THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: album review (Page 49 of 469)

KROKUS – Change Of Address

July 12, 2024 /

Labels put all sorts of pressures on bands in the mid eighties to add keys to their sound, to make them more radio friendly. I think that’s called the Def Leppard effect. Krokus had great success in cranking out the tunes with guitars a blazing (which they were great at), so why try and change them? The sales were not as good for this album and their subsequent releases, so I guess it was an experiment that failed.

It’s an okay album, it just doesn’t sound like Krokus. Take the final track Long Way From Home, and you’d swear that you were listening to Foreigner. The only song that really shakes my tree is Hot Shot City, as at least the guitars are loud.

Sometimes labels should leave bands alone.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TED NUGENT – Little Miss Dangerous

July 12, 2024 /

If anyone remembers uncle Ted from the Double Live Gonzo days, you know how wild and hungry he was as a killer guitar player. Now, if you stepped off the planet for a few years and the first thing you heard was this and somebody told you it was Ted, then you would think “no way.”

This album is super polished and melodic rock radio-friendly, essentially everything that Ted wasn’t in the 70’s. It’s not until the third track in (which is the title track) that the old Ted makes an appearance. Even though the song reminds me of Billy Idol, at least the guitar is wailing and loud. Crazy Ladies is pure old school Nugent. Pounding double kicks all the way with Ted riffing up on the guitar good and loud, and lyrics that only Ted can get away with. It’s definitely my favourite track.

It’s a fun record that really comes to life when Ted gets to sing.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

ACCEPT – Russian Roulette

July 10, 2024 /

This album is Accept’s seventh release. It came out in ’86 and it was the last before Udo departed, only to come back again, and then leave again. I guess a lot of people look at this line up as the definitive Accept as this was the one that got them up the ladder. I do like a lot of the modern Accept records, as Wolf Hoffman sure knows how to write a good riff.

This album gets overlooked somewhat as Balls To The Wall and Metal Heart gets all the praise, but there are some great tracks hidden within the grooves. Opener T.V. War is good old speedy Accept with double kicks all the way and a trademark Wolf riff fest. Aiming High has another uptempo Wolf riff and groove with Udo wailing, as only he can. There are a few too many slower tunes on the record, and even a ballad which at the time, didn’t go down to well. My favourite track is definitely T.V. War because that is how I expect Accept to be.

Not as bad as everyone makes out.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

MR BIG – Lean Into It Live. The Big Finish

July 9, 2024 /

So this was recorded as part of Mr. Big’s current farewell tour at the mighty Budokan in Japan and was released as part of this year’s RSD. The band have always been big in Japan, even when the rest of the world gave up on melodic rock.

Lean Into It is my favourite of their studio albums and you get it all in chronological order with this live version. Eric Martin’s voice isn’t as good as it was and it sounds as though he is struggling a bit here, though he gives it everything. Musically the band are on the money, and Paul Gilbert’s sounds as good as ever, as does Billy Sheehan. Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy is my favourite track here. It’s one of the best things the band did and stills sound good here. I’m a massive PG fan and his playing is so good throughout the whole album. 

It’s a shame that they are calling it quits as a band but it’s best to go out when they are still cooking.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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