Tag: tangier

This is album number two from this Philly based rock band, and it was released back in ’89. This is another band I thought would have done a lot better than they did. Whether it was the four year gap between first and second albums who knows, but I will say they deserved to be a lot bigger as they sure know how to write killer tunes.

Opener Ripcord is kick ass. A superb swing to the groove, and the hook and melody are to die for. Mississippi follows and that slow, slight funk vibe is killer, plus the production by Andy Johns is superb, it brings out all the dynamics of the music. Definitely my favourite track. Love the guitar intro to On The Line. A more laid back vibe, but the hook and chorus are huge. Another slow intro to In Time before, a very simple but effective chord progression drives the song along. The hook and chorus have that Southern feel to them. Side 1 closes out with the title track Four Winds. Another track with the southern country vibe, mainly due to the slide in background.

Side 2 opens up with Fever For Gold and I’ve just twigged that Bill Mattson’s vocals remind me of Ricky Medlocke, another reason why those southern vibes are present. Southbound Train is a super slick aor melodic rocker with quite a slow main groove. The tempo is increased somewhat for Sweet Surrender, a four to the floor Friday night special. Bad Girl could be a Skynyrd tune as the vibe and feel are that close. The album closes out with Good Lovin’ a very classy melodic rocker with a great groove, and you’ll be humming the hook and chorus all day.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This is Tangier’s third and final album, released in ’91. Hailing from the rock and roll capital of the world, Philadelphia (well not really), they suffered as did all the bands of time by the great grunge unpleasantness.

A kick-ass band, especially live, they open this opus up with Down The Line: a ripping hard rocking beast with some killer slide guitar, and this one sneaks it as my favourite. I love that slow pounding, slight funky groove to Caution To The Wind. The hook and chorus are huge, as is the production, which is stellar. I think we all know I like riff and a nice fat guitar, and they don’t let me down with You’re Not The Lovin’ Kind. There is a big old school Whitesnake vibe to this one. Since You’ve Been Gone feels like an old rock n’ roll sweetheart love me do tune. Takes Just A Little Time has a huge southern vibe with that slide “geetar.”

Excited gets Side 2 under way, and that riff and piano screams Nashville. Well, at least a blues bar in Nashville. Back In The Limelight kicks off with a great guitar break, these guys can write a great hook and melody. Sure, it’s nothing new and they are recycling riffs, but doesn’t everyone? It’s ballad time with the single Stranded, and this is where I switch off as this could be a song by any number of bands because it’s just a generic stock sound. It’s double entendres time next with Its Hard. Sorry to disappoint, but it’s just a good old Friday night party tune. The album closes out with If Ya Can’t Find Love – very reminiscent of Aerosmith around the Permanent Vacation period.

Good record with an epic production.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.