THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Page 33 of 470

ALDO NOVA – Subject

September 23, 2024 /

After the success of Aldo’s first album and especially the single “Fantasy,” I was really looking forward to this follow up. It didn’t do quite as well as its predecessor, but still reached gold status and the single “Monkey On Your Back” managed a #12.

They are all self penned tunes, apart from a cover of “Hey Operator” by fellow Canadians, Coney Hatch. This album feels like a concept album, musically anyway. The intro to the record is basically two instrumental pieces together before you get to Monkey On Your Back, and the close out track is Prelude To Paradise followed by Paradise, sort of bookending the whole album. Also, the intro to Hold Back The Night has a killer funky instrumental groove piece before the main song kicks in, and it returns towards the end of the song. It’s a great track and my favourite on the album.

It’s a strange album but for that very thing, I love it and it’s Aldo’s best effort. Great songs and killer playing by Aldo, I still get a buzz when I play this today. You can pick this up very cheap and if you see it, buy it.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TANE CAIN – S/T

September 23, 2024 /

One could argue that the only reason that this album saw the light of day was because she was married to one Jonathan Cain of Journey fame, but only a grumpy old hector would even hint at something like that (😳).

She come across as a more lightweight version of Pat Benatar. Two singles were released from the album, namely Danger Zone (which bombed) and Holdin’ On, which managed to chart at 37. The album hardly sold and she was dropped and wouldn’t record again. J

onathan Cain co-wrote every song except one. Neal Schon guests on three tracks and Tim Pierce plays guitar on all the record. Sometimes, no matter how much you push an album it just doesn’t sell, and this is one of those. It’s not a bad record at all, it’s just not that commercial and is what I call an album record. My favourite track is My Time To Fly, which has a great hook and chorus and a tasty solo from Mr. Schon.

If you are an aor fan and see it cheap then dive in, you will get a lot from it.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

WORLD WAR 111 -S/T

September 23, 2024 /

Not to be confused with the LA band of the same name, these guys originate from Pennsylvania and other than an early demo release, this is the only album they put out, in ’85. Strangely, it was released on the French label, Axe Killer under license from the band themselves. Now, I’m all for self financing and self production as the band keep the control themselves, but the one thing they should give control over to is a decent producer. This record does suffer a bit because of that.

The band come over as a cross between Queensryche and Dokken and the majority of the songs are not bad at all. Now, I usually love a good guitar solo but on a few of the tunes they don’t seem to fit the songs they are in and this is where a producer would put that straight. Listen to opener War Is Hell for proof. It’s a decent enough song with a nice riff and groove, but the solo is just not happening for me. Guitarist, Gary Hammer is obviously a decent player as the intro’s, acoustic pieces, and main riffs are all good, it’s just the solo composition that’s off. With all that said, my fave tune is Final Solution. Nice riff and groove and to the point.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

ERIC STEEL – S/T

September 19, 2024 /

Just as there was a rush to sign metal bands when NWOBHM started to break, there was also the same rush in the US where labels were signing bands without doing their homework because metal was the in thing. Admittedly, this is a little rough around the edges compared to their excellent second album, Infectious, but it still has its moments.

This feels very late 70’s instead of ’84 when it was recorded and it sounds like a raw version of Kiss mixed with The Boyz. The production isn’t great and the drums sound awful, but there are a couple of tracks that shine. Hypnotized with its punk riffing and groove is a cool track that steals a little from the MC5. My fave track is the proto metal vibe of High Roller. Kick ass heavy rock n’ roll and Bruce Hausfeld does have a great voice that reminds a bit of Dave Meniketti.

If your looking for an Eric Steel album then I would definitely go for Infectious over this.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

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