THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 330 of 493)

VARDIS – 100 M.P.H

February 12, 2022 /

One of the reasons I went out and bought this was a review (I think) in Sounds magazine – the headline was “The longest guitar solo in the world”. I think it was a Geoff Barton piece and I seemed to like a lot of things that Geoff reviewed, so money was exchanged.

I have seen the band quite a few times, and they are definitely a Live act as the energy does not come over so much on their studio albums. This was the band’s first release, and to release a Live album as your debut was a brave thing to do, but a stroke of genius. This album is pure stripped down high energy rock and roll with a very punk attitude. Lots of guitar provided by band leader Steve Zodiac, who was obviously a fan of Gerry Anderson’s kids puppet shows with his name taken from the show Fireball XL5.

Being the guitar freak that I am, it’s those tracks with the elongated solos that do it for me like Let’s Go and 100 M.P.H where it’s a solo fest. This is definitely one to shake the dandruff loose.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

U.S. METAL – Vol. 1

February 11, 2022 /

After the initial burst, the NWOBHM was starting to diminish somewhat, so it was back to America in my search for killer new tunes – Mike Varney and his label Shrapnel Records provided just the fix I was looking for. Mike loves his metal, but he also loves hotshot guitar players and that was the perfect match for me.

The album starts off with the band Chumbi playing the title track with a great guitar player in Em Kay. Killer track! Look Into The Light is next up by Exxe who remind me of mid-era Ted Nugent. Of course there are tracks that don’t cut it and No Time by the Giles Meblin Assault is one of those tracks. There are some now familiar names also added to the line up here, namely The Rods whose first album made a big impression on me, with their track Gettin’ Higher. For Van Halen fans there is a track by Reddi Killowatt who played the same back yard party scene around Pasadena that the Van Halen’s did, and guitarist Terry Kilgore would later play with Dave Lee Roth’s solo band.

I look on this the same as the Metal For Mutha’s compilation’s in the UK, as they gave a voice to unheard metal acts. I still play this a lot today as it’s a fun album to put on.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

WASP – s/t

February 11, 2022 /

If you’re a new band and you want to get people to pay attention to your music, what’s the best way of doing that? Well, you can always rely on talent and great songs – or you can shock the public into gaining attention. Wasp chose the latter!

I think we are all aware of Animal (F**k) Like A Beast and the all the furor that surrounded it. It certainly worked – as fans turned out just to see what all the fuss was about. Then there is guitarist Chris Holmes’ antics, most famously the scene of him in the swimming pool smashed out of his face drinking vodka. Next there was the cheese grater on the back of the guitar of (I think) Randy Piper, where he would allegedly shred his hands. All that seemed to detract away from the music, even though it was designed to gain attention.

The songs are mostly really good, and Blackie Lawless knew how to write a great rock song. The album starts off with with two killer songs that were released as singles, namely I Wanna Be Somebody and Love Machine, highlighting my point about Blackie’s songwriting. Both great songs with a big hook and chorus. Other notable tracks on the album are the pure LA rock of Hellion, and the gallop of The Torture Never Stops. This is just straight rock n roll. This was as good as they got as the image started to overtake the music.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR – Still Life

February 10, 2022 /

I was put onto these guys whilst I was at school and they sort of past me by at the time. Their music is not very immediate and you have to give it time, but at the time, I was more into the bands where the riff ruled.

They are another one of the seventies Prog giants that are unbelievably back together today after being apart for some 27 years. The main man, Peter Hammill, is doing also solo material and collaborations. Of course, it’s Hammill that dominates proceedings as his voice and lyrics are such a dark dominating force within the band. If you’re a fan of Hammond organ then Hugh Banton’s ivory tinkling will be of delight to you, as along with Hammill, they vie for your attention. Only comprising of five tracks, the longest of which is Childlike Faith In Childhood’s End, which comes in at 12.19 and is the epic showpiece of the album.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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