THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Page 28 of 459

TALL STORIES – S/T

This is another one of those early nineties albums that disappeared not long after release. You used to pick them up for next to nothing in bargain bins everywhere but now it they go for over $300 a pop.

Steve Agueri is probably more famous for being Steve Perry’s stand in for Journey until he blew his voice. If you like really classy, well produced melodic rock albums then this has your name on it. Not a bad moment on the album. Wild On The Run, Chain Of Love, Sister Of Mercy, Somewhere She Waits, and World Inside You are all superb tunes, but my favourite is Crawling Back. I love the dynamics on this one with a slightly different groove and vibe.

Great band who briefly reunited and released an album Skyscraper in 2009. Definitely buy this one if you see a copy.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

TNT – Realized Fantasies

This is somewhat a forgotten album in TNT’s catalogue. It came out three years after Intuition, which they had great success with in the US. However, in those three years between ’89-92 the great grunge unpleasantness had exploded and taken over the rock scene, making classy rock bands like TNT surplus to requirements.

I’m a huge fan of Ronnie Le Tekro on the guitar and Tony Harnell possesses one of the best voices in rock, so these guys tick all the boxes for me when they all click together. I actually prefer this record to Intuition as they reeled in the more AOR elements and added more crunch to the melody.

Downhill Racer opens up the album and it’s a an absolute belter of a tune. Killer riff and groove, and Harnell gives it the beans. Hard To Say Goodbye follows and again, the quality is high. Melodic rock heaven for sure. Mother Warned Me is a straight up and down four to the floor groover with a hook and chorus that sticks in your brain. Lionheart is a trip to ballad town and you may know if you have read a few of these reviews that the ballad is not my favourite type of tune, although the solo in this is quite cool. Rain closes out Side 1 and this song could have been on Intuition as the vibe and sound are so similar.

My favourite tune on the album is Purple Mountains Majesty. Harnell sings this one on full power. Mix that with a great riff, ripping guitar, and driving groove; it’s a total beast of a song. Rock ‘N Roll Away is what I call a typical TNT song. It has all their signature elements: Ronni’s trademark tone and riffing, and Harnell doing only what he can do. Easy Street is the band taking a left turn slightly to doing an almost vaudeville song. All You Need sees the band going full groove with the funky riff and beat. We close out the album with Indian Summer, a killer uptempo groover.

This has just been reissued by Music On Vinyl and sounds great, so if you see one around, pick one up.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

MANOWAR – Into Glory Ride

This is album number two of the first trilogy of Manowar albums that I don’t think they ever bettered. Sure, they may have made better produced records but for sheer vibe, image, and attitude I don’t think you can beat those first albums.

Laugh and snigger all you want (and believe me I have), they were steadfast in their belief, “We fight to the death. To the last man. To the last breath. Death To False Metal. into Glory Ride.” I mean c’mon that has to stir the metal disciples into action right?

I love Gloves Of Metal, at the time and I still now. Manowar weren’t about speed or any of that nonsense, they wrote anthems and Gloves Of Metal is surely one of their best. I love Ross The Boss’s simple and effective riff, and you just have to pump those fists in the air when Eric Adams screams “Hands High” and “Metal Spikes and Chains.” It was their theme song to the fans.

I sought of laugh at it all now, but they sure caused a stir at the time.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

Roxus – Live

Roxus were around for six years but they only released one album, Nightstreet and this four track live EP. This EP was actually released before the album, which is a bit strange as not many bands have done that. Coming from the land down under and not being an AC/DC soundalike is something of a rarity for a rock band in Australia. Think of Bon Jovi with a bit more balls and you get the picture.

The EP opens with That Girl, which is a straightforward rockin’ tune but Body Heat which follows is a bit of a melodic rock classic. Great hook and chorus that will get you singing and rockin’ along. Guitarist Darren Danielson is a very tasty player indeed, he’s a monster on the riffs and his leads are very good.

Stand Back opens up Side 2 and it is a melodic rock fan’s wet dream. Nice keyboard intro, with a great fat guitar sound, and a hook and chorus to die for. The EP comes to an end way too soon with Morning Light, my personal fave. I get a huge Autograph vibe straight away with this tune, from the keys intro to that slightly funky groove. Great tune!

Short, but oh so sweet.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman,

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