THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 403 of 492)

RUSH – Grace Under Pressure

July 30, 2021 /

I’ll admit to not being the world’s biggest Rush fan – I can take them or leave them. For me, this was the last album that held my interest (up until Clockwork Angels), as I thought they had lost the thing that made them interesting – all because they were hell bent on changing for changes sake. For some bands and artists, this can be a good thing, as it inspires them to new heights of creativity (Steven Wilson), However, Rush lost me completely after this record.

This album was a departure for them as well, and I remember Rush fans falling over themselves to hate this record when it came out. You can identify the time this album came out by just listening to it. It’s full of all the things that were popular at the time, keyboard heavy, lots of guitar effects, spacey vocals, and it sounded almost poppy in places – it even has a bit of fast reggae with The Enemy Within. The band also wanted a change from long time producer Terry Brown, and went with a modern producer in Peter Henderson. The emphasis is more on the song than the big instrumental sections, even though there are still moments of brilliance from Lifeson on guitar. There are quite a few highlights for me on this record, the opener Distant Early Warning, The Body Electric and Kid Gloves all hit the spot. It’s quite sad that they will no longer be around as it’s another part of my youth that is no more.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GOLDEN EARRING – Live

July 29, 2021 /

Welcome to the world of Golden Earring – Holland’s greatest export to the world of rock. Believe it or not, they released their first album in 1965 – that’s before Zeppelin were even a twinkle in Jimmy Page’s eye.

This live album was recorded in ’73, and is a warts and all representation of the band at that time. Everyone knows Radar Love, and you get the ultimate 12 minute blow out version here. There is no denying what a classic song it is, but there is so much more to them as a band. Tracks like She Flies On Strange Wings are a left over from the late sixties, but here it’s mixed with a hard rock blueprint and it sounds great. There is a great version of The Byrd’s Eight Mile High that is beefed up – I think it gives the original a run for its money.

Guitarist George Kooymans announced he was suffering with SLS and would be retiring. Shortly after, the band announced they were calling it a day. It’s sad when things like this happen, but they have left a great legacy of music for us all to check out.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

THE RUTS – The Crack

July 29, 2021 /

So here it is, my favourite album from the whole punk side step. The release came in ’79, right at the very end of the first wave, but oh what a statement it made. To me this was what punk was all about, being angry and having something to say – and The Ruts had plenty to say. They were very politically tinged, and that reflected the time. S.U.S was written about the Southall riots and the laws that were introduced around them, and how the SPG that enforced them. A lot of the tracks have a reggae feel to them, and this mixed with the punk angst, works great.

The album opens with the best 2.30 of the whole punk movement. Babylon’s Burning is angry and to the point – with a riff and groove to die for. Even when I play this today I get goosebumps. It Was Cold is the big epic track on the album, and shows that punk was more than just two chords strummed fast. The dynamics of the guitar, the reggae funk undertone, and Owen’s vocal are sublime.

Unfortunately, just over a year later Malcolm Owen would die due to a heroin overdose, and the band would fold in ’83. It’s such a shame. To me, they were way better than The Clash as they were real. Grab yourself a slice of the best punk band – you won’t regret it.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

PAT TRAVERS BAND – Crash And Burn

July 28, 2021 /

This is the album where the blues took a backseat, and slick production gloss took over. It was also the last album to feature drummer Tommy Aldridge, who would later join Ozzy’s circus, and guitarist Pat Thrall. Pat would later join Glenn Hughes in their short lived partnership, and he left Pat with just Mars Cowling as his ever present bass player.

Travers is known for his guitar playing skills, so it was a bit of a surprise when the lead off track, Crash N Burn, was keyboard driven. Now it’s a great track with a killer groove, but if you have heard this done as a three piece with the keyboard parts now being played by a guitar, it sounds awesome. Snorting Whiskey has become a PT classic, with some killer guitar playing – it’s such a good tune. There is a sleazy groovy version of Booker T’s Born Under A Bad Sign, which I really love. My favourite track on the album is the final track, Material Eyes, with its multiple layered guitars and effects that lead into a very big fade out. I don’t think PT ever made a bad album and this is no exception. It’s good to see him still up and playing.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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