THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 136 of 491)

ELECTRIC BOYS – Grand Explosivos

October 26, 2023 /

A 2023 release for Sweden’s kings of funky rock n’ roll, it is their ninth album. I’m so pleased they came back after nearly twenty years of inactivity with 2011’s “And Them Boys Done Swang.” They are one of those bands that flick all my switches.

I’m a huge fan of all things funky, especially when it’s rocked up and this album has grooves and vibes a plenty. We open up with When Life Treats You Funky, and boy we have hit the the spot immediately. A killer, funky, rockin’ groove with a hook and chorus that’s so infectious, this sneaks it as my favourite tune. Better Safe Than Sober slides straight in with a big swaggering riff, telling a tale about the demon drink. Ladies and germs we are on a roll.

I’ve Got A Feelin’ is a fun pop rock masterpiece. We get back to the funky grooves with And The Band Played On 1, with just a hint of country (you could see Govt Mule doing something like this). Side 1 closes out with Domestic Blitz, an uptempo sleazey groover.

Side 2 opens up with the down and dirty funky groove of Karma’s Gonna Get You, and this really swings. Missed Her By A Minute is a mix of acoustic and power pop that would make a great radio tune. A switch back to sleazy rock n’ roll vibes is next with Learjet, this song would do the Sunset Strip wannabes proud. Cozmic Jagger is a short, fun, funky romp with the main tag line repeating.

The Great Believer is up next and this is a close second for my favourite tune. A whole bunch of fun wrapped up in a simple riff and funky groove. The record closes out with And The Band Played On 2, which is an instrumental reprise of the Side 1 tune.

As usual, this is a highly entertaining album from The Boys.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Haken – Fauna

October 25, 2023 /

This is album number seven for one of the Uk’s finest prog/metal bands who never fail to deliver. For some bands, you find yourself skipping tracks when playing their album, but I never do that with Haken. There is not a dull wasted moment in any of their releases, and this very well could be their best yet.

Taurus gets things moving nicely with their trademark down and deep riffage as well as beautiful vocals and melodies. Nightingale is one of may favourite tunes of the year. It has some old school Prog vibes welded to modern heaviness that twists and changes like a chameleon throughout the song. Epic stuff! The Alphabet Of Me follows and starts with a pop vibe and vocal which changes quickly into a world music/funk groove that Peter Gabriel would be proud of, before the crunch takes over. All of that is in the first minute and thirty seconds of the song. There are enough ideas on this album that would keep more mere mortal bands in supply for albums.

Sempiternal Beings is a thing of joy. It had a beautiful first section, then a wicked groove is added and then the guitars, building layers is the key to this song. Beneath The White Rainbow is my favourite track. An epic odd time riffage opens up the piece, then a melancholic vocal is added before maximum crunch returns. I love the groove and swing to this one. The bass and groove to Islands In The Clouds is a delight, just like the whole record.

Lovebite has a phrenetic beginning that slips right into a smooth jazz/pop section before the heavy returns. Elephants Never Forget reminds me a tad of Queen with its majestic intro before entering into Zappaville. It is one of the more epic tracks on the album. We close out the album with Eyes Of Ebony, probably the most chill tune on the album and if I was the one to pick a single off the record, then this would be it. It is a huge sprawling masterpiece that takes you on a ride through varying musical styles.

A superb record.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD – Life Is But Dream

October 24, 2023 /

Avenged Sevenfold are a band that seemingly aren’t afraid to challenge their fans. I was very intrigued when I read about them releasing a “Prog” album. I’m all for bands pushing the boundaries of what is expected of them, so this had my name written all over it.

They don’t waste any time in getting into the Prog with opener Game Over. A mix of light and shade for sure. I love the clean sound interspersed with maximum crunch. M Shadow’s vocals are a revelation. It’s almost show tunes Broadway time with this one. Mattel takes this vibe further and I have to say I love it, very dramatic! Nobody starts with a very heavy, doomy, electronic vibe and the multi layered vocal harmonies are superb.

There is not a lot that’s straightforward about this record and We Love You is super twisted. It has a very metal double kick intro that flows into max riffage, then a quick change to electronica, all with different grooves. Cosmic is as close as we get to a ballad here and the solo before the heavier groove kicks in is superb. Killer Alice In Chains groove to the opening of Beautiful Morning, and I have to say this is my favourite. It has the right amount of evil mixed with the beauty of that vocal line.

Easier is slightly more straightforward with the riffing and grooves. Again, the solo is so melodic and cool. G opens up Side 4 and it’s like we have walked in on a Zappa session. Killer tune! Ordinary is a change from anything so far with its pop groove and harmonizer vocals. Dreams is next up and fifties crooner springs into my mind. The album plays out with the title track, which is a sole piano.

Well done Avenged Sevenfold for doing something so left field, and delivering an album that you have to play all the way through.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

THE DARKNESS – Permission To Land

October 23, 2023 /

There are times whilst going through my collection that I pull certain albums to review and I instantly feel old. Permission To Land is one of those as it has been twenty years since its release. I clearly remember the band’s appearance on Jools Holland where Justin is ripping the solo to I Beleive In A Thing Called on top of Jools’ piano. You just didn’t see hard rock bands ripping it up on mainstream TV at the time. It’s good old down and dirty hard rock, but with a singer who hits notes so high you’d think his nuts were  being squeezed in a vice.

This is still a fun record to listen to, and is guaranteed to lift you spirits when you are feeling a bit low. Black Shuck rips the dust off straight away with the AC/DC inspired riffage and groove. Get Your Hands Off My Woman is the obvious companion tune to “Believe” as it has the same feel. I Beleive In A Thing Called Love is such a monster tune it would be amiss of me not to pick it as my favourite tune. One of the deeper cuts that you don’t hear people mention too often is Givin’ Up. A simple, big chord DC stomp that doesn’t fail to get a that toe a tappin’.

It’s nice to listen to records that are just fun and happy.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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