THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl community (Page 212 of 493)

WARRANT – Cherry Pie

January 27, 2023 /

So with the release of Warrant’s second album in 1990, the band struck gold mainly due to the title track lighting up the charts and becoming the band’s signature tune. Of course this was also a poison chalice for front man and main songwriter Jani Lane, as he hated the fact that people would recognize him as the “Cherry Pie guy” until the day he died.

Enough of the sadness, let’s celebrate what was probably the last of the great hair rock albums before the grunge bomb hit. Cherry Pie is a killer tune and it opens up the album, but there is so much more goodness hidden in the grooves, like the second track Uncle Toms Cabin, which is my favourite. Great hook and chorus, and Jani’s vocals are superb, what a great song! I Saw Red is the first power ballad on the album, and I have to say I really like it. Mainly due to the vocal and the guitar when the power kicks in. Bed Of Roses has a great hook and melody, and just a hint of what is now known as Americana in the main verse. Sure Feels Good To Me is a kick-ass up tempo rocker that closes out Side 1. A definite feel good Friday night special.

Over to Side 2 we go with Love In Stereo and, boys and girls, I’m pleased to say it’s more of the same. A great sing-a-long hard rockin’ tune with a snappy solo. Blind Faith is the second power ballad and was the fourth single released. Song And Dance Man has its feet in two camps, as its part ballad and part rocker. I love the rocker part as the riff is really cool and the solos are killer. Talking about solos, there were big rumours at the time that the solos were played by hired guns, namely Mike Slamer from Streets.

Next track, You’re The Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised carries on the sing-a-long party anthem vibe of most of the record. Mr. Rainmaker has a a nice riff but it’s Jani’s voice that drives what is otherwise a stock melodic rock tune. A cover of Blackkfoot’s Train Train follows, I love the original with that deep southern groove, and Warrant gave it the LA treatment. The album finally closes out with Ode To Tipper Gore. I get the freedom of speech thing, but just putting a selection of swear words from live shows together is something a 12 year-old would find cool.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

THE ROLLING STONES – Exile On Main Street

January 26, 2023 /

My two favourite Stones albums are this and Sticky Fingers, released one after the other when the band were in a gold period creatively. The main recording for this album took place in a villa in the south of France when the exotic substances were flowing. This is a very sprawling album that feels like every idea they had was put on tape and put out.

I love the loose feel, and the blues (or their take on it) is oozing from every groove. I don’t think the Stones got any better after this. There is a huge southern influence throughout this album after the recording of last album at Muscle Shoals.

Tumbling Dice is an obvious choice for favourite track, but I’m going for Shine A Light as that slight gospel vibe suits the band so well, and I love Mick Taylor’s solo. It’s a shame Mick Taylor didn’t stick around as he was perfect for the band.

This type of album would never get made today, as bands are not given the freedom to explore and create like the bands were in the late sixties, early seventies.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

JOE SATRIANI – What Happens Next

January 26, 2023 /

Being a fan of all things guitar, Joe Satriani has consistently released great records ever since I first became aware of him with Surfing With The Alien. This is Joe’s sixteenth release that came out in 2018. It was recorded as a 3-piece with Chad Smith on drums, and Glenn Hughes on bass. I really love this record, it has such a great groove and the production is superb.

Energy is very identifiable as Joe, but Catbot is just awesome. It has a monster bass line and Chad’s drums give Joe that platform to rip it up. Thunder On The Mountain starts with some experimental sounds and vibes, before the huge big beat arrives.

I’m going to skip to my favourite moments. As well as the already mentioned Catbot, the double kick blast of Headrush with a Peter Green inspired riff is up there, as well as the very funky Looper, which is my favourite piece on the album, and the reggae tinged Invisible.

Joe is a master of his craft and long may he release albums as good as this.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

THUNDER – All The Right Noises

January 25, 2023 /

Thunder are a band that that have been around since ’89. Born out of the ashes of Terraplane, they are a band I haven’t totally got to grips with. They can write some of the best rock tunes out there, but they’ve never released a killer record from beginning to end. I am amazed they never cracked America, their music is tailor-made for that market. Anyhoo, let’s dive in to their thirteenth album.

Just to prove my point, they lead off with Last One Out Turns Out The Lights, a monumental monster of a tune. Superb hook and chorus that will have you singing it for days. Absolute killer track and I’m loving the horns. They follow that with Destruction, a very heavy blues, really slow, and dirty. Great vocal from Danny and the ladies singing bv’s are superb. Sticking to that blues vibe with the acoustic driven Smoking Gun. This is all about Danny’s vocals, which are just superb. Not a bad side of tunes that’s for sure.

Going To Sin City has a huge AC/DC vibe to it, mainly due to the riff and the guitars. Whether that’s intentional or not, you’ll have to make up your own mind. A pounding bass and kick drum announce the arrival of Don’t Forget To Live Before You Die, it has a big Zeppelin vibe in places for sure, especially the big guitar riffs. I’ll Be The One feels a bit like a Bond movie theme tune. Again, a killer vocal from Danny and a superb solo from Mr. Morley. I love the main opening riff to Young Man, a big southern rock feel to this one with a just hint of T.Rex.

Here it is folks, the Faces-style tune that they put on every album. I guess they have a love of that barroom rock n’ roll. It seems that this album is quite nostalgic and patriotic, and sees them harking back to better times. St. George’s Day is all about that, with the undertone of Britain falling apart. Who says hard rock bands don’t have a social conscience? Force Of Nature starts with an acoustic riff that is very familiar indeed. It really comes alive when the power is turned on. Great tune! The album closes out with Millionairess, a tune that feels as though it was born in Muscle Shoals. A very cool Deep South groove.

I think this is one of Thunder’s best efforts, but doesn’t quite make the 10.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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