THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: blog music (Page 36 of 40)

QUEEN – Live Killers

March 4, 2022 /

I think most people will agree that Queen were the biggest band on the planet at one point, and they also had (what I call) two careers. The Rock band Queen, and the Pop band Queen. This live album sees the end of the Rock and the beginning of the Pop.

I think Jazz was the album that they were promoting at the time, and three tracks are played from that album. But it’s the more rockin’ tracks that do it for me – they were really a killer live band. I caught them live a couple of times in the 70’s and they were incredible. Most of the hits up until this point are aired, but it’s not necessarily the hits that get your attention. For me it’s tracks like Death On Two Legs and Brighton Rock where Brian really shows what an incredible player he is, and the band are just smokin’. Of course, Freddie steals the show as he always did.

This album is a great record of what they were like in the 70’s.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ALCATRAZZ – Disturbing The Peace

March 4, 2022 /

Graham Bonnet has been lucky enough to play with some of the hottest guitar players around: Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker and on this album, Steve Vai. This is the second album by the band and possibly their strongest in regards to the more commercial nature of the songs. God Blessed Video did really well in the US and I think it was the only single released from the record. Vai’s playing and style suits the band better than Malmsteen did and he adds that melodic edge. Of course Vai was a bit of an unknown at this point and he was also out to make a name for himself.

I think this is the best album that Bonnet has recorded as his voice is just amazing on these tunes, not just the ones that show off his power and range, but also in the quieter moments like in the opening to Will You Be Home Tonight where it doesn’t even sound like him. Vai, of course, is just incendiary on every track and he gets his own showcase with the instrumental, Lighter Shade Of Green.

There are straight up rockers like Stripper and Wire And Wood which I really like, then there are the big production numbers like Desert Diamond where the vocals and harmonies are exceptional. My favourite is a quirky little song called Painted Lover, which has a cool Vai riff and a cool funky choppy groove. I really like this record and if it’s the only Alcatrazz album you own, then it should be this one.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ALICE COOPER – Welcome To My Nightmare

March 3, 2022 /

This is the point where Alice Cooper the Band became Alive Cooper the Man. The band broke up after the Muscle Of Love tour and went their separate ways. Vincent became Alice, and the band for a short time were called Billion Dollar Babies.

The album is a concept album based around a character named Steven and his nightmares. The whole horror schtick has served Cooper well over the years and he returns to it again and again. Being a child of the seventies myself, I do prefer this Alice to the modern version as it all seemed a lot more dangerous and subversive back then.

Along with Schools Out and Billion Dollar Babies this is my favourite album. The album went out as a TV special in the US and that must have blown kids’ minds. There are some great moments on here namely the single Only Women Bleed, the title track, and The Black Widow. Pure theatrics and Alice at his best.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

GRIM REAPER – See You In Hell

March 3, 2022 /

The band were formed in ’79, so technically they are a first wave NWOBHM band, but this album was recorded in ’83. Vocalist Steve Grimmet is the only member ever present in the band as he still leads a version of it today. He had some really bad luck in 2017 when in South America he contracted an infection in his right leg and he had to have it amputated below the knee. Thankfully he is back out their playing.

It sounds very of its time but there are still a couple classic NWOBHM tunes on this album like the title track and All Hell Let Loose (my favourite), which are both genre defining tracks. Grimmett shows he can control that monster of a voice he possesses on the slower track The Show Must Go On. Although his voice does completely take over on Dead On Arrival. If they had a better producer they would have asked him to sing in a lower register.

Listening to this takes me back to a great time where new bands were popping up every week. Fun stuff!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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