THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl community (Page 2 of 479)

MR.BIG – Bump Ahead

April 19, 2025 / / 0 Comments

When all melodic rock bands went into hibernation during the lean years of the 90’s, Mr. Big managed to keep it going, mainly due to the big love from Japan. It’s crazy to think that they have just called it quits with the release of their final album 10, and the subsequent farewell tour and live album.

This is the band’s third album, released back in ´93, and if I’m pushed, I would say this is my favourite. Very strong songs coupled with some killer playing makes this a must have album. When you kick off a record with a song as good as Colorado Bullfrog, you know it’s gonna be a good record. Ripping it up big time with a super fast groove and Paul Gilbert is giving it all the beans.

The cover of Free is classic Mr. Big and the inspiration for the band’s name, it is a great choice for a cover and they indeed do it justice. The cover of Wild World was released as a single and it is ok, but it doesn’t do a bunch for me. Yup, there are a couple of covers which I can forgive them for because they do them really well, but it’s the harder edged tracks that that they really shine at.

The Whole World Is Gonna Know is such a great song and Eric’s voice is just so good on this one. Other than the already mentioned Colorado Bullfrog, the track that really scratches that itch is the funky grooves of Temperamental.

Great record played by stellar musicians and a worthy addition to anyone’s collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ARK – Burn The Sun

April 16, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Album number two from this oh so short lived project that I wish would have carried on for much longer. Ark were put together by ex-Conception guitarist Tore Ostby and drummer for hire John Macaluso. They would later recruit the mighty Jorn Lande on vocals and bass whizz Randy Coven on bass. I don’t think Jorn has surpassed the vocal performance he puts in here. Incredible vocals throughout, that perfectly fit the sonic landscapes created by Ostby. And for Ostby, it has to be up there with the best tunes he has created.

I have had this on CD since it was released in 2001, and I still play it regularly as it really is a freaking awesome album. The riffs and grooves are just incredible and the vocal melodies and hooks are on a different level. This album should have made them stars within the genre.

Favourite track? Well, pick any and you would not be disappointed. Today, I will pick the title track. It has a superb riff and groove, and what a powerhouse vocal performance. It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

This is a perfect album and if you like progressive metal then you MUST own this.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

GOTTHARD – The Eyes Of A Tiger

April 15, 2025 / / 0 Comments

If anyone was in any doubt about how good Steve Lee was as a vocalist then they should check out this album, with stripped down versions of some of the band’s best known tunes.  This was put out by the band as a tribute to commemorate the 10 years after the tragic passing of Steve, who was killed in a traffic accident in Nevada. These were the last recordings Steve ever did with the band.

You get 12 stripped down versions of Gotthard classics as well as two versions of Survivor’s Eye Of The Tiger, which was one of Steve’s favourite songs. A very sad but yet uplifting experience listening to this now.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

STEVEN WILSON – The Overview

April 15, 2025 / / 0 Comments

There was a time when the announcement of a new Steven Wilson album would have had me drooling in anticipation. Let’s face it, he has produced two of the best Prog albums ever made. The Raven That Refused To Sing and Hand Cannot Erase are masterpieces of the art. Raven was an album in the classic Prog mode, played with superb musicians and beautifully crafted songs. HCE has to be the ultimate concept album, what an amazing musical journey. To The Bone had its moments, I initially got The Future Bites with is electro pop leanings but I can honestly say I don’t play it at all, and I have grown to dislike Harmony Codex. So, when I read the advance comments of how he had returned to a more proggy outlook with the Overview and it contained only two tracks, my interest was piqued.

I’m reviewing this after listening to it many times and I have to say, sonically it is outstanding and the only way to hear this is in surround sound as it was created to be heard this way for maximum effect. There are references from the past that you will pick up on. The vocal harmonies remind me of early Yes, King Crimson, Floyd, and Tangerine Dream.

I love the way SW puts climbing highs into his music where the musical journey lifts and drops you all leading to a crescendo, but there is none of that here I’m afraid. Sure, there are loud bits that differ from the quiet bits but it’s seemingly all on one level, if that makes sense.

The Wilson acolytes are drooling all over this without being subjective. Yes, it sounds incredible, but sounding incredible and being a great piece of music are two different things. It’s better than the previous two for sure, but it’s nowhere near the first five. For a point of reference, I have been a fan since Porcupine Tree’s Sygnify and have seen him many times, and I guess there comes a time when you just don’t connect anymore.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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