THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 44 of 483)

JAG WIRE – Made In Heaven

October 8, 2024 /

Rising from the ashes of a band called Sin, Jag Wire recorded this, their first album, in ’85. Quite a sought after release, and now it has had the reissue treatment on CD with a myriad of demos and outtakes on FnA records (I think).

A mixture of glam metal and aor, this is quite good, although rather dated in sound. As a Californian band of this period they do have a sound of their own and don’t go along with the glitz and glam of the Sunset Strip. Only 8 tracks and none of them are that long, this album does fly by but highlights include On The Run, which is anything but aor and rocks along with a cool riff and groove; Takin’ The City again is an up tempo rocker; and my personal favourite track Traitor with the crazy keys intro.

These guys badly needed a producer of note and maybe things would have been different. The drum sound is not great and the mix could have been better.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

GEORGE LYNCH & JEFF PILSON – Heavy Hitters 2

October 7, 2024 /

The Dead Line label is renowned for putting out all these tributes to albums, most of which I avoid like the plague, but I really enjoy these Heavy Hitters albums because they cover tracks that you would not think that they would cover. Add to that, I’m a big fan of Mr. Lynch and the band is killer, so it’s a no brainer really. 

Inspired choice of opener with a great version of Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer. Bernard Fowler’s vocals add that soulful touch to a heavied up groove, it’s my favourite track. The version of Carry On originally done by CSNY is superb, adding a killer blues groove to the mix. Tough choice in doing a cover of Billy Squire’s The Stroke because the original is such a great rendition but they do an admirable job, it is played just a tad slower and they funk it up in all the right places. Radioactive is a weird choice for me, as Imagine Dragons are way off my radar but you hear the original everywhere and this sounds like a Lynch Mob tune except for that chorus. Smokestack Lightning has been done by tons of bands over the years and as you’d expect, they have beefed it up somewhat with a more heavy funky groove and it sounds awesome. Side 1 closes out with a cover of the old Sam & Dave song Hold On (I’m Coming), and this one’s suitably funked up.

Side 2 starts as Side 1 ends, with another Sam & Dave song Stay With Me where they make full use of the soulful tones of Bernard’s voice. Tears For Fears get the treatment next with a cover of Shout, and this one doesn’t work, it sounds a bit flat. A fairly standard version of Jumping Jack Flash follows with a tasty little solo from George. Sly Stones Thank You slips on in and fits perfectly with the funk theme all over this record. The albums ends with Its A Wonderful Life, the only original on the album where Jeff Pilson takes lead vocal. 

KILLER BE KILLED – Reluctant Hero

October 6, 2024 /

This is album release number 2 for the somewhat modern metal super group, Killer Be Killed. I went backwards with these guys because I acquired the second album first and was mightily impressed with their brand of groove-driven tunes. I do bang on about groove in metal music as I think a lot of today’s bands forsake that for noise and speed, but metal is nothing without the groove.

Dream Gone Bad has groove a plenty and the breakdown is killer, I like that hardcore crossover vibe. Left Of Center could be a Mastodon tune, especially with the main riff and groove, and obviously Troy is singing as well. Inner Calm From Outer Storms has a tribal drum groove that drives the song along and feels as though there is a double speed happening as the vocal drives to a different beat. Love the thrash explosion in the middle.

Filthy Vagabond is pure hardcore with Max Cavalera taking the lead. Epic atmospheric chugga intro to From A Crowded Wound. The Great Purge brings the heavy with loud and huge Sabbath style riffing before a cool slower section intervenes, and this is my favourite tune. Epic off time groove and riffing to Comfort From Nothing’s intro with chugga’s all the way. Animus is just a total hardcore speed blast and is my least favourite tune. Dead Limbs shows groove can exist even with the BPM increases. The album ends with Reluctant Hero, the title track of the album, and it is a metal ballad, until they remember to turn the power on.

I like this band, but I like the first album more.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TOMMY SHAW – Ambition

October 4, 2024 /

This is Tommy’s third solo album, released in ’87. All the songs were written by Tommy and producer Terry Thomas, except Ever Since The World Began which was written by Survivor’s Jim Peterick and Frankie Sullivan, and was released as a single but only managed to reach #75.

It’s a pleasant enough AOR album with maybe three great tracks: No Such Thing, Love You Too Much, and my favourite Are You Ready For Me. They all have great melodies and earworm choruses, and are great radio tracks. This is what I call a producer’s record. The kitchen sink has been thrown at this record (technically speaking) and it does sound good, but maybe the emphasis should have been more on the songs. The guitar is well down in the mix on a lot of the songs and well, Tommy is known as a guitar player.

It’s a pleasant enough record and maybe I’m being a bit tough here as it does sound super clear.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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