THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 461 of 492)

FRANK MARINO – The Power Of Rock And Roll

March 5, 2021 /

There are four Frank Marino albums that are off the charts awesome. This one, Juggernaut, What’s Next, and the Live album. Forget about the fact that two of them were titled Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush – basically it’s the same thing, “Mahogany Rush” was dropped after the What’s Next recordings. No mention of the Hendrix nonsense as I touched on that in the review of the Live album. What I will say is I’m surprised and amazed that more guitarists don’t cite Frank as an inspiration. The only person that does is Zac Wilde. As I have mentioned before, Frank is an absolute monster of a player and he is up there with the very best for me.

We start things off with a couple of Frank-standard rockers. Some healthy solos are thrown in for extra points in the title track and Play My Music. Then track three, Stay With Me, rockets into the stratosphere with some killer playing, the first of the 5 all killer no filler tracks on the album. The close out track to Side 1 is Running Wild, and you just have to hear the playing – it’s other worldly. I’m sure there is a kitchen sink in there somewhere.

Time to take a breather before Side 2 kicks in with Crazy Miss Daisy. Another patent Marino rocker with another killer middle section. Go Strange is next, and is one my favourite Frank tracks. There are lots of textures and grooves happening on this track. Just freakin’ awesome! You run out of superlatives to describe his playing. Young Man is next and the pace drops slightly with a straight up rocker. Last track, Ain’t Dead Yet is my favourite Frank tune. This one has everything times ten. The ending is epic, you feel as though you’re in a war zone.

Big shout out to the band, Frank’s bother Vinnie on rhythm guitar, Paul Harwood on bass, and Jim Ayoub on drums for holding it all together. Another definite buy album. It loses half a point for Play My Music.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THE MUTE GODS – Atheists and Believers

March 4, 2021 /

This is the third album by an unusual amalgamation of muso’s. Namely ex Kajagoogoo bassist Nick Beggs, keyboardist Roger King (who plays in Steve Hackett’s band), and drummer to everybody – Marco Minnemann. Not so weird really, as Beggs plays with King in Hackett’s band, and he played with Marco in Steven Wilson’s band (until Marco had a falling out with SW).

The music has a post rock/prog/pop vibe to it, and is really quite good with the emphasis being on the songs and melody. Beggs’ voice is in a high register, but suits the music really well. This is a double album over 4 Sides, but the 4th side has a lathe cut band logo.

The title track is a great song and a perfect opener. Guitar duties are handled by Beggs and Minneman, as no recognized axeman plays on the album. One Day is another great track and would have made a great single. The last track on Side 1, Knucklehaed, has a funky under groove to it, and again, a focus on the melody.

Side 2 begins with Envy The Dead, it is the heaviest track on the album, and is a very riff driven track. Sonic Boom starts with a drum and bass pattern from Marco before the song kicks in, and has a very different groove to the rest of the tracks. This is my favourite on the album. Old Men is a quiet peace and shows the fragility of Nicks voice, a beautiful piece. The House Where Love Once Lived closes out Side 2, and again, is a slower paced track – very laid back and chill.

Over to Side 3 we go and Iridium Heart starts with an almost East Indian vibe before it settles into what is a great pop song. The penultimate track, Twisted World Godless Universe, is a quirky track and runs with the album’s theme of a dystopian future. Last track, I Think Of You, is a melancholic ending to a very good album.

This album is definitely more melodic and poppy album compared to the previous two, and for what it’s worth, I really like it.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

RETURN TO FOREVER – Romantic Warrior

March 4, 2021 /

Along with the likes of Weather Report, The Headhunters, and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever were the pioneers of the burgeoning jazz-fusion scene. Chick Corea formed the band in ’71, and the only present band mate throughout the years would be bassist Stanley Clarke.

They are joined here by drummer Lenny White and guitarist Al Di Meola. This was released on CBS – a major label. That would not happen today as no record company would take a chance on something as awesome as this. The production is top drawer and crystal clear as the band produced it themselves with Corea taking the lead. This was the sixth album released, and isn’t as funky as No Mystery, the previous release, but takes the listener on a journey of discovery. The playing and arrangements are incredible. It is a joy to hear musicians of this quality just go for it.

Six tracks on the whole album, so no short tracks here. Possibly my favourite track, even though they are all good, is Sorceress, written by the drummer Lenny White whose solo albums, by the way, are also fantastic. It’s a joy to listen to the interplay between the musicians, as they are each masters of their own instruments. Another highlight for me is Side 2 opener Majestic Dance, which has some great playing by Di Meola.

Sad to say that Chick Corea passed away a couple of weeks ago and will be greatly missed. A great addition to anyone’s collection.

8/10 from the Grooveman.

REO SPEEDWAGON – Nine Lives

March 3, 2021 /

For me, this was the beginning of the end for the band, because after this they released Hi Infidelity, and any ounce of credibility went out of the window. They just became a Ballad cash cow for the record company, until it all ended, and hello chicken-in-a-basket circuit. If you want to know what REO really sound like, then give this a spin.

Heavy On Your Love kicks off in great style with a killer rockin’ tune complete with monster solo from Gary Richrath, who sadly is no longer with us. Drop It follows, and is a typical mid-west rock song with a big chorus and everything. Only The Strong Survive could have been a Cheap Trick song as it has that power pop feel. Easy Money is a standard rock and roll tune, and to close things out there is a cover of a Chuck Berry classic – Rock & Roll music, which is a decent enough cover but why not an original song? These type of covers should be left for encores only.

Anyhoo, Side 2 kicks in with Take Me, which has a cool funky groove which you do not expect. I Need You Tonight starts with an almost country feel and is the worst song here. Definitely a filler track. Meet Me On The Mountain is a soft rock standard tune with a great chorus. Which brings us to the album closer, Back On The Road Again, and in my opinion is the best track the band recorded. Funnily enough, it’s the only song that Cronin doesn’t sing on. Bruce Hall the bass player does. I’m a sucker for a great riff, even though this is a simple one.

So that’s it, the ninth album with nine tracks and it’s called Nine Lives. Superstitious anyone? Oh and not a ballad in sight!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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