THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 124 of 491)

GRAND PRIX – There For None To See

November 27, 2023 /

Grand Prix are probably more famous for who has been in the band than for the albums they put out. Bernie Shaw was the original vocalist who went on to join Uriah Heep, keyboard player Phil Lanzon would also join Uriah Heep, and this album’s vocalist Robin McAuley would later join up with Michael Schenker. While most of Britains rock bands were all getting caught up with NWOBHM and getting heavier, Grand Prix were still in that late 70’s rock groove swimming against the tide.

Every song feels like they are trying to do the big show stopper centrepiece number. Check out Paradise and Keep On Believing. These are songs that bands like Kansas and Styx were coming out with at the time. My favourite on the album is the close out track Relay. A more concise and straight to the point type of song, but still with buckets of melody and more of an uptempo groove.

I haven’t heard this in ages, and I was pleasantly surprised how good it was.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

GRANICUS – S/T

November 27, 2023 /

A classic one and they’re gone band. Formed way back in ’69 in Cleveland after slogging around on the club circuit they were signed by RCA, and this their only album that was released in ’73. I am aware that there was a bits and pieces left over album, and an attempt at another album in the toonie,s but this was the band’s only shot at the big time.

It’s very of it’s time and reminds me a lot of Captain Beyond. I think psychedelic Prog would fit the band perfectly, although they do tend to veer into jam band country at times. I’m going for the song Cleveland Ohio as my favourite tune. I really like the busy uptempo groove and the wild guitar. If they had maybe stuck more with this vibe, then who knows.

I know there are collectors for the whole Cleveland scene, and this is a cool part of that.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

ANIMALS AS LEADERS – Parrhesia

November 27, 2023 /

Animals As Leaders are definitely one of the most adventurous and successful of bands that operate within the Prog metal genre. I love a good instrumental band and AAL are pretty high on my list of favourites. The technical chops that these guys possess leaves me in awe at some of the grooves they generate. Tosin is one of the most inventive guitar players out there, with his leads and rhythms.

The song Monomyth is freaking intense with that staccato rhythm thing Tosin does at the intro and at varying points throughout the track, and how Matt Garstka creates those intense drum grooves is mind blowing. I have two favourite pieces on the album: Red Miso and Gordian Naught. Both are incredible adventures in groove and insane playing that both blow my mind.

I know it’s not for everyone, but for those of you who like to jump out of your comfort zone occasionally, dive into this one.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

BOSTON – Third Stage

November 23, 2023 /

Boston made one of the best albums ever with their first album that came out way back in ’76. With that, it was always going to be tough with whatever they put out afterwards. Don’t Look Back was a great follow up, but all the reviews said it wasn’t as good as their first. It took another eight years for Third Stage to see the light of day and yep, it was still compared to the debut.

First up, I will say the production is stellar. Super clear and very loud, and Tim Scholz’s guitar sound is epic. There are some really good songs on here. Amanda, which opens the album is such a good power ballad with the emphasis on the power, it sounds huge. My favourite is Cool The Engines. Killer guitar sound and the middle section is awesome.

My criticism is that there are too many slow songs and not enough tunes that rock. Even though the sound is stellar, it can’t hide the weakness of some of the songs.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

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