THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 489 of 492)

TWISTED SISTER – Under The Blade

January 1, 2021 /

In my opinion, this is the best Twisted Sister album. I didn’t care for the “we’ve found out how to make money” records that subsequently followed this release. I love the raw “we don’t give a shit” attitude of this record.

Before this album, they had been playing clubs and bars around New Jersey for years and they probably thought their shot had gone. This was released on Secret records, which if memory serves me correct, was something to do with British skinheads Cockney Rejects and was produced by Pete Way who had befriended the band.

The only song that resembles the band that made it big after this is Shoot Em Down, which has the stomp along big sing along chorus. Whereas this album does sound of its age, there are still some classics of the period namely What You Don’t Know, the title track Under The Blade, and Tear it Loose. Remember this came out while the NWOBHM was in full swing so the harder songs went down great with the metal kids at the time.

Does anyone remember the fight off that never was with Manowar that was supposed to happen outside Shades records in London? Of course it never happened as Manowar never showed up, but is was a great piece of PR for the band at the time.

It has to be said that the production isn’t the best. The drums sometime sound as though AJ Pero is playing pots and pans, and the guitars sound somewhat thin by today’s standards. Overall it is a fun record, and the track Under The Blade is a bonafide classic of the genre.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

MONUMENTS – Phronesis

December 3, 2020 /

Monuments! I have been following the history of these guys since the early days of the Djent movement when Browne and Misha from Periphery shared their ideas and grooves on the web. In fact, Browne played in Periphery for a while when Alex Bois left. The Periphery connection gets even more incestuous with Chris Barretto, who sings here, was the original Periphery vocalist before Spence. It seems as though Misha was right about him being awkward to work with as he is no longer the Monuments vocalist either.

Anyhoo, things kick off nicely with A.W.O.L with some heavy drop D and beyond grooves from Browne and Olly Steele. Barretto’s vocal style flips from really melodic cleans to outright screamo. Stygian Blue opens up Side 2 – brilliant – and carries on with more low end grooves interspersed with melody and screams from Barretto. Album closer The Watch is the stand out cut from the album, and sees the band going out with all guns blazing.

Even though Monuments were one of the early purveyors of the djent movement, they seemed to get left behind as they were late to release product. Whereas other bands in this genre have been changing and varying their sounds, Monuments have been true to their sound and progressed over the 3 albums. Phronesis being their best effort to date. Hopefully they carry on as they have had quite a bit of turmoil with band members leaving or getting injured. I think they are a real good band.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

THE ROLLING STONES – Sticky Fingers

December 3, 2020 /

It took me a long time to appreciate the Stones. I always found they were not as immediate as the Beatles say, who were a lot more melody orientated.

This is the 2015 Abbey Road remix and remaster, which contains a bonus disc with alternate takes of 5 songs and 4 live tracks from the Roundhouse in ’71.

Kicking off with the classic Brown Sugar this is the Stones at their very best. I think the addition of Mick Taylor made them the complete article. Followed by the excellent Sway and Wild Horses, which then leads into the Stones finest hour with Can You Hear Me Knocking. This has Muscle Shoals written all over it with the extended middle section which is as groovy has it gets. The track is made by Taylor’s guitar and the sax playing of Bobby Keys and Billy Preston’s organ. I never tire of this track. Side 2 doesn’t quite live up to the sheer brilliance of Side 1 but Bitch, Sister Morphine, and Moonlight Mile come close.

Sure the Stones had their moments after this, especially with Exile, but this was it for me. This has to be the ultimate version of this as the half speed mastering, the remix, and original production by Jimmy Miller make this a joy to listen to.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GREG MATHIESON PROJECT – Baked Potato Super Live

November 23, 2020 /

So the Discogs randomizer pops up this rarely played gem. Recorded over 3 nights at the Baked Potato in December 1981.

So who is Greg Mathieson I hear you ask?! Well, he is an LA producer and jazz keyboardist. The thing of interest here is the participation of Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro of Toto. If you like your music loose, and with titles that don’t mean a whole bunch accept to just name the song while some awesome soloing takes place, then you may have just found your Nirvana.

Luke is on fire on tracks like Bomp Me, with the fantastic groove machine Porcaro laying down an amazing groove on Time Around, where again Luke just slays with some killer guitar. Side 2 starts off with a funky keyboard heavy track I Don’t Know, then Luke kicks in some very tasty clean jazz grooves. The rhythm section of Porcaro and Pops Popwell are top notch and lay the foundation for some great music. This is one of those shows where you wish you were there. You can hear the joy that the band are having inter playing with each other. Anyhoo, the album closes out with the excellent The Spud Shuffle and finishes – what is a great record.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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