THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: blog music (Page 12 of 40)

FOREIGNER – Head Games

May 12, 2022 /

This is Foreigner’s third album – the one before they became every girl’s favourite because of one song. Most of the critics say this was the band’s last hard rock album before their sound changed to a more commercial style. I would say that commerciality was always there, as Lou Gramm’s vocal style was always inclined that way.

Dirt White Boy is just a straight up Quo style boogie, and it’ Gramm’s voice that makes the track what it is. The title track is the only other track that has a rock approach. Every other track is very commercial sounding, in fact, Rev On The Red Line is the blueprint track for what would come next as this tune could live anywhere on their fourth album. Not their best, but still a solid record.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TNT – Knights Of The Thunder

May 11, 2022 /

I remember buying this when it was released and being absolutely blown away. The guitar playing of Ronnie Le Tekro alone was killer, but couple that with the incredible vocal range of Tony Harnell and TNT were a gift from the gods. This was actually the second release by the band – the first being a Norway only release. This album is way more metal than what they became famous for, with the slick sounding albums Tell No Tales and Intuition.

Right from the needle drop this album smokes. The Opening track, Seven Seas, has a killer riff and superb vocal harmonies. Ready To Leave is even better with a monster riff, driving groove, and killer guitar, and Harnell is singing as though is life is on the line. A classical acoustic interlude follows, before the epic Last Summer’s Evil dives in with a great choppy riff. Harnell’s vocal range is really taking off – reaching notes that you can only dream of. A sign to the future is up next with Without Your Love – a very slick sounding ballad.

Over to Side 2 we go with Break The Ice, which is a straight up stomper to shake the cobwebs off. The next two tracks were on the first album but have been re-done. Eddie is another slow ballad-esque tune until the big chorus and the killer solo. Then USA with Harnell rewriting the lyrics in English, and its another straight up rocker. The last two tracks, Deadly Meta, and Knights Of The Thunder are worthy of you dipping your hand in your pocket to purchase this album alone.

This is superb early eighties metal with awesome riffs, monster guitar playing, and unreal vocals. I like this version of TNT the best. Of course, the band are still going today and if you can grab a copy of the My Religion album on CD then do so – it’s a monster!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GAMMA – 3

May 11, 2022 /

This is the last of the original three albums released at the beginning of the 80’s. There was a Gamma 4 album released in 2000, but the vibe was a lot different. This album was perceived by the critics to be the worst of the three, mainly due to the fact it was more keyboard orientated than the first two. Ironically, the fans and the general public didn’t think so, as the band’s biggest hit, Right The First Time, was on this record. It took a while for me to appreciate this record, as I too believed the reviews with the too much keyboard nonsense, but I think Ronnie was ahead of the curve here.

There are some really great pop rock tunes on offer here, and there were better choices for a single like Stranger, or Modern Girl . Both of these tracks have a better melody and hook that mirror the musical environment of the time. Mobile Devotion is my favourite track. It mixes the hard rock of previous albums perfectly with that eighties electronic vibe, and the ending kills. I love Davey Pattinson’s vocal tone, and his voice fits the music like a glove. I also think Ronnie is at his most melodic on this album as the solos’s are just perfect for the songs. A forgotten gem amongst Ronnie’s body of work.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

STEVE PERRY – Street Talk

May 10, 2022 /

This was Perry’s first solo album recorded and released after the Frontiers touring cycle for Journey in ’84. I don’t think there is a male singer of his generation that can put so much feel and emotion into his songs. There is not a hint of anyone Journey near this record, other than his manager Herbie Herbert. You get the best of West coast session musicians here as the album sounds awesome.

I never noticed before, but the intro to lead off track and main single, Oh Sherrie, is very similar to David Lee Roth’s version of California Girls. As you would expect, the album is overloaded with ballads and RnB style songs, and why not when you sing them as good as he does? And let’s face it, with Journey they invented a whole genre. Other than Oh Sherrie, the other track that really stands out is She’s Mine, where Steve really digs into the song with such feel.

A very laid back album where groovers are in short supply, but what a voice!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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