THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 136 of 486)

HURRICANE – Reconnected

September 29, 2023 /

Hurricane are another resurrected back from the dead band. These guys are unique as they have been resurrected twice. Once in 2001 with the album Liquifury and now twenty-two years later with this release on Escape Music. Well, at least there are two original members with Robert Sarzo and Tony Cavazo in the band. So was it worth bringing them back from the dead? Yes, of course it was. Class musicians don’t make stinkers and that is proved here. That is, apart from their Under Pressure cover.

Rock Star Cheater opens up in fine style and this is exactly what I expected. A kick ass, uptempo, melodic groover that hits the spot perfectly, it’s my favourite song. You & I follows and has a different vibe and groove adding that variety, I’m loving the vocals and harmonies on this one. Under Pressure is next and there are some songs that you should just leave alone, this is one of them. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that the original was so unique and can never be bettered. It’s big ballad time next with Behind Your Shadow. Yup, it’s a ballad. The vocals are strong, and the solo is decent. Innocent Girl closes out Side 1 and it’s AOR-a-plenty here with a big hook and chorus and a simple chugga riff.

Don’t Change Your Love kicks Side 2 into gear with a hands in the air anthem. A great simple riff with a hook and chorus that you can’t help but sing a long to. That happy party groove continues into the next tune I’m On To You complete with “NaNaNa” sing a longs. A hint of psychedelia next with the intro to Hand Of Souls, which is essentially a country rock power ballad. Disconnected carries on the vibe, although this one is a bit darker. I love the vocals and harmonies. Back to the party vibe with Blind Love. Another simple riff and groove, but so effective. We close out the album with an acoustic piece called Wishing Well, with a nursery rhyme-style vocal.

All in all not a bad return, but not a classic either.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

NO SWEAT – s/t

September 29, 2023 /

This is the only album from Ireland’s hard rockin’ band, and also a favourite of one Joe Elliot who produced the single Heart And Soul. I think they were also managed by none other than Louis Walsh, the famed British Pop Idol judge. They came together in ’86, the single was released in ’89, and the album followed in ’90. It was produced by Keith Olsen, who gave the album a super slick production. Super commercial sounding and should have done way better than it did. I have to say, I really like this album. If it wasn’t for that guitar sound, this album could easily been a pop record.

Heart And Soul opens up the album with a band. A killer pop rock groover with massive hook and chorus. The seriously infectious Shake follows with a killer uptempo polished groove that will definitely get you moving. The huge power ballad that is Stay is up next, and Paul Quinn’s gravelly tones make this pop. On The Edge is straight out of early 80’s US pop rock. All built around that massive hook and chorus, and where have you heard that outro riff before?

Waters Flow feels like a Zeppelin re-write until those multi-layered vocals hit you. Tear Down The Walls has a huge Def Leppard feel to it, especially in the chorus. It’s favourite tune time next with Generation. Such a slick groovy rocker with killer bv’s and harmonies. A close second in the favourite tunes department is Lean On Me. It has a great snappy groove and massive hook and chorus. Mr. Olsen sure knows how to record vocals. Stranger keeps the vibe going with yet another pop rock crossover gem. We close out the record with Mover. A nice blues intro slides right into another slick pop rock masterpiece.

It’s a crying shame that these guys appeared when they did, as this is such a good record that would have been massive a few years earlier. I know I keep mentioning that, but there are so many great records that just fell between the cracks.

9/10  from The Grooveman.

LIVING COLOUR – Shade

September 28, 2023 /

Although Living Colour have technically never split up, they have taken huge gaps in between releases and we had to wait eight years before album number six surfaced after The Chair In The Doorway came out.

There is a big heavy blues vibe right from the get go with Freedom Of Expression’s groovy and heavy 70’s riff. Preaching Blues is an old Robert Johnson tune given the Living Colour treatment. Come On mixes traditional sounds with some hip hop elements, and a hint of gospel in the vocal. Program feels like an older LC tune with a great funky groove and riff from Vernon, and a very poignant rap in the middle. The Hip Hop vibe is strong in Who Shot Ya, which contains some very startling facts indeed. Always Wrong is a more laid back groove showcasing the amazing voice of Corey Glover. Black Out closes out Side 1 with a stripped down, slow, funky groove with the power turned on in the pre chorus.

Pattern In Time opens up Side 2 and I would say it’s the heaviest tune on the album. A groove that is almost punk rock with a wild and wonderful riff. Glass Teeth follows and the riff is quite simple. The song would be forgettable if it wasn’t for the harmony and backing vocals on the main melody. Who’s That is next, but not if you read the track listing. A dirty old school R’n’B riff and groove with added horns. Invisible is up next and we are again knocking on the door marked blues with just a hint of funk. A cover of Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues is up next and this is my favourite track. I mean, the original is stellar so you have to make it your own by doing it different and I think they pull it off, especially with the Hip Hop segments. We close out the record with Two Sides and another powerful vocal performance. 

So, is it as good as the first two records? I would have to say no, as those two records are superb and classics, but it’s a very hard hitting album and one to listen very closely.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

CASANOVA – s/t

September 28, 2023 /

I guess you can call this a German supergroup of sorts. Members of Mad Max, Warlock, and Bonfire all came together for this project. It only lasted for two albums initially, of which this was the first released in ’91. If melodic rock/AOR is your thing and you like your music on the softer side, then this could be for you.

With the song Living A Lie you feel as though Bon Jovi was a reference point as the style and execution are so close. However, as usual my tastes veer towards the tunes with a bit of oomph added to the mix and The Girl Is Mine is my favourite on the album. A great uptempo groove and riffage at the intro and chorus, with the slick melodic vibes in the verses, and a ripping instrumental section. Great tune! If this was released five years earlier in the US, I can guarantee that the song Bang Bang would have been huge. A great party rock anthem with a great stomping groove and riff. A perfect Friday night, here comes the weekend tune.

All in all a great album that passed a lot of people by.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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