THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 235 of 492)

THE CULT – Dreamtime

November 19, 2022 /

Long before The Cult were the big rock behemoth they are today, they were the new waves’ big new heroes. “The Cult” was a shortened name from Death Cult, and Southern Death Cult before that. Frilly shirts and haircuts were new fashions that were a big thing at the time, and The Cult were in the middle of that even though the music was different.

Go West has that big new wave sound with odd drum beats and jangly guitars. Spiritwalker upped that vibe by 10. A killer tune, great vocals, and I love the guitar sound. 83rd Dream has a huge goth vibe to the intro, and the whole song is very post punk. Butterflies is an epic moody tune with a killer vocal from Ian Astbury. Bad Medicine Waltz closes out Side 1 with a very blues based tune. Including a slow picked guitar and pedestrian beat.

Horse Nation is a song from the Death Cult phase, and it opens up side 2. It’s the oldest track on the album. You get a glimpse into the future with this song as that big rock groove is developing. A Flower In The Desert follows with the big jangly guitar goth vibes at the front just below Astbury’s vocal. Dreamtime is up next. I love the guitar sound and groove. A very simple hook and chorus. Rider In The Snow is my favourite track on the record. Love the vocal, and when the song breaks into the hook and chorus it gets me every time. The album close out with Gimmick and the intro feels like a spaghetti western. There are also parts of this song that are very Prog. I like this album a lot and it’s cool to see how much they have changed.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

HAWKWIND – Space Ritual

November 19, 2022 /

Well the randomizer has spookily picked this one for me to review just after the death of Nik Turner, an early influential member of the band. Hawkwind are quite an odd band to categorize as they have flowed though many genres and influences throughout their long career. This album was recorded at Brixton and London way back in ’72 when Lemmy was still a member, and you can hear that very percussive style throughout the album.

As a side note, I vaguely remember spending a weekend in the Pennines somewhere as Hawkwind entertained us, emphasis on the word vaguely. It was definitely an experience seeing the band around this time as the projections and dancers were all part of the vibe with repetitive music and out of this world lyrics. There was a weird aura about the band that’s for sure. You have to listen to this in a very dimly lit room with candles and incense burning to create the vibe. It’s very hard to pick a favourite as this album all comes together as a whole, but the space rock vibes of Born To Go edge it.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BRITNY FOX – Bite Down Hard

November 18, 2022 /

Big thanks to the people at Real Gone Music for this very striking vinyl reissue. But, where’s the quality control with the cover and wrong track listing? Tut tut!

This is the band’s third release, and the first with Tommy Paris on vocals after the departure of a dizzy Dean Davidson to form Blackeyed Susan. We are off to a killer start with Six Gins Loaded, an uptempo blast with a killer groove and riff, as well as some epic guitar from guest Zakk Wylde. It’s my favourite track. Louder slows things down a tad with a very dirty simple riff, as well as a hook and a chorus to die for. Very catchy indeed! Liar starts with a very country-style acoustic before the main riff, which is a very sleazy barroom groove. Great drum sound! Closer To Your Love is pure LA glam complete with the huge sounding simple riff and the sing-a-long chorus. We close out Side 1 with Over And Out, and it’s big ballad time.

Shot From My Gun opens up Side 2 and it’s glam overload. Again, a very simple riff, catchy groove, and cheesy sing-a-long chorus is all you need. It’s anthem time with Black And White. It has a football chant-style chorus. Look My Way is my least favourite on the album. I know a lot of people like these soppy ballads with balls type tunes, but they just don’t do it for me. Back to the sleazy glam with Lonely To Long, a killer groove and AC/DC riff. The album closes out with Midnight Moses, a cover of the Alex Harvey song, and other than the heavier guitar it’s a fair cover of the classic original. I think I like this album is the best of all their releases.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SANTERS – Shot Down In Flames

November 18, 2022 /

Yet another killer three piece hard rock combo from Toronto. This is the band’s debut album, released in ’81. I bought Racing Time, which was the album after this, but I could not find this album back in the day. Named after the talents of the Santers brothers, Rick on guitar and lead vocals, Mark on drums and vocals, and Rick Lazeroff made up the trio on bass. I’m a sucker for a three piece and these guys don’t disappoint.

The Rapper is a great opening, a really cool riff, groove, and hook and melody. Crazy Ladies follows and starts with a busy drum pattern very reminiscent of Zeppelin, but the melody and hook are very cool and all their own – plus it’s my favourite track on the album. You Turn Me On is more of a straight up foot to floor rocker with a really cool solo. Time After Time changes the groove and vibe to an almost funk, and the verse and chorus are really commercial. Lost And Found closes out Side 1 with a very sparse riff and groove, I love the middle section. Great solo!

Shot Down In Flames opens up Side 2 and is a tribute to Bon Scott. No, it’s not a cover of the DC classic, but it’s probably the weakest song on the album even though the solo is cool. Caught In The Wind has a gallop groove and beat. It reminds me of April Wine with the melody. Paths Of Heart has a very British feel about it with the harmony guitars sounding like Thin Lizzy. We are at the last track Points Of Resistance, and the guitar solo in the middle is really cool. A decent first album that sets them up nicely for the one to follow.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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