THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: blog music (Page 39 of 40)

LONG DISTANCE CALLING – How Do We Want To Live

February 25, 2022 /

This is the band’s 7th studio album released in 2020. The band are grouped into the post rock category (personally I put them under Prog), and are known for their extended instrumental jams – although they have dabbled in lyrics much to fans angst. When you think of instrumentals your mind goes to Dream Theater style workouts, but that is not the case here. The songs range from the heavy to the ambient, and all points in between without the widdly diddly solos.

The album is about humankind’s obsession with looking to the future and how AI will play a part in that. Curiosity is split into two parts, although it’s just one song really, and has a superb opening before the heavy chords of Hazard close out Side 1. Voices was released as a single, and if you’ve seen the video, you will know it is about human’s relationship with their AI partners. It starts off as quite a delicate piece before the guitars kick in. Fail/Opportunity has a very electronic vibe to the whole tune with strings pushing through as the main instrument. Synths start off Immunity with the electronic vibes, before the heavy guitars arrive towards the end of the piece. I love the track Sharing Thoughts with the echo guitar and ambience. Some very U2 vibes start off Beyond Your Limits, and this track actually has a vocal line and I think it’s my favourite on the album. The rather short True/ Negative opens up Side 4 and has a somewhat industrial vibe, before Ashes comes in with a very dark chilling soundscape and a fitting end to the album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

STRYPER – Soldiers Under Command

February 25, 2022 /

A lot of people are put off Stryper by the overtly Christian lyrics. If that’s the case, then you are missing out on some great hard rock/metal music. This album was the first Christian rock album to sell over a million copies. Michael Sweet has a great set of pipes, and Oz Fox is one hell of a guitar player.

The title and opening track has a very NWOBHM style riff mixed with some great harmonies. Makes Me Wanna Sing is all about the layered harmonies and vocals which are cool. Together Forever has a very Kiss vibe, and again, the harmonies and the do-wops are outstanding. First Love is a syrupy ballad and is easily the weakest track on the record. Side 1 closes out with The Rock That Makes Me Roll, and has a ripping riff and a killer metal groove – it’s the best track on this side.

Otherwise standard rock songs are lifted by the harmonies and vocals, and Reach Out is definitely one of those. Waiting For A Love That’s Real would do any hair rock band proud. Another ballad in Together As One follows – it’s meh! Surrender is a lot better with a nice riff, and the harmonies are carrying the tune. The last song is a version of Glory Glory Hallelujah. Not a bad album, but there are a couple of weak tunes.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN – A Legend In The Making

February 24, 2022 /

I’m sure if you have have seen the DVD of Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at the El Mocambo and just been in awe at the sheer brilliance of the man. Well, this release is the complete concert of that recording released as part of RSD. The gig was recorded just after the release of his first album, Texas Flood. He is just on fire performing his version of blues standards, his own compositions, and a couple of awesome Hendrix covers in Voodoo Chile and Little Wing/Third Stone From The Sun.

I’m not sure he was captured on a better recording other than this night, the live recordings that were released later in his career don’t come close to this. I don’t have a favourite track as I love it all – it’s just a superb album. Just as EVH gave Rock a kick in the pants, Stevie gave the blues a much needed shot in the arm and made the blues sexy again. If you can find a copy, you need to have it in your collection.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

THE DEFIANTS – s/t

February 24, 2022 /

Not too sure if this is one of Frontiers put together projects, or if it’s a legit band put together by the three ex-members of Danger Danger. Either way, this is their first album from 2016, and it’s a really good album of melodic rock. It’s full of huge hooks and melodies as you would expect from these guys.

I really like the Ennio Morricone intro to Love And Bullets as it’s a great opening to the album. When The Lights Go Down would have been huge in the eighties, it’s a superb song with a big chorus and a killer solo. Waiting On A Heartbreak is not a ballad as you may think with the title, but is an awesome melodic beast of a tune with that earworm hook and killer riff. Runaway is the fourth track in and the melodies just keep getting better – I defy you not to hum along to this. Lil Miss Rock N Roll has a very Bon Jovi-ish feel to it with another big chorus and hook. Superb harmonies to the intro to The Last Kiss which had a very pop rock groove.

So we get to track seven before the big power ballad rears it’s ugly head with Save Me Tonight. I have to say, the production is really fantastic and all the songs have room to breath and sound incredible. The power pop vibe returns with Take Me Back, and I’m hearing that Bon Jovi vibe again. We All Fall Down has a killer hook and melody that you will keep singing at the weirdest of moments. Power ballad number two with That’s When I’ll Stop Loving You follows and I really like the solo. The album closes out with Underneath The Stars and we finish where we started, with the huge chorus and melody.

It would be cool to see Danger Danger back again, but for now this will do just fine.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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