THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 151 of 491)

GIANT – Time To Burn

September 12, 2023 /

Another band that suffered big time from the great grunge unpleasantness was Giant. They made two killer melodic rock albums (this being the second) and that was it. Can you believe that? Proof that the music biz was so messed up at that time.

Yes, I am aware there is a version of recording albums for Frontiers but without Dan (The Man) Huff, it’s not Giant I’m afraid. Dan is happy down in Nashville writing, recording, and producing and is doing just fine.

I prefer this album to the first one as this a near perfect melodic rock album. Superb songs, killer production, and some stunning guitar just perfectly in the right places. My favourite track is Chained. This tune has everything that makes the band so good. First of all, it’s a beast of a tune, the melody is off the charts, those harmony vocals are superb, and the guitar playing is just incredible. I mean, what more do you want? A close second is Side 2 opener Smoulder. I just love the groove and vibe to this one, and Sir Dan of Huff really rips on this one.

Superb production from Terry Thomas makes this album really come alive, and it’s one I play often. You should definitely have this album in your collection.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

KING DIAMOND – Fatal Portrait

September 11, 2023 /

This is the first album by King Diamond after the initial demise of Mercyful Fate. It was released in ’86. Strangely, for the kingly one this is not a concept album. Although Andy De LaRoque plays on the album, he doesn’t contribute to writing as he was a last minute replacement.

Just has some people struggle with the Cookie Monster vocals in a lot of today’s metal bands, a lot of people back in the day couldn’t quite get thier head around the falsetto squeals of King Billy. Personally, it doesn’t bother me that much as long as the music is good, and for the most part this album does indeed rock.

Favourite tune is The Portrait which is a reference to Dorian Gray, and the music is Prog metal before it was a thing and Mr. LaRoque riffs and plays like a beast. Other tunes of note are Charon which opens up Side 2 with some killer riffage and a pounding groove from Mickey Dee; and Lurking In The Dark where again, the axe playing of Mr. LaRoque is seriously good.

Of course, after this we all King D would go onto better things. Not a bad album though.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

VAMP – The Rich Don’t Rock

September 11, 2023 /

I think you can write on the back of a postage stamp what I know about these guys. They were formed in Germany in ’85 and released this (their only album) in ’89.

Their style of music is typical of all the hair bands around at the end of the eighties, and I was drawn in by the track Heartbreak, Heartache. A fun, good old, sing along party anthem with a great guitar sound and groove. I mean, somebody at Atlantic believed in them as they brought in the great Tony Platt to produce them.

Other than the aforementioned Heartbreak, Heartache there is Side 2 opener All Nite, which is my favourite track on the album. It’s an uptempo rocker that reminds me of prime time WASP, it even has a drum solo. They are definitely are at their best when they rock it up. Stand By Me is another tune that grabs the attention with a great intro and the Scorpions vibes are strong.

Is this a bad album? No! Is it a great album? No! It sits somewhere in between and lacks that one killer tune to set it alight.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

MARK LETTIERI – Deep: The Barritone Sessions Vol 2

September 9, 2023 /

I’m not sure how many of you are up on your modern instrumental jazz/funk, but Mark Lettieri is the man. I’m sure a lot of you are familiar with Snarky Puppy and their universe of musicians. I first noticed Mark while he was playing guitar with them. This is album number six out of seven as a solo artist, although he has released albums as a guest as well as a member of The Fearless Flyers. The Barritone Sessions I’m assuming is the use of said guitars, and the low end sounds and grooves that instrument producers.

It’s worth the price of the album alone for the first two tracks Red Dwarf and Magnetar. The heavy funk grooves of these two tunes are just freakin’ awesome. Mark is not a wham bam, widdley diddly distortion, 1000 notes a second guy, lots of clean tones and cool little runs and riffs with plenty of attention to the dynamics of the piece. Pulsar even has hints of reggae mixed in with the funk, and that solo is killer. The production is top drawer giving everything a chance to breathe and is not overpowering. Tidal Tail slows the groove down a little with a more 70’s feel, but man these cats can sure play and I defy anyone not to groove to these sounds. Side 1 closes out with Voyager 1, the groove slowing right down but still mean and nasty.

Side 2 opens up with the funk rock shuffle of Star Catchers. With no other than Mr. Steve Lukather guesting on guitar, and those horns are just killer. The middle section with the solo, change of beat, and groove is just wonderful. Blue Straggler is up next and the groove is so good and yet different with that slide guitar, I’m guessing is the blue straggler. The groove change near the end is just killer. Nebulae is up next and the funk is given a subtle hint of the Caribbean, but that main riff and groove are superb and that guitar tone is really cool. Supernova starts really slow and eerie and then that main riff and groove dive in. Superb middle section where the groove is dialled up and the tones get really heavy, and one moment of guitar hero. The record closes out with Sublight, a cool acoustic piece with a nice shuffle on the brushes as accompaniment.

Everyone needs some groove in their soul, especially when it’s done so well. This is another everyone should own album. Oh, and my favourite track is Magnetar.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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