THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 283 of 480)

JONNY LANG – Signs

May 13, 2022 /

This is Jonny’s seventh studio album released in 2017, and he is continuing the trend of nearly every blues guitar slinger doing an album of fuzzed up tones. I don’t mind the occasional use of the fuzz box, but I love to hear the tones and notes. It’s not as bad as some, as this is more about songs and that honey dripping over glass voice of Jonny’s. 

I love the stripped down opening number, Make It Move, a bare bones blues vibe. Last Man Standing is a ripping tune with a killer groove and beat, and Jonny sings his ass off. What You’re Made Of has a superb funky vibe – and that voice…jeez! Stronger Together was a hit on the billboard chart with its heavy RnB vibe. The title track has a beast of an opening riff, with the aforementioned fuzz in full swing. Wisdom is my favourite track as we start with a bare bones beat and that stripped down sound, until the song bursts into life with a superb blues gospel ending.

This is a great sounding record with a killer production.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

ICON – s/t

May 13, 2022 /

This is the band’s first album released in ’84, and other than a brief mention in the relevant magazines of the time, it didn’t do that much (at least in the UK anyways), which was a great disservice to the band. This is a kick ass hair metal masterpiece, and every bit as good as any of the other usual suspects of that period. There’s not a bad moment on the album as it rocks right from the get go.

Opener, Rock On Through The Night, is a statement opening track if ever there was one. Killer riff and groove, and a massive hook and chorus. Killer Machine follows with a big slow pounding beat and groove, and a hands-in-the-air anthem chorus. On Your Feet is more of the same, a superb big rock sing-a-long monster in the vein of Quiet Riot, but these guys blow them out of the water. World War has a killer massive guitar tone and the sound is huge. Side 1 closes out with Hot Desert Night, a big chugga riff and a great ending to the first side.

Over we flip and Under My Gun is first up with a killer opening, before we settle into an up-tempo groove. I really love the main chorus and hook. Iconoclast follows and is a top drawer instrumental with some really nice guitar. Normal service is resumed with Rock N Roll Maniac, which is a big hair anthem if there ever was one. A very simple evil riff drives I’m Alive, before the sing-a-long anthem chorus and hook kick in. The album closes out with It’s Up To You and its ballad city…They say you should always end on a bang, but I guess they missed that memo.

This band should have been a household name just like their contemporaries. It’s another story of a record company not knowing how to market a band. Great record!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

VOIVOD – Synchro Anarchy

May 12, 2022 /

They are now acknowledged as the godfathers of progressive metal, instead of a quirky little metal band from Quebec. This is the band’s 15th studio album released this year. They are truly a great and unique band, as no one sounds like Voivod.

Opening track, Paranormalium, is classic Voivod with the slightly odd riff and quirky groove. The title track is next and is my favourite on the album with a choppy riff and groove. I’m loving the vocal harmonies, and you can see where Mastodon get their inspiration from. Planet Eaters is next and starts with a strummed riff and a groove pattern that is killer. Mind Clock closes out Side 1 and starts with an eerie picked riff and accompanying vocal, then it builds with the riff getting louder and groove becoming killer.

An odd groove and riff is the intro to Side 2 opener, Sleeves Off, and reappears throughout the song with a chugga middle eight. A very Sabbath riff is the opening to Holographic Thinking, before a more technical groove takes over with drummer, Away, giving it plenty. The World Today opens with a killer bass line and grooves along at a fair pace. It has a great hook and chorus, and along with the title track this is killer. Quest For Nothing follows and has a very dramatic opening then leads into some serious double kicking with a choppy riff. The album closes out with Memory Failure, and we are going out with a bang!

Lots of groove and time changes, from old school thrash to Prog metal heaven. A great record by a great band!

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

FOREIGNER – Head Games

May 12, 2022 /

This is Foreigner’s third album – the one before they became every girl’s favourite because of one song. Most of the critics say this was the band’s last hard rock album before their sound changed to a more commercial style. I would say that commerciality was always there, as Lou Gramm’s vocal style was always inclined that way.

Dirt White Boy is just a straight up Quo style boogie, and it’ Gramm’s voice that makes the track what it is. The title track is the only other track that has a rock approach. Every other track is very commercial sounding, in fact, Rev On The Red Line is the blueprint track for what would come next as this tune could live anywhere on their fourth album. Not their best, but still a solid record.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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