THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 135 of 491)

DIVING FOR PEARLS – s/t

November 2, 2023 /

This is a very classy and well-produced AOR masterpiece, recorded and put out in ’89. At the time the relevant music press were falling over themselves to heap praise on Diving For Pearls and comparing them to Journey. Yet, for all the good vibes they were getting it didn’t translate into sales, and other than their second album that didn’t come out till 2005, that was it for the band.

The lead off single Gimme Your Good Lovin’ did quite well in the US, reaching #50 in the Billboard chart and is probably the best thing the band put out. It’s a killer tune and my personal favourite from the album. Other notable tracks are Never On Monday where the band up the tempo somewhat to deliver a melodic gem; You’re All I Know which is a very similar tune but with a hook and chorus to die for; Keep Your Love Alive which reminds me of It Bites with a great pop/rock groove; and lastly, the killer album closer The Girl Can’t Stop It.

Hats off to David Prater for a crystal clear production that really brings out the best in the music. Great band that should have done so much more.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

DANGEROUS TOYS – s/t

October 30, 2023 /

When I heard that vocalist Jason McMaster had left Watchtower to hook up with these guys I was a bit confused, as you can’t get much further apart in musical terms than those two bands. However, it all makes sense when you play this record as his voice fits like a glove and this album actually sold really well and was certified gold.

The two singles open up the album: Teas’m Pleas’m and Scared. This was a really good call as they are the most commercial tracks. Scared is a great tune and my favourite on the album.

It’s the deeper cuts that do it for me though. Bones In The Gutter has a crazy little groove and nice riff. Take Me Drunk is funky as hell and the hook and chorus are awesome. Outlaw has a crazy opening riff and a cool middle section.

Dangerous Toys are not your typical sleaze band and there’s a lot going on here if you give it time.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

SVEN GALI – s/t

October 28, 2023 /

Sven Gali are a great early 90’s Canadian melodic rock band that came around just a little too late. Even though they had a tougher edge to their sound to reflect what has happening at the time, they weren’t around too long.

Under The Influence rips open the album with a riff to die for. Man, what a killer groove to introduce yourself with and yep, it’s my favourite track. Tie Died Skies follows and the groove is way more 90’s indie rock, but that melody and hook are never far away. Great tune! Sweet Little Gypsy has Sunset Strip written all over it with a nice and sleazy groove. In My Garden has lots of prime time Alice Cooper vibes, especially the vocal with what is essentially a ballad. Nice funky heavy riffing to Freakz, with a vibe very similar to Skid Row and I love the middle section. Love Don’t Live Here Anymore closes out Side 1 and it’s AOR ballad time. I have to say, it feels way out of place compared to what’s gone before.

Stiff Competition opens up Side 2 and it’s double kicks, four to the floor all the way (I guess they were feeling guilty about that ballad). Real Thing has that glam slam vibe down to a tee. And, what’s that? Another ballad? Yep, Whisper In The Rain is just that. 25 Hours A Day blows the ballad blues away with a fun uptempo party rocker. Nice to see the speedy grooves continue with Here Today Gone Tomorrow with plenty of attitude. Disgusteen ends the album on  a sleazy high. You can’t go wrong with a simple riff and pounding groove.

I haven’t played this in a long while, and I remember it being a lot more glam. They have played a few shows to coincide with this release and hopefully we might get new tunes.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

CJSS – Praise The Loud

October 27, 2023 /

In case you are wondering, CJSS are the initials of the last names of each of the members of the band. I’m sure the only one you will have heard of is band leader and guitar whizz, David T Chastain, unless you are the parents of the other three.

As far as I’m aware, this is the band’s second release (although Mr. Chastain has released a million solo albums) which came out in ’86 and it’s fairly representative of US metal at that time, but with lots of shred in every spare space. There is no doubt Mr. Chastain is a very talented guy who can shred with the best of them. Highlights from the album are the thrash grooves of Don’t Play With Fire with a suitably insane solo, Citizen Of Hell is quite cool as they are trying some odd grooves which are quite ahead of their time, and my personal favourite track is the gloriously over the top Metal Forever. Indeed it is!

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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