Tag: roxy blue

Released in ’92, right in the middle of grungeorama, this album disappeared without a trace. In fact, Roxy Blue split up just after its release.

I say this way too often, but if this was released five years earlier things would have been a whole lot different. I appreciate that they managed to get a deal with Geffen who put this out, but what was the game plan for these guys? It doesn’t make a whole bunch of sense to me but a lot of bands got the one and you’re done deal at that time.

Roxy Blue are from Nashville and you can hear that little bit of country in the songs, but overall this is one kick ass rockin’ album. A great one two punch to open the album with Too Hot To Handle and Sister Sister, both killer made for radio rock anthems. Times Are Changin’ is very “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” but with more balls. It’s So Easy is my favourite song. It’s got a killer riff with that Guns N’ Roses swagger, and a hint of funk.

They have taken influences from all their peers of the time I guess, as Rob The Cradle has huge Van Halen vibes right from the guitar solo intro. That country vibe I mentioned comes right to the front with their cover of The Who’s Squeez Box. Talk Of The Town was a close second for favourite tune as the GnR vibes and killer groove really shakes my tree. Rock A Bye Bye is pedal to the metal full on sleaze o rama. Great tune!

Luv On Me would have made a great single if anybody would have bothered. The one true ballad on the album is Nobody Knows, and I’ll let them have that one. Back to the rock with Loves Got A Hold On Me. The title screams ballad but nope, this is a four to floor rocker with a killer busy riff and groove. The album closes out with Main Attraction, another track with heavy GnR vibes and it grooves along at a great pace.

So, there we have it, a great band with a great record that because of the time it was released and all the journos trying to be hip and following the grunge train, it just disappeared from sight.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Another resurrected band from those dark days of the early 90’s. They put out Want Some on Geffen in ’92, then nothing until 2013 when they put out two self financed CD’s, and then nothing again until this appeared on Frontiers in 2019. This is a new Church Of Vinyl reissue that came out early in ’23. They come across as a raw version of GnR mixed with Ratt and early Aerosmith.

Silver Lining is a stripped down almost barroom rocker but Rockstar Junkie is a kickass rock n’ roller that should have opened up the album. Scream keeps the grooves a comin’ with a near funky riff and groove, and a killer hook and chorus. Collide strips things down to acoustic guitars and ballad city. Nice hook and chorus and play out solo. Outta The Blue closes out Side 2 and that descending riff is cool, otherwise it’s straight up sunset strip.

Todd Poole can sure write a good tune and Side 2 opener Blinders has a cool Americana vibe. It’s favourite track time with The Well Runs Dry. A simple crunchy riff, a pounding groove, a simple football chant and we a have a winner. Human Race has a very nineties raw sound that reminds me a little of Alice In Chains. How Does It Feel is about as basic as it comes. A simple muted riff, a simple beat, and bare vocal with harmonies makes this quite an emotive little tune. Back to the crunch with What It’s Like. A killer riff that I’m sure I’ve heard before is the bedrock of this beauty. We close out the  album with Overdrive, a low-fi sounding punkish tune that puts a bit of a downer on what is otherwise an enjoyable album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.