THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl community (Page 11 of 493)

HAREM SCAREM – Chasing Euphoria

May 21, 2025 /

Harem Scarem are definitely one of those bands that shoulda, coulda, woulda. Mood Swings and Voice Of Reason are two of my favourite melodic rock records. Mood Swings is a genre defining record, and when you consider that it came out in ´93 you can understand why no one outside of the melodic rock community heard it.

Fast forward to 2025 and here we have a new album comprised of ten songs, with the majority around the 3.30 mark in length, keeping them short and snappy in pop song territory. As you would expect, every song has a massive hook and chorus with vocal harmonies a plenty, but the album does seem to lack in the variety department and you do wonder if they are just giving “them” what they want here.

The song that shakes my tree the most is ironically the only one Harry does not sing lead vocal on, and that’s Gotta Keep Your Head On where Darren Smith takes the lead instead. It’s a great song with a nice riff and groove from Pete. They don’t make bad records and if you love the big hook and chorus then you will be like a pig in the mud.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SWEETHARD – S/T

May 21, 2025 /

This is the only album by Sweethard. It was released back in ´85 but by ´86 they were dust in the wind. Sounding like a metal band but with an image more akin to a bargain basement glam band on their first visit to Sephora, it’s actually not a bad record. Maybe if they had gone with the denim and leather approach they would have fared a little better, or if they didn’t put Mary Beat Me Blue on the record.
Although musically it’s not too bad a track, it’s the lyrics that are cheese ball central.

Anyhoo, my favourite tune is Way Out Of Hell but with the chugga crunch of Goodbye in a close second. There were a million bands like this in the mid eighties and you had to have something a bit special to get noticed and unfortunately, it’s something Sweethard did not possess. It’s still a fun listen though.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

JET RED – S/T

May 19, 2025 /

Another band and album to be filed away in the “nearly but not quite” category.

This album came out in ´89 through Relativity in the US and they did near enough nothing to promote the band. Shame, as this is a hidden gem in the world of melodic rock and AOR.

When the first track Bad As Heaven kicks in, it’s those Van Halen references that blow me away. Killer riff with matching grove and the lead playing is top drawer. There are a couple of ballads which they do well, but it’s the up tempo babies that flick my switch. My favourite tune is album close out track From The Skies. Superb rock/funk groove and the vocal harmonies are awesome.

I know this was reissued on CD about ten years ago, but if you can pick up a vinyl copy then do it, you won’t be disappointed. Great melodic rock!

8/10 from The Grooveman.

HEAVEN – Bent

May 19, 2025 /

So, depending on where you are in the world, the title of this record is either Twilight Of Mischief or (what my copy is called) Bent.

It’s quite easy to write these guys off as mere AC/DC soundalikes because the the riffs and sound are very familiar, but Rose Tattoo are also in the mix as guitarist Mick Cocks was in both bands and that slide playing is instantly recognizable. What gives them their own identity however is vocalist Allan Fryer, who has more of a melodic hard rock tone to his voice, and when it comes to the hooks and chorus he gives the band its own identity.

There were two singles that were released from this album, Fantasy (which is my favourite tune) and In The Beginning. It’s a good old tap your toe rock n’ roll with no nonsense riffs and groove, and sometimes that’s all I need.

7.5/10

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