THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 126 of 485)

PALLAS – The Sentinel

November 6, 2023 /

The majority of the “new” Prog bands that came out of the UK in the mid-eighties were tagged with the Genesis clone label. Marillion had that for years and so did Pallas. I think Pallas sound more like their American counterparts Styx and Kansas. In fact, you can add New Wave to the list as well. I remember them touring this album with some elaborate stage props, but they didn’t seem to break through like Marillion did.

There are some grandiose extended pieces on here which gives them brownie points in the Prog olympics. My favourite is Atlantis. I do believe they changed vocalists after this record which is a shame as I like his quirky style, it fits the music really well.

A fun record nonetheless.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM PLOICE – s/t

November 4, 2023 /

Not so long ago I reviewed Dream Police’s second album and raved about how good it was. Well, this one (their first) is actually better.

Where were we all in 1990 and why didn’t we buy this album? It’s the same answer for a million other albums of that time as they got next to zero support after the release of the record. Although, that’s not entirely fair as they did get support around Scandinavia.

Hot Legs gets the ball rolling with some old school blues vibes before that great riff blows on in. Rock Dolls is such a fun rock song with a killer riff and groove, and you can’t fail to sing along. When The Sun Goes Down takes us into ballad country but that solo from Trond Holter is superb. A super sleazy riff and groove greets the listener at the intro to Rock Me, and I will forgive the cheesy lyrics. Little Angel closes out Side 1 and if it wasn’t for the ripping guitar you’d swear this was from mid-eighties US radio rock.

Superb opening to Side 2 with Moving. It has a killer riff with a funky rock groove very reminiscent of Extreme. On Fire is a mid tempo melodic rock stomper complete with a huge sing a long chorus. It’s power ballad time next with Surrender and yep, it’s rescued by a killer solo. Those Extreme vibes come rolling on in with Need Your Lovin’ and that’s down to Trond’s guitar grooves. It has a great sing a long chorus too. The album closes out with Hit And Run, my favourite tune on the album. It’s a great uptempo rocker with a monster riff and a HUGE hook and chorus.

I think they still do the occasional gig, but I think it’s just for fun. A great, fun record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ROBIN TROWER – In The Line Of Fire

November 4, 2023 /

This is Robin Trower’s third album to feature Davey Pattinson on vocals and would be Robin’s last for Atlantic. I do like Davey on vocals, but nobody can beat Jimmy Dewar singing this type of music.

If you’re used to hearing Robin doing his patented heavy blues/funk groove then this album is a bit of a departure. Eddie Kramer was brought in to produce it and the result is a lot more polished and clean.

Turn The Volume Up feels like an attempt to do a big rock song, especially with the hook and sing a long gang chorus. If that’s what they were aiming for then they missed the boat by a few years. I realize I’m being a bit negative and that gives a false impression, as the record is very enjoyable indeed. In fact, there are plenty of groovy moments. For example, Natural Fact has a real cool blues funk riff with a great swing to it, and I Would Still Be Here For You is pure old school Trower with a killer riff and the guitar tone is superb it’s my favourite track. However, the big rock grooves of Everybody’s Watching is a close second with a massive hook and chorus!

Robin doesn’t make bad records and even though the feel of this one is different from old it’s still a great record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SHADOW KING – s/t

November 3, 2023 /

Great band, great album, but unfortunately the wrong time.

Lou Gramm had left Foreigner in ’90 and had already released a couple of solo albums before forming Shadow King with Vivian Campbell. They are another in the long line of one record bands, as this would be the only record they put out before Campbell left for Def Leppard and Gramm would return to Foreigner.

This album sounds huge thanks to a ripping production from Keith Olsen who gave it a heavier Foreigner vibe. Most of the tracks are written by Gramm and Bruce Turgon, Campbell only gets his name on the final track Russia. Anytime Anywhere is a hands down classic and is my favourite. It’s a kick ass up tempo groove with a huge hook and chorus. This song alone should have been huge.

There are the smattering of ballads, (as you would expect) of which Don’t Even Know I’m Alive is the best. It’s the rockier tunes on the album that get my attention like I Want You with a standard rock groove, but it’s the hook and chorus that just grab you. Danger In The Dance Of Love has a killer intro and I would say is the wild card track on the record. It has a great huge guitar sound and Gramm’s voice sounds massive.

A very solid record deserving of your attention.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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