THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 245 of 492)

STEVE STEVENS – Memory Crash

October 27, 2022 /

I’m a big fan of Steve who I first came into contact with due to Billy Idol. The Atomic Playboys was great, and I really liked Flamenco A Go Go which was a sideways step for him. Other than the Bozzio Levin and Stevens project, this is the only solo album where Steve rocks out.

The album opens up with a very scene setting into piece, before Hellcats Take The Highway bursts in and grooves at a great pace. It has some very cool guitar and an old school style rock n roll riff. The title track is up next which has a very cool riff, and in Satriani style, the guitar plays what would be the vocal harmony. Water On Ares is a really cool acoustic piece with just a hint of latin. The phased solo is killer! A cover of Day of The Eagle follows with Doug Pinnick on vocals. It’s quite hard to cover a masterpiece and improve on it. Whereas Steve does a good job on the guitar, Pinnick’s vocals fall short. Small Arms Fire has all Steve’s weapons on display. The amazing acoustic intro, incredible riffing, and epic soloing.

My favourite track is up next with, Cherry Vanilla. I love the Hendrix vibe and the tone and sound of the guitar is awesome. A short effects piece is next with Joshua Light Show. Then we have a very Jeff Beck inspired piece with Prime Mover, and I’m really loving that bass line and Steve’s slide playing. The album closes out with a very cool acoustic piece, Josephine. I think this is his best solo piece yet, and I hope there is another one to follow.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

LOVE/HATE – Wasted In America

October 27, 2022 /

Riding on a high from the first album (mainly due to the success of the single, Why Do You Think They Call It Dope), they were asked to do a follow up, so Wasted In America was released in ’92. As we all know, that was prime grunge unpleasantness, and for band’s of this ilk that usually meant certain death. For some reason, the record company rejected all the initial songs that the band presented for this record, and after this record they were dropped.

It’s not that bad, and lead off track, Wasted In America, is a great tune that could have been on their first album. Spit – on the other hand – has a killer funky rock vibe mixed some Beatles style psychedelic harmonies. Miss America has a very rootsy deep rock groove, reminiscent of Zeppelin at times. Cream does have a slight Seattle vibe, which is understandable. Yucca Man has more of a sleazy LA groove with a monster riff. I really love this track and it’s definitely my favourite. Don’t Fuck With Me I think is aimed at the label and their obviously different ideas. Overall this album lacks a big tune like Dope. It does have its moments that I do really like.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

LIVING COLOUR – Vivid

October 26, 2022 /

There was a huge burst around this band and album – mainly due to them supporting the Rolling Stones and Mick Jagger getting behind them. For me, it was the lead off track, Cult Of Personality, that dragged me in. Everything about this track I loved. The riff, the groove, Corey’s vocals, and Vernon’s crazy solo just dragged me in. 

I caught them a couple of times on this tour, and they were killer. The bringing together of all these musical styles was a sure fire winner, with only Fishbone doing anything similar. I Wanna Know is basically an RnB vocal with a rock groove and vibe on top. Middle Man, which today is my favourite track, has a killer riff a ripping funky groove and man this just smokes. Desperate People brings together a punky main riff with a funky under groove. Open Letter To A Landlord is Corey’s finest hour, a superb vocal with a topic close to his heart – and that main riff!

Funny Vibe kicks off Side 2 with a very metal riff before the most funky of grooves takes over. Memories Can Wait follows, and man what a tune. It begins again with a heavy funk groove with Vernon seriously wailing, then a very delicate and beautiful middle eight that drops into a fast punky riff. Broken Hearts has a very hip hop main beat with a country guitar over the top – it shouldn’t work, but it does – plus there is a beautiful solo from Vernon. Glamour Boys, which was produced by Mick Jagger, is funk mixed with calypso until the main hook. The band’s theme song follows with What’s Your Favourite Colour? – a seriously groovy funky vibe with the title just repeating. The album closes out with Which Way To America, another social commentary piece. A killer heavy funk groove and vibe with a very metal main riff. A great band  and superb album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

P.I.L LTD – Album

October 26, 2022 /

Johnny is one of those guys you either love or hate. He seems to bring out the best and worst when his name is even mentioned. I have met him on a couple of occasions and found him to be very knowledgeable. Now, this album was a bit of a departure as he was given the opportunity to have killer backing band by bringing in some hired guns – namely Ginger Baker, Steve Vai, and Ryuchi Sakamoto. The end product is fantastic.

I came to this album through the involvement of Steve Vai. His contribution on key songs lifts the album to epic proportions. Opening track, FFF, has a great groove courtesy of Ginger – and Vai adds the sprinkles on top. Rise actually charted and was a good choice for a lead off single, but Bags was the track that made everyone sit up – that’s my favourite tune on the album. Awesome contribution from Vai, and Ginger’s drums are simple but effective. If you are only interested in Vai’s guitar noodling, then fade out track, Ease, should have you drooling – his solo is very dramatic and makes the whole album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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