THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 473 of 492)

VANDEN PLAS – The Ghost Xperiment Illumination

February 5, 2021 /

This is the tenth studio album from these German Prog metallers. I first got into these guys through their first album The Colour Temple. Their second album, The God Thing, is an absolute masterpiece of the genre. This album is actually part 2 of the Ghost Xperiment concept. So for those of you not familiar with Vanden Plas – think Dream Theater in their more basic moments, with a huge fat guitar sound and great melodies.

First track, When The World Is Falling Down, is a great opener with a huge riff and a great vocal from the unfortunately named Mr Kuntz…Under The Horizon is next, and is more of the same – a great opening side. Black Waltz Death starts Side 2 in a mellow mood – with a nice acoustic intro that turns into a great power ballad with a cool solo section. The Lonely Psychogon closes out the first disc with another fat beast of a riff with a cool heavy groove. Great song!

On to Disc 2, and the epic Fatal Arcadia, which is very Dream Theater Train of Thought era. Ever since the second album (the aforementioned, The God Thing) the band have not been able to shake the DT comparisons, and when you listen to this tune you can understand why. It’s not a bad thing, may I add, as they do it really well. The Ouroboros is next to finish Side 3, the longest track on the album at 13.06. Another slow-burner of a tune that builds and builds into a tune of epic proportions. Another great song with some killer playing. Over to Side 4 we have Ghost Engineers – with its almost classical beginning and the weakest song on the album. Last track is a bonus track for the vinyl, Krieg Kennt Keine Sieger, and not a bad track it is.

Special mention goes out to Stephan Lill, who has a huge tone and drives the band with some monster riffs. That’s not knocking any of the other members as they are all great players – it’s just that guitar is very front and centre in the mix. If you were ever thinking about buying a Vanden Plas album and not sure where to start – I would go with The God Thing first, and then this beauty. Be careful when buying as the pressing quality is not great I’m on my third copy. Frontiers have no quality control.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BUCKINGHAM MCVIE – s/t

February 4, 2021 /

What do 50% of Fleetwood Mac do when they get to play by themselves? Well, I say 50% as in the writing process, but recording wise they are all here apart from Stevie.

First thing I notice with opening track, Sleeping Around The Corner – other than it sounds like a Mac outtake – is how ruff Lindsey’s voice is. Feel About You is a nice laid back tune with Christine singing. In My World, which I do believe was a single, is more what I was expecting from these two. A good catchy song with a sing-a-long chorus, and that stuck-in-the-west-coast vibe. Red Sun is next, and the thing that grabs you is how much better the songs sound with Christine singing. Love Is Here To Stay closes out Side 1 and it sounds as though it’s been lying around since the Rumours days.

Flip over and what could be the best song on the album – Too Far Gone opens things up nicely. Great tune with Lindsey actually playing some guitar. I’m gonna skip the next three tracks as they are basically three more laid back west coast tunes, but the last song, Carnival Begin, is very reminiscent of really old Fleetwood Mac. It has a very bluesy vibe with a great vocal from Christine. And that’s that!

Just a nice chill out record.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

CHEAP TRICK – Special One

February 4, 2021 /

Album Number 14 from the world’s best power-pop band, the first on their newly formed label Cheap Trick Unlimited, and their first studio album in six years.

Hand on heart here – it is not one of their best. Sure it has its moments, opening track Scent of a Woman is classic CT, but the next song Too Much seems like something they threw away years ago. The title track Special One is a straight Beatles lift. Pop Drone is ok, but it lacks that energy. Side 1 closer My Obsession feels like it was a reject from a Tom Petty album. See what I’m saying here??? It’s very disjointed to say the least.

Things don’t start much better over on Side 2. Words, is a really weak song until the chorus kicks in. Sorry Boy is slightly better as it does actually rock.Then we have, Best Friend, and that’s a weak song. If I Could, is quite interesting as it sees them exploring a funk groove to start before it goes down that Beatles rabbit hole. Low Life In High Heels is ok in a weird way – the vocals are very sparse to start and a very stripped down sound. Close out track Hummer is just so repetitive!!!

I expect way better from a band as good as this. Very disappointing.

4/10 the Grooveman.

SCORPIONS – In Trance

February 3, 2021 /

There are two Scorpions – with Uli, and after Uli. The one after is where Rudolf took total charge and found out how to make money and chased it all the way. I love Scorpions with Uli, as I thought they were a more balanced outfit and wrote some great songs with a more European feel – and with some killer guitar.

First track in, Dark Lady, actually has Uli doing lead vocals with some incendiary guitar playing. It’s no secret that Uli is a big Hendrix fan, he even lives with his ex girlfriend. Title track, In Trance, is next and shows what a great singer Klaus is. The epic ballad, Life’s Like A River, is next – again with some amazing Uli string bending. Straight up rocker, Top Of The Bill, follows – with a huge riff and even more Uli dive bombs at the end. Side 1 closes out with the album’s weakest song, Living And Dying.

Robot Man opens up Side 2 with major Uli, and an odd groove – it was a single I do believe. Another Roth peace is next with Evening Wind – the longest track on the album and the showpiece of the whole record…and surprise, surprise…even more ULI!!! Sun In My Hand is next, another Roth written tune again with him singing. This is my favourite of the whole album as it has killer guitar, which would point to the direction he would take when he would leave the Scorps and form Electric Sun. Longing For Fire, and Night Lights close out the album. Yes, with even more ULI!!!

Don’t forget this was recorded in 1975 and they were a totally different band, and still trying to figure out who they were. My only gripe about this album is the somewhat flat production by Dieter Dierks, as you can hardly hear the drums. Great album!

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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