THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 361 of 493)

BUDGIE – Nightflight

November 10, 2021 /

After the band’s return in 1980, this is the second album and Deliver Us From Evil would be the final release from that period. This is definitely the most melodic of all Budgie albums. The writing partnership between band founder, Burke Shelley, and guitarist, John Thomas, was working great and I for one was definitely surprised when they disappeared again without recording anything else until 2006.

Opening track, Turned To Stone, is a killer opening track with a great melody and hook – plus an awesome instrumental section. Keeping A Rendezvous is a cool song with a superb harmony and great guitar from Thomas. Reaper Of The Glory opens with a cool chord pattern and an almost shuffle groove. Side 1 closes out with She Used Me Up and is quite a simple riff and groove, very NWOBHM sounding.

Side 2 opens with the amazing Lay Down And Die – a great song and a killer ending. Apparatus is as close to a ballad as this band gets. Superstar is next, which is my favourite track on the album, and with a monster riff and groove, this track really swings. Change Your Ways follows and has a somewhat Beatles vibe to it but much heavier. The album closes out with Untitled Lullaby and is an acoustic piece – and if I’m honest, it’s a bit of a let down to close out the album, but it’s still a great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

DANKO JONES – A Rock Supreme

November 9, 2021 /

Hailing from Toronto, this is the band’s 9th studio album and continues their stripped down rock/punk sound. There are no surprises here as it’s a tried and trusted formula: short, sharp, and to the point – no frills rock n roll with attitude.

First track in, I’m In A Band, pretty much sums Danko Jones perfectly – he just wants to play the music. I spoke to him at a gig (I think it was the Mod Club) and he was a really down to earth guy and was surprised I knew who he was. Stand out tracks for me are Dance, Dance, Dance, which has a really cool groove and a god sing a long chorus, Fists Up High, which starts with a nice riff and a great choppy groove, and also Burn In Hell, which is the fastest song on the record and has Danko channeling his inner Phil Lynott – certain tones in his voice remind me so much of Phil.

If stripped back rock n roll is your thing, then this could be for you.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

RATT – s/t

November 9, 2021 /

Formed in ’76 as Mickey RATT, it wasn’t until ’81 and a name change to just RATT that success came their way. This is the first EP that was originally released on their own label, Time Coast, and I remember buying a licensed copy on Music For Nations.

The six tracks on offer here are very raw sounding, but you can tell they were going places. Opener, Sweet Cheater, is a killer up-tempo rocker and quite possibly the heaviest thing they released, with a great solo from Warren De Martini – one of the unsung guitar heroes of the LA scene. You Think You’re Tough is a blueprint for the direction they would take after this album. I Got It is pure sleaze glam (before it became fashionable) with a real dirty riff. Tell The World would reappear later in a more modified version as Lack Of Communication. Back For More would be re-recorded on Out Of The Cellar, and this is a tad slower and dirtier sounding. Walkin’ The Dog closes out the record and I love the intro as it sets the tone for the track – which is pure dirty LA sleaze.

Well worth getting – especially if you’re a RATT fan – and if you’re not, get it anyway because it’s really good.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

REVOLUTION SAINTS – Light In The Dark

November 8, 2021 /

Here we go again with another of Frontiers put together projects, and this time the blueprint is a heavier version of Journey. They have recruited ex-Journey drummer, Dean Castronovo on drums and vocals, Jack Blades on bass and vocals, and Doug Aldrich supplying the heavier moments on guitar. This is the 2nd album and is the better of the two. All Journey fans will tell you that Dean is the best vocalist that the band never had as a vocalist. The guy has killer pipes that are perfect for these Journey type of tunes, as he has that Frontiers era Steve Perry tone to his voice.

To be fair, this is a superb album as the songs are really strong and all the main protagonists play their asses off. The 2nd track in, Freedom, is worth the album money alone. Killer riff and groove, great vocal from Dean, and some serious guitar from Doug. I bet Journey wish they could write tunes as good as this today. The following track, Ride On, is equally as good with double kicks a blazing. it’s a superb up-tempo melodic rocker complete with an Aldrich shred fest.

It’s very obvious that the Frontiers guys have a Journey fetish, and I guess this is as close as they get. Still – it’s a good album with two excellent tracks that any band would be proud of.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2026 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑