REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: blog music (Page 15 of 40)

BILLION DOLLAR BABIES – Battle Axe

When Alice Cooper went from being Alice Cooper the Band to Alice Cooper the person, the band was jettisoned at the same time. So the members, well Dennis Dunaway, Neil Smith, and Michael Bruce, formed their own band called Billion Dollar Babies after Alice Cooper’s successful album of the same name. No confusion there then! They recruited vocalist Mike Marconi who actually sounds like Vincent (sorry Alice).

You would think when the putting all their eggs in one basket like this, that the album would be killer? Apart from one song, Ego Mania (which is a great track), the album sounds very dated, and it’s like what Alice Cooper were doing five years earlier. It’s not a bad album, it’s just ok. Other than the aforementioned track, nothing jumps out and grabs you.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BANG TANGO – Psycho Cafe

At the end of the eighties, rock bands had basically forgotten what music was all about, and image had become more important than content. Hence the oncoming of Grunge with a return to the basics, as kids could not identify with what was being fed to them.

Hidden in amongst all the glam with no substance, were a bunch of bands that were doing great rock n roll and trying things a little differently. Bang Tango’s follow up to this album, Dancing On Coals, is a killer record where they pushed the envelope. So what about this album? How does it stack up? Well sure, they have the image (although not as overtly over the top as others), but the tunes are where it’s at.

Attack Of Life has an almost Zeppelin vibe to the sleazed out grooves. Someone Like You shows that the band could write a catchy hook and chorus – with an added bonus of some great guitar. Wrap My Wings is a sleazed and grooved up Tom Waits style barroom rocker. I love the bass line to the intro of Breaking Up A Heart Of Stone, and the vocal is very Billy Idol. Side 1 closes out with Shotgun Man, and whereas I like the riff, I’m not too keen of the vocal on this one.

Side 2 opens up with Don’t Stop Now, which has a nice descending chord pattern – this track is very Hollywood. Love Injection mixes the sleaze with the funk, and it works really well. It’s “let’s please the record company” time next with the ballad, Just For You. The best track on the album is next with  Do What You’re Told, which starts with a killer funky bass and guitar groove. If any of you have heard the Electric Boys, you’ll know where this song is going. The album closes out with Sweet Little Razor and sees the band doing their best Guns N Roses impression.

It’s a decent enough record, but if I were to buy only on Bang Tango album it would be Dancing On Coals.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

PAT TRAVERS – Putting It Straight

This is Pat’s third album recorded in London after his relocation from Canada. It’s also the last to feature the classic three piece line up. After this album cycle, Pat would relocate to the US and Nicko McBrain would depart and be replaced by Tommy Aldridge, and a second guitar would be also added with Pat Thrall.

Pat hit his stride on this album as the songs are killer and all self penned – apart form the superb Gettin’ Betta, which he co-wrote with Mars Cowling. His tone is superb, and I love the groovy middle eights in each song where the groove changes and Pat lets fly. There is one notable guest appearance, Scott Gorham, who plays the call and repeat solo with Pat on the fast boogie shuffle, Speakeasy. Pat usually throws in a really cool instrumental, and this album is no exception with the killer funky vibes of Off Beat Ride. My favourite track is the album closer, Dedication, which is in two parts. A superb old school beast of a tune – complete with Hammond supplied by Tony Carey.

The mid seventies was a great period for rock albums, and this is a welcome addition to anyone’s collection.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

DIZZY MIZZ LIZZY – Rotator

A killer album by a superb band, and this is one of my all time favourite records. I suppose you would categorize them as power pop, but that would be just scratching the surface as there is so much going on here. They have only made 4 albums since their inception in ’94, and you would be forgiven for thinking that they were not the most prolific band in the world, but in ’98, their main man, Tim Christensen, went solo. They are quite a big deal in their native Denmark and other parts of Scandinavia and have sold a ton of records.

Do you want to know why I think this album is so good? Well, the easy answer is that the songs are just so well written and done in a way that no one else does making them quite unique. They couple melodies and hooks, with great driving riffs and grooves that just appeal to me on every level, and I love Christensen’s vocals and phrasing. He does have a love of all things Beatles, but he does hide it quite well – except on tracks 11.07 (if you know you know), and the final outro of Alexander Salamander.

I love every second of this album, but three tracks really grab me at my bones: Break, which has a superb riff and groove that you just have to groove to, Riff Sang, again with a killer riff that is just amazing, and Take It Or Leave It, which brings the goosebumps out on my arm every time and is one of the best songs ever written. The emotion and delivery of the vocals alone is incredible.

Go check it out on PooTunes before you immediately have to empty your wallet at your local record emporium.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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