LONERIDER – Sundown

April 11, 2023 /

This is Lonerider’s second album, a part time project or full time band? Again it features the vocal talents of FM main man Steve Overland, Free Drummer Simon Kirke, Chris Childs of Thunder, and Steve Morris of Heartland.

This is a very slick sounding, well produced album that carries on where the first album left off. Fantasyland kicks the album off with a great riff, and Steve’s smooth vocals are the highlight, with a seriously catchy chorus. Cross The Border follows and it has a hint of Free, with a very huge southern rock groove going down as well. Undefeatable has that big classic rock feel complete with the big chorus and hook. It’s ballad time next with Harder Love and… well, it’s a ballad. When You Got Nothing feels a bit Bad Co-ish with that dirty riff and chorus. Any Way The Wind Blows closes out Side 1 and it’s a slow country style ballad.

Side 2 starts with Yesterdays News, my favourite track. A very classic British sounding, mid-seventies, rock track with a nice riff and melody. Badlands follows and those southern vibes are really strong here. Great riff and the harmonies are superb. Wild River rides on in, and Nashville is screaming at me with the slide and that country feel. Criminal Minds has a riff that is just different enough to stop Bon Jovi plagiarism shouts going out. Love To Love has that swing and groove that screams Bad Co. Great tune! We close out the record with Long Time Gone, a smooth slick slow tempo brooding piece.

Other than the European AOR anoraks, I’m not sure who this will appeal to as albums don’t get made like this anymore. A very slick, classic sounding album.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

SUGAR RAY – Lemonade and Brownies

April 10, 2023 /

Sugar Ray are a band that crosses genres, they started out as a funk rock band in the mid 80’s. This album is by far their best album, as they went super smooth and slick after this. Rock, punk, funk, and Rap; their sound is a mix of all those rolled into one.

This album is highly entertaining and has a great groove and sound with the guitars high in the mix. After the short intro the record explodes with Rhyme Stealer, a killer rock/ rap crossover with a fat riff and killer groove. Iron Mic carries on with that vibe, with an homage to Mr. Tyson – a seriously groovy track that explodes to mass riffage at the end. Favourite track is Mean Machine. It has a huge, fat, riff and a punky attitude – this track just blasts. There are some killer hip hop grooves and beats all over this album coupled with max riffage, even on throw away tracks like Drive By.

Easily their best album and a great, fun record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

MAINEEAXE – Going For Gold

April 8, 2023 /

Hailing from York in England, this is MainEEAxe’s second album and for anyone with a good memory they used to be called Trans Am. MainEEaxe are one of those bands that should have done a lot more, as this album kicks ass.

The music is driven hard by the twin guitars of Zeff Stewart and Grant Kirkhope, obviously taking on board the success of US bands like Van Halen. Rock Is The Word gets things under way in fine style with a riff heavy rocker and a superb guitar sound very high in the mix. The Score gets guitar heavy right from the get go and it is my favourite track. Going For Gold is more melodic rock, but again that killer guitar sound hits hard. Big double kicks pound hard before the VH style guitar intro blows in for the arrival of Infatuation. Great tune! Side 1 comes to a close with Ride The Storm, a big fat chord riffing melodic rocker.

Those high gain guitars rip into Side 2 with stomp rocker Get Up Get Down; a great fist pumping tune. Alone Again is next and it’s power ballad time, but at least the guitars are still set to crunch, especially on the solo. Normal service is resumed with Gimme Your Love, an uptempo NWOBHM sounding groover. The album close out with The Best Is Yet To Come, a big Kiss style anthem.

They didn’t do a whole bunch after this and disappeared. Shame, as this a great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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