THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 278 of 486)

ROBIN TROWER – No More Worlds To Conquer

June 9, 2022 /

To say Robin has found a rich vein of material in his latter years, would be an understatement. This is studio album number 26, and it’s a real quality record. Don’t want to go on about age too much, as Robin is now 76. There are musicians who are a lot younger and more in the mainstream who complain about making new music as they don’t make any money – and here’s me thinking artists did it for the art.

For a while, Robin was handling vocals himself, but on this album he is joined by Richard Watts whose tone compliments Robin’s beautiful guitar sound. Robin’s never been one for throwing in a million notes that don’t mean a whole bunch, it’s all about what’s right for the song. Check out the slow funk groove of Deadly Kiss to see what I mean. It’s a simple riff and groove, great vocal, and some sublime playing from Robin – a great song! There is not a bad moment on the album and I love it all. There is even a nod to earlier days with The Razors Edge, where Robin’s tone feels like Bridge Of Sighs era. This is a very groovy album and deserves your attention.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

MAGNUM – On A Storytellers Night

June 8, 2022 /

Magnum had been slogging around for a few years with not much success, and they were supporting anyone who would have them. Then, with the release of Chase The Dragon, they made a breakthrough in the UK. When this album was released in ’85, the rest of the world began to listen.

The main focus of the band has always been singer Bob Catley, and guitarist Tony Clarkin, who wrote all the music and lyrics. I always thought they should have made it big in the US, as their sound sits comfortably in the area that Styx operate in. It’s very melodic with the big pomp production and sound, you think they would be a perfect fit.

How Far Jerusalem is opens up the album and is almost Prog in its feel, but the melodies let you know that we are in AOR territory. Just Like An Arrow was a single in the UK and I remember hearing it on the radio at the time. Endless Love is my favourite track, and there are parts of this song that remind me of Journey. It has a great hook and melody, and Clarkin’s guitar does remind of Schon at times. All England’s Eyes has that US radio feel to it and I was surprised that never was released as a single. Is this Magnum’s finest hour?

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TANK – This Means War

June 8, 2022 /

This is the band’s third release, and was also the third album to be released on the fledgling UK label, Music For Nations. The band also expanded the line up to a four piece with the addition of a second guitar player, Mick Tucker. This would turn out to be a nightmare for band founder, Algy Ward, much later on with two versions of the band doing the rounds. Algy’s trademark Lemmy style vocals are still there, but this time the songs have a lot more melody present (whether this was Tucker’s influence or management, who knows?), but this was the best album the original band did.

Right from the opening track, Just Like Something From Hell, you can hear the songs are longer and more intricate. The production is more polished and Tucker’s guitar playing is a definite upgrade. His solo on Hot Lead Cold Steel is very UFO. I love the riff and groove to the title track, it’s NWOBHM at its best. This is a real catchy record, and If We Go Down Fighting will get the head a nodding and the toe tapping – the hook and chorus is a total earworm. Last track, Echoes Of A Distant Battle, is quite possibly the best thing the band have done.

If you are a fan or a collector of NWOBHM, then you should definitely have this in your collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

JOE BONAMASSA – Driving Towards The Daylight

June 7, 2022 /

There is one thing for sure, since Jo Bo teamed up with Kevin Shirley his career has exploded. It seems every week there is another project, or tour, or something Jo Bo related that his fan base just eat up. Well I guess he has to fund his guitar addiction someway, right kids?

Joking aside, he doesn’t make bad albums and they try to make them different in some way to keep it all fresh. This album came out in 2012, it is a very clean sounding, and uncluttered record; an almost back to basics sound. Dislocated Boy opens up the album and is trademark Jo Bo, a very groovy beat and lots of Jo. The tracks I love the most are more of the traditional sounding tracks, like I Got All You Need which is a beautiful shuffle with some killer guitar. Lonely Town Lonely Street which has a very dirty groove, and I love the swing to this track. Jimmy Barnes makes a stunning appearance on Too Much Ain’t Enough Love and steals the show for me.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2025 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑