THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 454 of 492)

ROBIN TROWER – In City Dreams

March 22, 2021 /

This is the fifth solo album from the ex-Procul Harum guitarist. This was the first album where James Dewar hung up the bass and concentrated on vocals alone. For me, this was a marriage made in heaven, as Trower and Dewar complement each other so well. Trower’s tone and style of playing is unique – I don’t see the Hendrix copycat nonsense. There is so much more to Robin’s playing! Dewar’s vocals are so soulful and rich in texture. RIP Jimmy!

In City Dreams sees Trower delving deeper into funky territory that he briefly visited on previous releases. First track in, Somebody Calling, is funk gold as Trower’s funky riff and Dewar’s soulful groove capture the vibe perfectly. There is a YouTube live clip of this song, which is awesome – go take a look! Sweet Wine Of Love follows and keeps the mood flowing before the soulful laid back tones of the beautiful, Bluebird, chill the listeners mood. The Falling Stars opening riff and groove take us back to funky town with another great vocal from Dewar and some slinky licks from Trower. The only cover on the album, Farther Up The Road, closes out Side 1, and is a great representation of the tune.

Over we go to Side 2 with Smile – the track has a very cool riff and groove – a very funky tune. Little Girl follows with a very slow bluesy funky vibe with a killer vocal from Dewar. The very slow blues of Loves Gonna Bring You Round is next and is showcase for both Trower and Dewar. The album closes out with the title track which has a very spacey vibe.

A great album. I don’t think Trower made a bad album for the first 7 of his solos records.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

CONEY HATCH – Outta Hand

March 20, 2021 /

Forming in Toronto back in ’81, this is their second release on the Anthem label and produced by Max Norman. The first self titled album was produced by Kim Mitchell. They only released three albums with Friction in ’85 being their last – before reforming in 2013. This album sounds huge compared to the first album, and has a lot more balls sonically and sounds awesome.

Opening with Don’t Say Make Me and it is a hard rocking track with a great chorus and vocal by Carl Dixon. Shake It is another cool track but with a more quirky vibe – in part due to the different vocal style of Andy Curran. Power ballad approaches with First Time For Everything, another showcase for Dixon’s vocals. Some Like It Hot is another Curran lead vocal and its as if another band are playing. The difference in vibe is uncanny. Side 1 closes with To Feel The Feeling Again, and another it’s another ballad. I guess when you can sing this good it’s a gimme to highlight the voice.

Side 2 kicks off with the big rock sound of Too Far Gone- a typical tune from this period. Next up is Love Games, another Andy Curran track and is an OK tune. Fallen Angel is the best song on the album and starts with the Radar Love drum groove before the big riff kicks in. I do like the quirkiness of Curran’s tracks as they do have a differing style that I like. The album finishes with Music Of The Night another power ballad. Not a bad record.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THE CONTORTIONIST – Language (Rediscovered Edition)

March 20, 2021 /

The Contortionist are a very chameleon like band. They started out as At The Hands Of Machines in 2007, and were a lot more hardcore in their sound. This is their third full album, and with the arrival of Mike Lessard on vocals, they have changed their direction to a more progressive metal band. There are still hardcore moments, but Lessard’s ethereal/breathy style of vocal lends itself to a more melodic style. They are a very complex band song structure wise as there is a lot asgoing on to engage the listener. No straight four-to-the-floor here as there are lots of odd time signatures, key changes, and groovey passages. This is the rediscovered edition with an extra four tracks that were reworked from the original album.

The Source opens things up in atmospheric ambient style and showing the really soft vocal style that Lessard has. The Language follows in two parts and takes the listener on a ride with a multitude of parts and changes. Epic stuff! Integration is the last track on Side 1 and is a tech metaller’s wet dream. Clean and growl vocals abound and the riffs and off time grooves a plenty. Awesome track.

Over to Side 2 we go with Thrive. The contrast between the heavy music and the clean style of Lessard’s vocals is striking and it works really well – another fantastic track. Primordial Sound follows and starts off with a totally non-metal approach with lots of picked guitars, some vocal and ambient keys, and off into fusion territory we go. Arise is the end of this side and is possibly the heaviest track on the whole album, lots of down tuned goodness.

Ebb & Flow starts Side 3 in an Depeche Mode style before sanity prevails and odd time signature heaven returns. This is my favourite track that they do. Lots of nods to prog bands of old, and lots of invention from the now – its also supremely heavy in places. Something for everyone all in one track. The last track on the album is The Parable, and it starts with what I will call a metal ambient soundscape before lots of tech/prog metal goodness kicks in.

So over to Side 4 and the rediscovered tracks. What they have done here is that after being on the road and touring the tracks, each song had evolved, and in turn, had been rediscovered. It’s like listening to four new tracks and is interesting to hear how the band have evolved. I love this, and would be great if more bands did it.

In case you haven’t guessed, I really love this album and it is a 10/10 from The Grooveman. I am not a snob and won’t hold back from giving an album a 10 if it deserves it.

KING’S X – Out Of The Silent Planet

March 19, 2021 /

King’s X – a band that really defies logic. The critics loved them! Every album got glowing 5 star reviews, and yet other than a hardcore following, they never got the sales they deserved. I tried to it work out myself numerous times, and other than being Christians and some of their songs having Christian elements (it’s not in your face like Stryper for example), and maybe the songs were quite complex in places, but I’m at a loss. They have the classic band set up, a three piece with guitar, bass, and drums – and one of them sings – so the music has a chance to breath. They have one of the best rock singers in Doug Pinnick, an amazing guitarist in Ty Tabor, and a killer drummer in Jerry Gaskill. Everything should have been gold for these guys.

In The New Age is a great opening track, and right from the get go you know these guys are a cut above everyone else. This was ’88, and they were so much better than what was around them. The absolute awesome Goldilocks is next. The ultimate power ballad with so much feel and soul in the vocal. It has an epic solo in the middle, with wonderful melodies and harmonies. It makes a grown man cry!

This is a Metal Blade reissue, so it’s a double heavyweight LP and the tracks are spaced out more. It’s on to Side 2 we go with The Power Of Love, which is a somewhat simple song, but with great harmonies and a killer solo it turns into a whole different uplifting song. Wonder follows and is another epic song. The way it builds and grows is a joy to hear, and again the vocals and harmonies are insane.

Change the disc and to Side 3 we go, and the quality continues with Sometimes. A great riff and more superb harmonies. They really do compliment each other with different tones in their voices. Every song on this album would be a centerpiece song for any other band, but they just keep rolling them out. King is next, and again another great song and more of the same epic writing and delivery. Just when you think they can’t get any better up pops What Is This. I’m running out of superlatives to bestow on this greatness. This is a contender for my desert island song. It has everything!!! A killer vocal with so much soul and feel, and superb guitar playing (not just in the solos) -it sounds so huge.

Over to Side 4 and yet more greatness with Far Far Away. Just take my word for it – another amazing tune. The very commercial sounding Shot Of Love is next, and in a real world it would have made the singles chart. Then we come to the big ending with the track Visions. This was a great tune live as the pace really picks up in the song, and Ty just wails on the guitar.

I know I say this a lot but you really need this album in your life and soul. I find it a very uplifting record. Just a heads up that their first 5 albums are this good.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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