THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

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AEROSMITH – Permanent Vacation

February 9, 2022 /

This album, and the single with Run DMC of Walk This Way, were responsible for the rebirth of America’s favourite rock band. After the split with Joe Perry, who went off to do his solo project, Tyler carried on with Aerosmith. Both failed to live up to previous glories so they buried their respective hatchets and managed to get a new deal with Geffen.

The first album of the comeback was Done With Mirrors. It’s not a bad album at all, it just didn’t sell a whole bunch. So this album became a do-or-die moment. There was an introduction of outside writers, namely Desmond Child, Jim Vallance, and Holly Knight that injected some life into the songs. It seemed to work as Rag Doll, the amazing Dude Looks Like A Lady, and Angel, were all huge hits for the band and Aerosmith’s rebirth was complete.

There are still nods to the Aerosmith of old song wise with Girl Keeps Coming Apart, which was a Tyler/Perry composition and it’s one of my favourites from the album. It was good to have them back because as a live act they are pure entertainment, and the album after this (Pump) was even more successful. Great record!

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

LED ZEPPELIN – Houses Of The Holy

February 8, 2022 /

I’m more of a Sabbath and Purple fan than a Zeppelin disciple, as they were a lot easier for my brain to take as the riffs were a lot simpler and easier to digest. I do appreciate the influence the band have had on popular music and today. There are a raft of bands trying to be the new Zeppelin: Greta Van Fleet and Rival Sons to name two.

This album seems to be the forgotten album in the band’s catalogue as it often gets overlooked for their more popular releases. Other than The Crunge, with that huge Bonham groove, there are not a lot of heavy moments on this album. It’s a very laid back record, and they play around with differing styles like D’yer Mak’er bringing the reggae that just doesn’t work for me.

It’s the first three tracks that make this album shine: The Song Remains The Same, the beautiful Rain Song, and my favourite on the album, Over The Hills And Far Away where Plants voice is just wonderful. I can see why he doesn’t want to do this anymore as there is no way he could now give the performance these songs need.

Will there ever be bands like Zeppelin, Sabbath, and Purple again? I would say no, as the musical climate shifts so quickly and no band has the chance to grow and evolve anymore. Not their best, but still a solid album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ACE FREHLEY – Trouble Walkin’

February 8, 2022 /

This is the space Ace’s fourth studio album, released originally in ’89. This is the RSD reissue from 2020. The record company tried to recreate the success Ace had with New York Groove by releasing Do Ya – a cover of The Move track – as a single hoping for a similar reaction, but it bombed. I don’t know why they bothered, as the rockier tracks are way better. Shot Full Of Rock would have been a better choice, or Five Card Stud, as this to me, this is what Ace is all about.

Hide Your Heart, which was part written by Paul Stanley, is a typical Kiss-style track. The title track has a trademark sleazy Ace riff and sing-a-long chorus. Back To School is a track that any late 80’s LA glam band would have been proud of.

I like Ace a lot, and I sure would like to see him in Kiss one last time, but honestly – I think he is better away from all the bullshit. A really good album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SPIN DOCTORS – Pocket Full Of Kryptonite

February 7, 2022 /

This is a killer album that came out in ’91 and was definitely against the trend at the time. For some reason, the band attracted an awful lot of hate and derision, especially in the UK which I just don’t understand. I guess when you’re successful and it’s not what was trendy at the time, all the hip journo’s and mags will hate you no matter what.

This is one of the grooviest records you will hear, and it sure is a fun record. We have all heard the singles Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong, and Two Princes, both are great tracks with great melodies and sing-a-long chorus’, but it’s the deeper cuts I love. What Time Is It is just awesome with a killer funky groove and some great guitar from Eric Schenkman. If you catch them live these tracks just extend into great jams. Refrigerator Car is another awesome tune with a killer riff and bass with a wicked groove.

They are still around playing live and are a fixture in the jam band circuit – although they don’t release a whole bunch. This is the MOV reissue and it sounds superb – as do the majority of there releases. This is a killer album, and yes, everyone should own one.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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