THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl community (Page 210 of 493)

RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS – Mothers Milk

February 1, 2023 /

Now, I love the chaotic-funky-groove-beast Chillis, and I am somewhat turned off by the polished article they are today. Uplift Mofo Party Plan was a great record, and was totally one nation under a groove. So when guitarist Hillel Slovak died suddenly of an overdose, I was interested to see who they brought in as his replacement and if the style would be the same. Well, the groove is still there and the songs are more focused, but with the track Knock Me Down and its subsequent success, the future was in view for the band.

This is my favourite album by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and I love every inch of of it. The funk is deep in the DNA of this record, and it would be the last with this vibe all the way through. Good Time Boys opens up the album and it’s classic Chilli’s hard core rockin’ funk. The cover of Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground is one of the best covers of this track I have heard. Killer groove and the metal ending is so cool. Sunday To Venus is a monster of a tune with a ripping funky groove and the horns are just superb, plus what an ending. The band are big fans of basketball and their tribute to Magic Johnson is pure old school chaotic punk funk. It is followed with Nobody Weird Like Me with an almost thrash metal groove, the heaviest the band ever got. Side 1 closes out with Knock Me Down which would be the take off point for the modern Chilli’s sound. You have to wonder if the band believed in the song themselves, as it’s at the end of Side 1 on vinyl and would be right in the middle of the cd. Either way it was a hit.

Side 2 opens up with Taste The Pain, another of the Frusciante tunes with a more modern edge. Stone Cold Bush is a rap, metal, funk crossover, and the groove is intense. Flea’s bass playing is killer and Frusciante lays a ripping lead over the top. A hyped up version of Hendrix’s Fire follows, and that flows into Pretty Little Ditty, a more laid back instrumental piece. Back to the chaos with Punk Rock Classic, a short burst of insanity and it does what it says on the tin. Sexy Mexican Maid slides on in next with a smooth funky groove, and the middle section is so cool. Last track next and it’s definitely my favourite on the album, and possibly my favourite Chilli’s track ever. Johnny Kick A Whole In The Sky – man what a tune. Superb groove and the “wah wah” riff in the verse is killer. That for me is what the Chilli Peppers are all about.

Fantastic album!!!

10/10 from The Grooveman.

DEEP PURPLE – Perfect Strangers

January 31, 2023 /

After having broken up in ’75 and all members going their separate ways with varying degrees of success, it was a huge surprise when it was announced that Purple were reconvening, and with Ritchie Blackmore on guitar. After all the animosity between members, especially Gillan and Blackmore, I was stunned to say the least. One things for sure, it would have to be a killer record.

While it’s not the band’s best, it certainly is a strong record and the lead off track Knocking At Your Back Door is a great way to open with. A very melodic tune with a great hook and chorus, and Ritchie is on fire playing some great licks. Mean Streak is a throw back to old Purple with that heavy shuffle very similar to Strange Kind Of Woman, and yet the main melody is very US radio-friendly. Listening to the intro of the title track with the unmistakable sound of Jon Lords Hammond brings a tear to the eye, knowing he is no longer with us. My favourite track would have to be Gypsy’s Kiss. An old school uptempo Purple romp with Ritchie and Jon trading licks is pure joy.

I know Purple are still a going concern, but we won’t ever hear this sound again.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS – Core

January 31, 2023 /

Stone Temple Pilots are a band often criticized for gate crashing and riding on the coat tails of the whole grunge movement. They were from San Diego so you could aim that at them I guess, but they were never a grunge band, just as Janes Addiction weren’t either. A lot of the press at the time also called them a one song band because of Sex Type Thing.

Now I agree that is a killer track, and one that I love. It has one of those big guitar riffs and a groove you just can’t ignore, but there are other golden nuggets lurking herein. Wicked Garden is my favourite track, as I love everything about it. The band are playing a serious groove and the that subtle guitar tone is monster. Sin starts like a Rush tune before descending into that hypnotic riff and groove. Then there is that simple, yet so effective simple riff and pounding four four to Crackerman. The hook and chorus is just fantastic on that one.

So there we go, the bands best album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

THE DEAD DAISIES – Radiance

January 30, 2023 /

In The Dead Daisies’ short period of existence, its members have come and gone; it’s been a bit like a revolving door. This is the second album to feature the voice of Glenn Hughes on vocals and bass duties. Of course, with someone as recognizable as Glenn on vocals it’s very hard for the band when they record to not sound like a Hughes solo album. The vibe and sound of the band have changed over the last two albums, and that is solely down to Hughes and guitarist Doug Aldrich.

A very heavy blues vibe is the order of the day with that subtle hint of funk. Don’t get me wrong, I love that heavy groove music and this album doesn’t disappoint. Glenn as usual gives it everything, and Aldrich’s playing is awesome. Let’s get to the meat and potatoes, and the high points (it’s nearly all an high point). Shine On with that simple riff and four to the floor groove hits the spot, as does Born To Fly with that huge guitar sound, but it’s the single Radiance that gets my vote as favourite track. Stunning track with a masterclass from Glenn, I love the rhythm and guitar sound.

This may be the best album they have done.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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