THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 482 of 492)

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE – S/T

January 15, 2021 /

I only became aware of Rage because of Tom Morello’s involvement. I was a fan of his funk metal band, Lock Up, whose album, Something Bitchin’ This Way Comes, was a good record but a million miles away from this.

Now music and protest has gone hand-in-hand forever, but nothing with the anger and angst shown on this record. Even the album cover was controversial – showing a Vietnamese monk setting fire to himself as the ultimate figure of protest.

We kick things off with Bombtrack with the rap lyrics of Za De La Roche about social inequality. Track 2 was the one that got everybody listening, Killing In The Name, with the chorus of “Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me” had every kid jumping to the cause. The funky grooves are still here, except now mixed with the hard edged vocals and lyrics, it seems to be the perfect mix. The other notable track on Side 1, and probably the heaviest on the whole album, is Bullet In The Head – about how the government controls the media to control the masses. Again, Side 2 has its moments but doesn’t have the musical power of Side 1.

It’s quite hard to listen to this just as a musical piece as the themes are so strong and the angst takes over. So definitely not album to relax to. Favourite track is Bullet In The Head.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

NO-MAN – Love You To Bits

January 15, 2021 /

This is the seventh full length album by No-Man, and their first since Schoolyard Ghosts some 11 years previous. It also sees a return of the dance/groove style of their early records. I prefer the up tempo grooves to the more laid back solemn, melancholic vibes of Schoolyard Ghosts. Tim has an interesting almost breathy style to his vocals, but somehow stays the same no matter what tempo the song is.

Basically this album is two songs split into five segments each – even though there are no gaps. Side 1, Love You To Bits, starts off like a 70’s Giorgio Moroder/Donna Summer style disco groove, and then grows into a nearly BPM dance track albeit with a real drummer, Ash Soan. Then we get a typical Tim slowed down vocal section, that emphasizes Tim’s original style into the dance groove from earlier on in the piece.

The premise of this record is about a relationship that breaks up, and being told from both sides. So Side 2, Love You To Pieces, is from the other perspective. It starts off with the familiar slow Tim vocal, and into the familiar groove from Side 1. This side is a lot more experimental and electronic with the beats and grooves, and with a great Fender Rhodes solo from Adam Holzman in the middle section.

Not out of place in any night club. I really like this a lot and as a welcome return to form.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THE TUBES – Remote Control

January 14, 2021 /

Remote Control is the sixth album from The Tubes, and sees them moving away from the shock rock era of White Punks On Dope, to a more sophisticated new wave/pop outfit. This could have a lot to do with the production of Todd Rundgren. Remote Control is a concept album loosely based on the book, Being There. All the efforts went into the songs and the melodies, as Side 1 is full of them, with the opening salvo of Turn Me On, TV is King, and Prime Time all are Top 40 material.

I’ve always liked this album, and if you were around at the time it all made perfect sense. Fee Waybill was an incredible front man and focal point for the band, so I guess it was only natural it all became about him. Side 2 starts with the instrumental Getoverture, and then it all trundles along nicely until album closer Telecide, which is about as edgy as this album gets. Side 2 is not living up to Side 1 (there’s a surprise eh folks?).

Not a bad look back into Tubes circa 1979 so it gets a 6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

MAHOGANY RUSH – Strange Universe

January 14, 2021 /

This is the 3rd album by Mahogany Rush, and the last before they were to be known as Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush. This is also the last as a three piece, as Frank’s brother Vince would be added to the line up.

Hailing from Montreal, and being on the local Kotai label, their last before signing his soul away to CBS (something that would annoy Frank right up until the present day). This album is probably the point where the band changed from being a sixties psychedelic influenced band, into a more hard rockin’ affair – as it’s split about 50/50 between the two. Make no mistake though, this is all about Frank and the amazing player he is. Everyone is probably aware of the press about him being the reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix after a bad acid trip which put him in hospital. If you can try and ignore that and concentrate on Frank the amazing musician, we can get started, even though vocally at times he is a dead ringer for Hendrix, check out The King Who Stole The Universe.

Tales Of The Spanish Warrior gets things underway in great style with an up tempo groover with some killer Frank guitar. Land Of A 1000 Nights has a spacey theme and vibe going on, and is rescued again by killer playing. Last song of the first side is Moonlight Lady, and it has that late sixties hippy feel to it. Opening up Side 2 is Dancing Lady, a typical sounding funky groove of the period. The almost jazz groover, Dance, follows with Frank showing his virtuosity with differing styles, and annoyingly the fade out kicks in just as Frank is getting started. The last 3 tracks are basically more of the same, with Strange Universe the title track having Corky Laing on drums.

There are hints of what would come later on here, but although enjoyable, it’s not an essential purchase.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

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