THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: music (Page 346 of 454)

SPARKS – Propaganda

September 13, 2021 /

This band had a big impression on me when I was a young very impressionable school boy back in ’74. The release of Kimono My House, and especially the single This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us, blew my tiny little mind. If you can, watch Edgar Wright’s awesome docufilm The Sparks Brothers as it tells the tale of this amazing band. They sort of operate in a musical world of their own. Every now and then that world seems to align perfectly with what’s happening at the time.

This album was the follow up to Kimono and was also released in ’74. That’s what bands did back then – not like today when you can wait 5 years for your favourite band to record an album. I would dare suggest that Sparks are one of the ultimate Prog rock bands as they change styles and sounds and constantly evolve. Yes it’s pop, but not as we know it. As The Beach Boys did before them, they tried to innovate within a format that can be throwaway at times and has a very fickle audience.

My favourites on this record are the superb Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth, and Something For The Girl With Everything – both are superb mid seventies pop tunes with great arrangements, but they sound as though they could be from the now.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KIX – s/t

September 13, 2021 /

I know Midnite Dynamite and Blow My Fuse were big albums for the band, but to me, this is their best album. It shows the band as their true selves – before record company nonsense kicked in. A cross between glam/power pop and good old rock n roll, this is one fun record. I bought this as a cold buy and had never heard the band before – I just liked the cover and the song titles.

I was super stoked when I first dropped the needle on the record as first song, Atomic Bombs, is a great fun up-tempo rocker. Every song is just pure gold and has that big feel good vibe. Love At First Sight has a killer groove and sing-a-long chorus and should have been a single. Heartache is an ode to young lust. Poison is a monster glam/sleaze track with a killer beat and groove, and has an awesome solo – plus a great call and response section. The Itch closes out Side 1 and reminds me of AC/DC with the guitar sound and main riff.

Side 2 kicks off with the band’s signature song, Kix Are For Kids, and a fun fast old school rock n roll romp it is. Contrary Mary follows and is Faster Pussycat before they were a thing. This album came out in ’81, and I would say this album was an influence on quite a few bands that came after. If I had to choose between this and Crudley Motts first album, I would go for this every time. Better songs, better playing, better frontman, and a way better guitar player. Anyway back to the record. Next up is The Kid, which starts with a solo guitar piece before the full on stomp glamfest kicks in. Last track is Yeah Yeah Yeah, and I know it’s cheesy as hell, but I love the simplicity and the fun vibe of this track – even though lyrically it’s not very PC.

So this record is not gonna change the world, but if it doesn’t put a smile on your face and happy feeing in your soul, then you are in need of therapy.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

JONI MITCHELL – Ladies Of The Canyon

September 11, 2021 /

I’ll admit to not being a big fan of singer/songwriter music in general, and I don’t have a whole lot of it in my collection, but there is something about Joni Mitchell that is so serene and beautiful that I cannot resist, especially the early albums.

This is part of the Reprise years box set and it sounds fantastic, but to me it always has done. They have done a superb job on all the packaging for each album. They have recreated all the albums in their original covers complete with heavy card. So this is Joni’s third album, and makes reference to the area of Laurel Canyon where all the muso’s gathered to jam and write. Quite a lot of my favourite Joni tunes are on this record namely Conversation, Woodstock, and Big Yellow Taxi. If you are feeling stressed or a bit low, this is the perfect album to loose yourself in and chill (as are any of her first four albums).

One of Canada’s greatest musical exports to the world, and I’m not sure we will see such a burst of creativity again.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

WIDE MOUTH MASON – Stew

September 10, 2021 /

Hailing from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, this is the band’s 4th studio album. The band are described as a blues rock outfit, that may be the case as of now, but back in 2000 when this little gem was released, the funk was very much flowing through the band’s musical veins. This album is one groovy beast. A couple of singles were released in Canada, Smile, and Change – which did quite well.

Who’s There is a great groovy funk monster of a tune to open up the album with, and She’s Alone carries on that groove but with an added solo from Shaun Vereault – who is a very tasty player. Once You’ve Got It has a great hook and chorus to go with that irresistible funky groove. They do remind me a little bit (in this song at least) of British groove combo, Amor. Smile is next with its infectious groove and melody. One of the quirkiest songs of the record is next with Bushi Su, which is pure old school funk. If you don’t move to this track, you need a tune up of your groove muscle. Change follows and it’s a simple pop funk with a great melody and groove. Side 1 closes out with Watchewan and it’s early seventies funkarama.

Side 2 opens up with my favourite track, Mad Doctor, which has a killer riff and groove. It’s another time to test that groove muscle as the funk is deep in this one. Exquisite is a slow grinding funk with some nice harmonies and a fantastic groovy middle eight. Sleepwalker is the least funkiest track on the record and feels more like indie rock. Breathe Out has pinched the riff from Queen’s Dragon Attack, well part of it anyway, and there is a nice solo as well. I guess they were listening to the Game at the time. Ease Your Mind is a superb slow funky blues with a very tasty solo. The album closes out with Fa Na Na and is almost Prince-esque in its execution. Superb track. Unfortunately they don’t sound like this anymore as the last album had a bit too much fuzz box for my tastes. Overall, a great album.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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