THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 234 of 492)

WHITESNAKE – Lovehunter

November 22, 2022 /

Long before Mr. Coverdale bought huge amounts of shares in various hair spray companies and sold his soul to a scantily clad lady on the hood of a car, Whitesanke were purveyors of the finest blues rock to be heard anywhere.

This is where I really started to pay attention to them, mainly due to the awesome Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues and the title track, which Cloverdale co-wrote with the delightful Bernie Marsden. And, let’s not forget the awesome Medicine Man. These two tracks alone are the very definition of what the real Whitesnake was all about. Superb hooks and melodies, coupled with simple grab you by the throat riffs, and a driving groove.

I know 1987 sold in its squillions but to me, this is the real Whitesnake and always will be. My favourite track is Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues, it’s one of the best things they ever did. I know there’s not much chance of it ever happening, seeing as DC has blown out his voice, but I would like to see him team up with Bernie for a farewell album. One can dream.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

PHANTOM BLUE – s/t

November 22, 2022 /

To all the guys out there who stayed away from female rock bands saying they couldn’t cut it; this one’s for you. Released back in ’89 and produced by Marty Friedman on the Roadrunner label, this is a metal tour de force. An awesome dual guitar attack with Michelle Meldrum and Nicole Couch, shredding with the best of them.

Going Mad blasts into your ears with double kicks and some serious shred guitar, just in case you were a doubting Thomas. Last Shot is more of a straight up hard rocker but with added killer solos. Why Call It Love is a huge power ballad, with the emphasis on the power. Frantic Zone follows and it does what it says: a frantic pounding double kick assault with matching riff, until the speed decreases for the song. Slow It Down closes out Side 1 with a very choppy, almost funk groove and riff. Gigi Hangach has one hell set of pipes and doesn’t hold back.

Side 2 kicks off with a Walking Away. A hard rock groover with added harmonies, as well as a sweeping solo. Nice harmony guitars at the intro to Never Too Late, a great four to the floor rocker. It has a superb solo in the breakdown and gets my vote for favourite track. Out Of Control closes out the album and again, the killer harmony guitars are so good.  There is so much going on with nice harmony guitars and vocals. There was another album in ’93 and an EP in ’98 but other than a live album, that was it. Great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

MONTROSE – Mean

November 21, 2022 /

It’s quite hard to keep track of what Ronnie has released, especially as a timeline as he was jumping from Montrose to solo, to Gamma to solo, to Montrose, and all stops in between. This album came out in ’87 and it didn’t do that well sales-wise. I guess it sort of mirrors what was around at the time, as there is a strong LA rock vibe going down mixed in with Ronnie’s distinct tone.

Don’t Damage The Rock is a hard uptempo rocker to get things going, with some great guitar. Game Of Love has that slight sleaze vibe to it. Pass It On is a really cool track. A great old school mid-seventies riff and pounding groove, with some great guitar. Hard Headed Woman follows and it’s a big hair rock riff and groove that pounds along. Definitely my favourite track on the record. M For Machine feels like a Gamma tune, and I bet this was around for those sessions.

Side two kicks in with the hard rocking Ready Willing And Able, a nice chunky riff and an ear worm hook and chorus. Man of The Hour starts with a big fat riff, then we gallop along until the huge chorus hits with a great pounding groove behind it. Flesh And Blood is a slow plodding groover with a decent riff and nice solo. The album closes out with Stand, and it’s a power ballad of sorts but the solo is killer.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

DOKKEN – Long Way Home

November 21, 2022 /

You have to admit Dokken make consistently good records, even in the dark days of grunge and beyond. This album came out in 2002 with only two original members: Don and Mick Brown. They are joined by Barry Sparks on bass and Europe’s John Norum on guitar.

I’m a huge George Lynch fan, and if you’ve read any of my reviews with George’s involvement you know I go overboard a bit. I’m also a big John Norum fan, and when I heard he joined up with the band I was very interested to see what great sounds he would make.

Well, the first track Sunless Days is a stone cold classic and easily my favourite track. A killer dropped down riff from Norum drives the song along. It has a great groove, and the melody and hook are top drawer. Little Girl is a different beast altogether with the emphasis on the melody and chorus. Everybody Needs To Be With Someone starts with a messed up Paperback Writer riff and then it’s all about the hook and chorusm, with an added tasty solo from John. You follows, and the main riff and intro harmony reminds me of KingsX. In fact, the whole song has that X vibe (not a bad thing may I add) – killer snappy solo as well. Side 1 closes out with Goodbye My Friend and yup, it’s ballad time.

Over to Side 2 and Magic Road. A great old school fuzzed riff with drop d groove and a killer solo. There Was A Time is ballad number two, and it sounds very Eurovision Song Contest. Heart Full Of Soul’s main riff will be very familiar to you. Maybe I should hold a competition? Under The Gun is a classic uptempo Dokken rocker with the chuggas driving the song along. The album close out with ballad number three, I’ve Found. Too many ballads don’ old chap.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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