THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 429 of 493)

MONTROSE – s/t

May 23, 2021 /

It’s really hard to believe that this album was recorded back in 1973. Produced by Ted Templeman, and engineered by Donn Landee – who would later use this album as the blueprint for Van Halen’s first album. This is the 2017 remastered edition which comes with the bonus disc of live at KSAN radio in ’73, and was recorded before the band had even decided on a name. This was the first time that Sam the Sham had appeared on record, but Ronnie had been around for a while doing sessions and being a part of Edgar Winter’s band.

This album does rock the dandruff away, from the opening distorted chords of Rock The Nation, to the close out tones of Make It Last – this is one of the best debut rock albums ever. Ronnie’s distorted guitar and riffing was new for everyone at the time, and to me, this was heavier sounding than Sabbath. Combined that with Hagar’s vocals, which are more Robert Plant than the man himself, it’s no wonder these guys were ripping up a storm across the states. It’s hard to pick a favourite, as there are so many tracks that have become classics, but if I’m pushed Rock Candy would do it for me. Killer riff and epic vocals – it doesn’t get better than that. The live bonus album actually has three tracks not on the album: Shoot Us Down, You’re Out If Time, and the Chuck Berry classic, Roll Over Beethoven.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

DIZZY MIZZ LIZZY – Alter Echo

May 23, 2021 /

Originally formed back in ’88, Denmark’s finest exponents of power pop released two incredible albums, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, and Rotator, then disbanded in ’98. They reformed in 2016, and this is the second album after their reunion. Tim Christensen is a self confessed Beatles nut and that’s where the band’s name came from. If ever a band deserved some sort of world wide success – it’s these guys. The songwriting is top drawer stuff, and the production and recording is incredible.

The opening two pieces, The Ricochet which is a short atmospheric piece that leads into In The Blood – it’s as good as it gets. A fantastic track that draws you in straight away with its catchy melody and chorus and Tim’s soulful vocals. I would have bought the album for this song alone. Next track, Boy Doom, has quite a heavy groove and vibe to the song – and yet – they still manage to engulf and sing with a beautiful underlying melody. The Middle follows and starts with an echo tinged picked guitar, before the melancholic tones of Tim’s beautiful voice leads into the song properly. So much passion and feel in Tim’s voice and has the hairs on on my arms standing to attention. California Rain closes out the first side and starts with a distorted guitar riff and is very post grunge in its delivery. The thing that sets it apart from all those bands is the melody and the killer detuned middle section.

The whole of the second side is taken up by the song Amelia, which is in five parts. Epic in its conception and delivery – right from the acoustic tones of Part 1 Nothing They Do They Do For You, into the heavy grooves of Part 2 The Path Of Least Resistance, and back to the acoustics with Part 3 Lights Out and its haunting melody and vocal. We then go back to heaviness with the post rock strumming of Part 4 All Saints Are Sinners, then to the close out title track of Part 5 Alter Echo with the instrumental ending that leads into the hidden acoustic ending.

I love this band so much. If they were British or American I think they would have been huge, and it shows just how fickle the music industry can be. This is definitely the album that keeps on giving.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

ANTHRAX – Among The Living

May 22, 2021 /

Having released two genre defining albums in Fistful Of Metal and Spreading The Disease, it was Among The Living that put them in the big leagues. They are also known as one of the big four. Along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer, they were the pioneers of the thrash movement. Although I’ve often wondered how Slayer are acknowledged in the same breath as they were, in my opinion, terrible. All they did was played fast and had a dark image. Exodus were far more deserving. Anyhoo, I digress.

Anthrax, hailing from the East Coast, had a different take than all of the bands on the West Coast, as they came from a harder background and their sound was edgier. There is not one bad track on this album – it’s rightly held up as a classic of the genre and is full of power, angst, and energy. Anthrax have a groove and a swing to their music that none of the other protagonists of the genre had at the time. Amon The Living, Caught In A Mosh, I Am The Law, and Indians are still played live by the band today – they would probably be lynched if they did not play them. They also have a great sense of humour as Efilnikufesin (N.F.L) shows. The only thing that goes against it (just a tad) is the dead production. I know the band had run ins with the producer Eddie Kramer at the time, but it still is a 10/10 from The Grooveman!

ROBERT JOHNSON – Close Personal Friend

May 22, 2021 /

What we have here peeps, is a power pop masterpiece by a guy who you have probably never heard of. Robert Johnson was a big session guy in and around the Memphis scene in the seventies, and he was actually auditioned by the Rolling Stones as a replacement for Mick Taylor. He grew up listening to old RnB and rockabilly records and that comes across here, but with a heavy dose of pop.

This album is just a good fun record that’s full of energy, and really well written self penned songs. Opening track, I’ll Be Waiting, is a power pop masterpiece and shows how good Johnson is as a stand alone guitar player. Wish Upon A Star is another catchy seventies pop song with one of those earworm choruses. All you have here is just a three piece making all the noise and harmonies. It is very old school in its approach, but it works great. Responsibility has the ZZ Top Gimme All Your Loving beat as an intro (before they did it may I add), and is one of my favourites on the album. Wreck My Mind is pure Buddy Holly on speed and would give the Ramones a run for the money. Last track, Tell Me About It Slim, is another contender for best track with its fast played riff and up-tempo groove.

Apparently he released a new album in 2019 called I’m Alive, so he is still out there giving it a shot. For the fun value alone, it gets a 7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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