THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 437 of 493)

AUTOGRAPH – Sign In Please

May 7, 2021 /

Pasadena California’s other great musical export, behind the mighty Van Halen. In fact, guitarist Steve Lynch was a good friend of EVH. This is Autograph’s debut album from ’84 and was a massive hit all over the world – it’s easy to see why. Right from the get go the emphasis is on great songs that rock, but melodies and catchy choruses are high on the list of priorities.

First song in, Send Her To Me, is catchy as hell and a great song. If that wasn’t good enough, second track Turn Up The Radio is even better – it’s big radio rock at its best. A monster tune with a huge big sing-a-long chorus, and it rocks with big guitars high in the mix. What’s not to like? No let up in the quality as Nineteen And Non Stop kicks in with an up-tempo groove and another stuck in the brain chorus and hook. Side note: Steve Lynch is a killer guitar player, and often goes unmentioned when talking about hot shot guitar players. He plays his ass off on this record! Cloud 10 has a very eighties keyboard intro and is the poppiest track on the record, but still a killer tune. Side close out track, Deep End, is a great stomper of a rock track. What a killer riff to drive it along, and again, huge chorus and melody. Phew!!! What a great first side.

Side 2 starts exactly where we left off with My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend Isn’t Me. What a killer riff to start with, and is contender for best track on the album. It’s impossible not to sing-a-long to any of these songs. The songs just keep on comin. Thrill Of Love is another great rack, superb harmonies and a great riff with a killer solo. Friday is next up, and has a very VH intro that reminds me a bit of Panama – once again, a superb melody and chorus drive the song into greatness. In The Night takes us to Journey territory, a slower paced track with yet another great hook and chorus. All I’m Gonna Take is the final track, and I have to say, every song on this album could have been a single. It’s that good! Every song has a big chorus and melody that you can’t forget.

It’s easy to see why America went nuts for this band, they were tailor made for the mid-eighties scene there. The songs are so well written and arranged. This album rightly deserves a 10/10 from the Grooveman.

MASTODON – Emperor Of Sand

May 7, 2021 /

Atlanta Georgia’s best gift to the musical community, have released their seventh full length slice of awesomeness upon on the world. Again, it is a concept album and a story about a desert wanderer who has been handed a death sentence. Interwoven into the story are real experiences of band members’ family who had been diagnosed with cancer, and how they were coping with treatments for the disease. Teamed back with producer Brendan O’Brien, who was responsible for Crack The Skye.

Right from the first note to the last, this is the most incredible album. Each song is epic in it’s own right, each is well written and played with fantastic arrangements. There are definitely no shortages of riffs with Mastodon, as riff-meister Bill Kelliher seems to have an endless supply. Also of note, drummer Brain Dailor has more lead vocal turns this time around as he is the most melodic of the three vocalists. Every song is killer and does not disappoint. Highlights for me are the mega-top-tastic, Steambreather, which has to be up there as one of the best tracks the band have done – killer riff, groove, melody, and great lyrics. Roots Remain, which has a beautiful middle breakdown section where the vocals bring goosebumps. Scorpion Breath, which has everything and is the heaviest track on the album. If I was pushed, I would say this and the next track are my favourites on the album. This rocks hard! Last track, Jaguar God…my god…what an epic ending to an album. From the acoustic beginning with Brent’s laid back vocal, till the heaviness arrives and Bran takes over the vocal, this track should be held up as a standard bearer of how to present metal music in a modern age. It doesn’t get better than this kiddies!

Yet again another in the series of every home should have one. Go on then, what are you waiting for?

10/10 from The Grooveman.

GEDDY LEE – My Favourite Headache

May 6, 2021 /

So what would the bass player/vocalist of one of the world’s most iconic and distinct bands actually sound like? Well, would it sound like the singer of Rush being Rush but without the band? Or would you do something complete unexpectedly and left field? Unfortunately, the answer is somewhere in between as there are tracks that could be Rush (around the Signals period) and there are tracks where he is trading to sound anything but Rush. The problem when you have a voice as easily recognizable as Geddy’s, it’s hard to change people’s perception.

Anyway, for most part it’s a really enjoyable album with more simplistic song structures. Using musicians that are not on the radar of most people like Ben Mink on guitars (who I only know from working with KD Lang), and Matt Cameron from Pearl Jam on drums. They are maybe not the people you would expect him to work with. Speaking of Pearl Jam, it does have a slight Seattle feel to the album. Stand out tracks for me are the opening and title track, My Favourite Headache, which is a great heavy sounding track. Moving To Bohemia with it’s weird opening rhythm and groove. Home On The Strange with it’s strange funked up groove – it’s probably the best track on the album. Funnily enough, these three tracks are the the most Rush sounding tracks on the album, and believe me, I’m not the world’s biggest Rush fan. This was recorded over 20 years ago now and he hasn’t done another one, who knows, maybe one day he will try again.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN – Wild Child

May 6, 2021 /

There seems to be a ton of these Roots Rock/ Americana Blues type bands coming out of the woodwork at the minute, and it definitely is flavour of the month to have that earthy sound. With that in mind, this album was recorded back in 2013 so maybe they were ahead of the curve. In fact, Tyler had been around for about 15 years when he launched the Tyler Bryant band. Whether it’s pure coincidence or not, there is a strong Aerosmith vibe on some of the tracks, and Brad Whitford’s son Graham plays guitar as part of the group.

Opening track, Fools Gold, is a great opening track and the retro rock vibe is kicking hard. Lipstick Wonder Woman has a country rock vibe with a great guitar sound. Cold Heart has a really dirty sleazy groove – it is a great tune with a big rock ending. Downtown Tonight is pure Nashville country blues with a really cool groove and harmony – with plenty of fuzz guitar. Say A Prayer follows and has one hell of a dirty fuzzed up gospel groove. Great tune! House That Jack Built closes out Side 1 and has a very ZZ Top feel to the intro, before more fuzzed up goodness ensues.

Side 2 opens with Last One Leaving, and it’s Nashville country blues time with the big chant vocals. Still Young (Hey Kids) is next up and could be any power pop band from the eighties – it has single written all over it. You Got Me Baby follows and is another earworm song that just sticks in your head for all the right reasons. House On Fire starts with real punked up attitude, and is raw rock n roll romp. Penultimate track, Where I Want You, again is a killer tune with a deep seventies retro groove that kicks ass. All to soon – the last track, Poor Boys Dream, starts with an acoustic slide intro and is a modern take on a delta blues vibe. A really enjoyable album and a good addition to anyone’s collection.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2026 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑