THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 434 of 493)

DOKKEN – Breakin’ The Chains

May 13, 2021 /

This version of Dokken were around since ’81, but there were various incarnations plying around LA maybe 6 years before that. George Lynch had been playing the same backyard parties and clubs as the Van Halen’s were playing in the mid seventies. So that could explain why this album appeared on an unknown French pop label called Carrere Records – they were probably desperate for a deal at that point. For those paying attention, Saxon were also on that label, and yes, I know Electra in the US put out the album. It was super rock producer, Michael Waggoner, that sort of discovered them while they were playing in Germany, and that’s why his name is on here as producer.

I really like this record as the songs are great, and I’m not sure they wrote much better and consistently after this album. Opening track, Breakin’ The Chains, is a great song and shows what a tight band they were. In The Middle is another great tune with a good melody and chorus. Felony is the first killer song on the album with a great riff, and some serious playing from George. I Can’t See You has an almost pop feel to the song – a sort of cross between The Cars and Journey. Live To Rock (Rock To Live) is the last track on Side 1, and is fast paced rocker with some Lynch pyrotechnic guitar as an intro and a great melody, but it’s all about the guitar.

Side 2 kicks off with Nightrider, which is a trademark Dokken tune. In fact they would revisit this type of song many times in their career. Seven Thunders is a great tune with a superb melody and harmonies – and more George, lots more George! The almost Judas Priest riff to Young Girls is awesome, and with a pounding groove that drives it along which makes it one of the best tracks on the album. Stick To Your Guns has a nice bass guitar intro from Juan Croucier – before he upped and left to join Ratt. For some reason I always get this version mixed up with the Crudley Mott version, not sure why, as I like this version a lot more. Last track, Paris Is Burning, was recorded live in Berlin in’ 82, and is another killer track with plenty of George for all you guitar nuts. A friend of mine named their band Paris after this track and this was their theme song.

For a first album this is on the money, and I have a soft spot for it.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ZOETROPE – A Life Of Crime

May 13, 2021 /

I admit to not knowing a whole bunch about these guys, other than the fact that guitarist, Louie Svitek, ended up playing in funk-metal combo Mind Funk way later. Other than their three self financed cassette release,s this was the band’s second full length album released in ’87. They described themselves as hardcore street metal, and that about sums it up. The album even comes with a cheesy wanted poster where they are looking as tough as possible. I can’t quite make up my mind if they are joking or not.

They were maybe about four years too late, as by then, this type of thrash was old hat. All the songs are very much the same, peddle to the metal from the get go. The drummer probably needed hospitalization after the recording, as it’s played as fast as humanly possibly – and this was recorded in the days before triggers. When a song like NASA comes along, it’s a breath of fresh air – the pace slows down and the song is really good. Great riff and groove! In fact, when they change it up, they are really quite a decent band. Pickpocket is another really cool song that changes pace and grooves a few times, it has a nice bass line and riff. Side 2 is definitely the best side. Side 1 is all hardcore, and Side 2 is the metal side. Anyhoo, two songs do not make a great album.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

LOS LOBOTOMYS – s/t

May 12, 2021 /

Who or what are the Los Lobotomys I hear you cry?! Well basically they are a bunch of muso friends that jammed together in an around LA whenever they were in town. Steve Lukather was the main guy and driving force behind it all. It’s just guys having fun, and with him is his Toto bandmate Jeff Porcaro on drums, David Garfield on keys, and Will Lee on bass, plus a host of guests on percussion and horns. Along with a couple of covers, the rest are just fleshed out jams, which in my book is just fine. I love hearing great musicians just going for it and bouncing off each other. These type of jams happen a lot, and I wish more would get released as they are great to listen to.

Other than the fusion vibe going on, there is also that Toto sound to proceedings as they were all session guys as well. I love the funky fusion of Dismemberment, and Oozer with some great percussion grooves. Big Bone is very Toto in sound with a great solo from Luke. Lobotomy Stew is a great jazz/rock crossover piece with some killer playing. The big rock out track on the record is Smell Yourself, and I would have bought the record just for this track – it smokes! Killer playing by all especially Luke, and that’s why everyone and his dog wanted him for sessions. Remember, apart from the solo on Beat It, he played all the guitar on Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

I appreciate that this is not for everyone, but if you like hearing musicians just having fun with great playing then you can’t go wrong.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

MANSUN – Six

May 12, 2021 /

This album is a bit of anomaly. I know at the time all of the trendy journo’s from the likes of the NME (and other pop rags) were a bit confused by this record. Mansun were seen as indie Brit pop darlings, mainly due to the success of the first record, Attack Of The Grey Lantern – and specifically their single Wide Open Space. So everyone was waiting to hear what they came up with as a follow up. I think it’s fair to say a lot of people were surprised when they came up with a modern Prog masterpiece.

Now, you may think that a band would have committed commercial suicide by doing this, but there were still some very poppy commercial sounding tracks to release as singles like Negative, and Being A Girl. Ironically, this would be the beginning of the end for the band, as internal squabbles would end up with them trying to replace front man Paul Draper behind his back.

Anyway, at least they leave behind two totally great albums and two good albums. Stand out tracks on this album are the title track, Six (a great tune), and Pink Floydisms of Shotgun which is a personal favourite. Not sure a record company would accept something like this from a pop act today, but I guess you can look on this as their Sgt Pepper. If you like an album that keeps on giving and still sounds fresh years later, than this would be the album for you.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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