THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 294 of 480)

THE JEFF HEALEY BAND – See The Light

April 20, 2022 /

Being an avid aficionado of all things rock guitar, I actively seek out the newest releases every week to feed my habit. I first heard Jeff on a radio show in the UK, then I managed to watch a clip of him a short time after and I could not believe he was blind. His skill and mastery of the guitar was insane, and I was lucky enough to see him a few times at his club in Toronto after I moved there. To see him up close was an inspiration.

This is his first album and was released back in ’88 and it’s the one I love the most. He has the feel of an old blues man and the chops of a seasoned rocker. It’s the title track that gets all the attention because of Jeff’s incendiary playing, but there are some really great blues tracks like the shuffle of Don’t Let Your Chance Go By, and Blue Jean Blues that really float my boat.

It’s a real shame that he is no longer with us, but he has left us with some great tunes and some killer playing to remember him by.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SUPERTRAMP – Crime Of The Century

April 19, 2022 /

This was the band’s third album. They were already an established Prog rock band in the UK, but the release of this album (especially the single, Dreamer and the Wurlitzer piano sound) redefined the band’s future sound.

This is a schoolboy memory for me as everyone was talking about them because of Dreamer. Definitely a perfect record. I love the sound and groove of the whole album – especially the way they added pop elements into the songs and kept the groovy extended instrumental pieces. The production is fantastic and is one of the greatest sounding 70’s records.

There is not one bad moment on the whole album, in fact, School, Bloody Well Right, Dreamer, Rudy, and the title track, are all some of the best pieces the band ever composed. I still get so much joy from listening to it after all these years. A truly stunning record.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

KILLER DWARFS – Big Deal

April 19, 2022 /

Hailing from Oshawa (a burb around the metropolis of Toronto), the band had moderate success in Canada in the eighties – although not much anywhere else.

This is the band’s third album which came out in ’88, and although the band were known as a metal band, this album is much more of a melodic rock album (even I would say power pop), especially on tracks like We Stand Alone which is very Cheap Trick sounding. Startin’ To Shine is one of the best tracks on the album, as it has a great groove and hook and some really nice guitar. To keep their metal credentials intact, the deliciously heavy and fast Burn It Down is my favourite on the album. This album does sound a bit flat, as when they these songs Live they are a lot more alive and popping.

I think Killer Dwarfs sit alongside the Tragically Hip in that they are peculiarly Canadian, in that they don’t mean a whole bunch anywhere else.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

MADAM X – We Reserve The Right

April 18, 2022 /

One of the fun things about the 80’s rock scene was that all sorts of weird and wonderful bands appeared on the scene, attempting to cash in and have their 15 minutes in the spotlight. Madam X are exactly that – 1 album (full of throwaway football style chants) and they were gone.

I would have put money on Gene Simmons having something to do with this, but no, it was Rick Derringer playing the cheese card. The band revolved around sisters Maxine and Roxy Petrucci. Roxy would of course jump ship to join all female rockers, Vixen.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t find this a fun record as it puts a big smile on my face. High In High School was the big hit from the album and did quite well. It’s this type of sing-a-long that they were quite good at, and We Want Rock and Stand Up And Fight are the other standout tracks. Sometimes albums just exist for fun, and this is definitely on of those.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2025 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑