THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music review (Page 469 of 493)

ZZ TOP – Tres Hombres

February 17, 2021 /

This is the third full album by Texas’s greatest musical export to the world, and by the time this was released on the world they had found their groove and were rollin’. This was the album that opened them up to rest of the US. This time all of the songs were originals, and all written by the band.

Waitin’ For The Bus gets things movin’ and is classic ZZ of this period, and the segue into Jesus Left Chicago is just sublime bluesy groove goodness. Beer Drinkers adds a little heaviness to proceedings, and has some Billy G licks that keep on goin’ right until the fade out. Master Of Sparks is quite a laid back tune until the solo, which is short but hot. Side 1 ends with Hot Blue And Righteous, which is a slow blues ballad.

Flipping over to the classic ZZ tune Move Me On Down The Line – short and sweet at 2.30 but it hits the spot. Precious and Grace is next up with that dirty fuzz riff and a killer middle 8. Then hidden away in the middle of Side 2 is the song that would change everything for them. La Grange has the most simplest of riffs, but what a riff it is. It still gets the hairs on my arm standing up when I play it today. Who knows what Billy is singing at the beginning, but it sets the mood perfectly. Killer tune!!! Sheik is up next, and how do you follow that?! You slot in the oddest tune on the album with and an almost funky vibe. This song is the one that would pave the way for the not too distant future as Tejas and El Loco would both have experimental moments of pure genius. Album closer Have You Heard? finishes things off nicely with some gospel blues.

Not their best album as that would come later but definitely a good album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

METALLICA – Hardwired…To Self Destruct

February 17, 2021 /

The band that everyone loves to moan at. Not sure why, as they know their limitations and basically they do what it says on the tin.

This is the RSD version on red vinyl. This is definitely a return to form after the very disappointing St Anger and the poorly produced Death Magnetic, even though the songs were really good on that album. I personally think this album sits really well with the classic albums, and would have been a natural successor to And Justice. This is their 10th studio album, and the first for 8 years mainly due to the ongoing issues with James’ health and addictions. The haters can do one for all I care as this is a killer album. For those of you who are used to listening to this album on CD, the running order is slightly different so they can squeeze the tracks on the vinyl.

Opener and the title track is classic Metallica huge riffs fat guitars and plenty of chugga chugga. Atlas Rise, another monster tune and was the first single. By this time you should be bouncing round the house. Now That Your Dead is a slightly more experimental song, and a slower pace, but still a monster tune.

Over to Side 2 we go and the other single, Moth Into Flame, is ripping it up with some fast fat riffage and loading up on the chugga’s. James’ vocals are stronger than he has ever done. In fact, the whole band are smokin’. I still don’t like Kirk’s lead sound though. I think it’s too thin and too much wah wah, but that’s just me. Am I Savage is next and slows the pace right down at the intro before exploding into a slow grind. Disc 1 closes with Halo On Fire, which starts slow, and is what Metallica dish up for a ballad – with a great melodic vocal from James before reverting to big chugga’s at the middle section.

Onto Disc 2 we go and Confusion announces its arrival with staccato drums and matching fat guitars and chugga chugga’s a plenty. Dream No More with its monster Sabbath style riff is next – a huge sounding tune. ManUNkind ends Side 3, with a slow bass and guitar sequence before it gets all Metallica with a huge catchy riff and groove.

Flipping over to Side 4 with Here Comes Revenge, and there’s no let up in the quality of the songs – another huge tune. Murder One is next and it’s a fitting tribute to Lemmy with an evil riff. In the blink of an eye, the last song Spit Out The Bone is upon us, and its the song with a nod back to the early days as it’s pure old school thrash.

So don’t believe the haters, Metallica are far from finished and I really enjoyed it.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

JAMES MONTGOMERY BAND – High Roller

February 16, 2021 /

Ahh Capricorn Records, everyone’s favourite Southern Rock label. Just about every one involved with the genre has passed through their doors at some point. I am attracted to most bands on this label, as guitars were always high on the list of priorities for them. So when I found this in a sale bin and saw the label, I took a punt. Unfortunately for me, this is one that maybe passed the label quality department.

It’s not bad, it’s just average country/rock with dabs of funk thrown in for variety. Listen to opener Shot Down Love and Love Is A Thing on Side 1 to see what I mean. Schoolin’ Them Dice with its standard blues shuffle is an ok tune, done way better by The Allmans. Turning the beast over does not improve things that much as the songs are just not strong enough. The playing is fine, you can only work with what you have. The best song is saved to last with the boogie of Ten Page Letter, which is a fun tune. This is one of those bands that if you saw them in a roadhouse deep down south on a Saturday night when your smashed on JD, you would probably love them.

5/10 from The Grooveman.

STEVEN WILSON – Hand Cannot Erase

February 16, 2021 /

!WARNING! This is in my top ten records EVER!!! Prepare for a gushing review.

This is SW’s 7,000,000th release across a myriad of projects, but technically it’s his 4th studio release as a solo artist. The concept and idea behind this album is pretty amazing. There was a lady called Joyce Carol Vincent whose body was found in her apartment badly decomposed. She had been laying there for over two years. I know what your thinking, she was an old lady that was alone, but no, she was a 35 year old women with family and friends. The album uses this as inspiration and is told from the female perspective.

There is not one second on this album that I do not love. Everything from the writing, production, playing and the art is just amazing. The songs have so much depth and emotion put into them. This was also the best line up he had with him. Guthrie Govan, Marco Minneman, Nick Beggs and Adam Holzman is a killer line up of muso’s, and they give everything to the songs. Guthrie’s contribution on Home Invasion/Regret#9 is worth buying the album alone. Incredible playing! Marco brought so much to the table here. Each song was given that little something extra that I’m not sure your average drummer could have done.

Listen to the whole piece from the beginning and I can guarantee that when you get to Happy Returns you will be in tears. Such a beautiful piece. I know there have been 2 albums released after this masterpiece, and they are both good in their own way, but put them along side this, and they have big shoes to fill. The surround sound version of this is incredible, and if you are lucky enough to have the deluxe box set, the artwork and detail is incredible. If you are somewhat unsure of where to dive into SW’s vast catalogue then you should jump in here. I guarantee you will be blown away by the sheer quality of this album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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