THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music (Page 322 of 454)

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.

ALLEN-LANDE – The Revenge

November 8, 2021 /

Here are two of the most respected vocalists in the rock and metal world, well at least everywhere apart from North America where they can hardly get arrested. Russell Allen is the voice of Symphony X, and I first heard about Jorn Lande when he fronted Ronnie Le Tekro’s band Vagabond, but he was great also in Ark and Masterplan as well as on his own. Two very differing styles as Allen is more metal and Lande has more of the classic Coverdale tones to his voice.

Funnily enough, neither of them have had a hand in writing any of the material as that was done by Magnus Karlsson, and is another of those put together projects by Frontiers. The whole vibe of the album is a symphonic melodic metal with big choruses and melodies with some nice playing along the way. My favourite is the gallop of Victory as I really like the choppy riff. If you are a fan of Euro Metal and love both of the vocalists then you can’t go wrong really.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – Wild

November 6, 2021 /

There still seems to be a lot of prejudice towards women in some areas of the rock business, but in the blues, female artists seem to thrive. I have been following Joanne’s career for quite a while and it’s nice to see her getting some success. Her new album is being produced by Joe Bonamassa so I look forward to that one.

This album was released in 2016 and was produced by long time Bonamassa producer, Kevin Shirley, and he has given the album a real gutsy edge that I really like. Dyin’ To Know opens up the record and it’s a really cool shuffle vibe with a great hook. Ready To Roll dips its toe into funk/gospel territory with great melodies and some killer leads from Joanne. I guess recording the album in Nashville rubbed off a bit as Get You Back has a great country rock vibe with a nice gritty vocal – you can’t go wrong with that chord progression. No Reason To Stay is next up and it has an old school RnB vibe to proceedings which I really like. Side 1 closes out with Wild Is The Wind and is quite a laid back tune with emphasis on the beautiful tones of Joanne’s voice, along with some killer playing.

Side 2 opens up with the up-tempo RnB grooves of Wanna Be My Lover – superb track. I’m In Chains has a Deep Purple vibe mainly due to the chopped off Smoke riff. My Hearts Got A Mind If It’s Own is a really old school swing blues number, complete with ALL the horns that reminds me of something Aretha would have done. Nothin’ To Lose is the penultimate track, and the country blues vibe is strong here with a killer chorus and melody. The album closes with an awesome cover of Gershwin’s Summertime and this all about the voice and the guitar. So there you have it, a great little record so go grab yourself a copy.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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