THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: blog music (Page 27 of 40)

ALDO NOVA – Twitch

March 26, 2022 /

This is the third album by guitarist/songwriter/producer Aldo Nova , and was released in ’85. After having scored major success with his first album (and the hit single from it, Fantasy), the follow up album, Subject, didn’t do quite as well (even though I think it’s the best). So when it came to this album, the record company interfered big time and old Aldo was not pleased. There were two singles off the album that did ok, Rumours Of You, and Tonite, but Aldo would disappear after this for 6 years until his contact ended.

This album is very AOR and relies too heavily on syrupy ballads, but there are still rockin’ moments like on If Looks Could Kill, which has a great riff and cool chorus, Fallen Angel, which reminds me of Fantasy from the first album, and the Def Leppard sounding track Lay Your Love On Me. There are moments when Aldo shows what a great player he is, and the title track is a quirky electronic piece with him ripping over the top.

It’s not a bad album and it some great moments, but if the record company hadn’t interfered it would have been a whole lot better.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

GEORGE LYNCH – Seamless

March 25, 2022 /

This is the last solo album from George, and was released last year. He seems to be involved in a lot of projects, but still his output has been of a very high standard. I am always stoked for anything by George as I am a huge fan.

He is joined here by ex-Bulletboys drummer Jimmy D’Anda, and on bass a guy I don’t know, Eric Louiselle. First track in, Quiver, is a very heavy sounding track with a great riff and lots of cool playing. Cola has a slowed down almost funky groove with a fat mean main riff, plenty of wah wah, and lots of George. TJ 69 is next up and has a killer groove and swing. Death By A Thousand Licks is just that, a fast paced riff with George laying down lick after lick. I Think closes out Side 1 and starts with with a fuzzed out main riff with a cool groove – and yup – lots of George. I think you get the picture by now – every track has lots of George.

Side 2 kicks off with Sharks With Laser Beams, and this is the most up-tempo track so far – I love the tone of the guitar in the solo. Octavia is a contender for my favourite on the album. It starts off with some nice acoustic playing before the main riff kicks in, and George is using some really cool effects. Supersonic Hypnotic Groove Thing is a straight up rocker, and the guitar is epic on this track. The album closes out with Falling Apart and is the closest to a Dokken-esque track you’ll get here as the guitar is covering what would be the vocal line.

This album is guitar all the way. If you want George playing tunes with vocals then there is plenty of that out there with The End Machine, Wicked Underground, Dirty Shirley, and Ultraphonix (to name a few). I am really glad he does these instrumental albums once in a while.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

POINT BLANK – Airplay

March 25, 2022 /

Hailing from Irving, Texas and produced by ZZ Top’s Bill Ham, this is the band’s third album released in ’79. A very southern rock sounding band with hints of Skynyrd, the Allman’s, and ZZ Top of course. I remember seeing their name listed in tour listings all the time as they were one of those bands that toured relentlessly.

The album is a well played and well produced record – it’s just lacking the songs. That’s not to say it’s a bad album – it’s not – it’s just missing that spark. However, it does have it’s moments when they rock out. Side 1 closer Penthouse Pauper is a nice slab of southern style rock with a great main riff. The other track that did it for me was Thunder And Lightning, and when they raise the tempo they seem more comfortable as a band. Big shout out to Rusty Burns who plays some great guitar on the album.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

EXODUS – Persona Non Grata

March 24, 2022 /

I have been a huge fan of Exodus right from the off, from the amazing Bonded By Blood with Paul Baloff on vocals (which is one of the best original thrash albums), through to the four albums after that with Zetro on vocals. After that, they seemed to lose their way with lots of internal conflicts, member changes, and record company issues. The band had the knack of writing killer riffs but playing them with a groove that just made you want to move.

This is the second album in succession to have Zetro back on vocals, and it’s one hell of a heavy record. Lee Altus (ex of Heathen and Die Krups) is on guitar alongside Gary Holt. The tracks that do it for me on this release are the ones with the riffs and the groove, and the best example of that is The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves, which is a delightful journey back to old school thrash romp. The guitar playing of both Holt and Altus is top drawer. Clickbait is insane and the speed is off the charts. My favourite on the album is Lunatic Liar Lord, which starts with an acoustic intro before the main riff and groove kick in – I love how the tempo slows and the breakdown is really cool.

It’s nice to know that Exodus are still up and grooving and they hopefully have found a bit of stability.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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