THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 229 of 491)

KILLING JOKE – What’s This For…!

December 6, 2022 /

This is the Killing Joke’s second album, released back in ’81. I remember Sounds magazine giving it a 5 star review at the time and thinking, “what the hell were they were smoking?” Of course, I was in full on metal mode at the time and it wasn’t until a few years later that I discovered what a superb influential band they were.

The grooves and rhythms they used were completely unique at the time and have been much copied since. Listen to Tension, with that pounding tribal drum groove and a simple distorted guitar, so many bands since have used that and still do. Follow The Leaders was the big song from this album, again with that super loud drum blast, distorted guitar, and a pulsing synth that is very reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder. Lots of styles clashing together here. My favourite though is Butcher, which when you listen to it now you wonder if Trent Reznor took this as inspiration. They have released better albums since but this was a very pivotal record for its time.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KINGS X – Ear Candy

December 5, 2022 /

I’m a huge fan of the X and I have said it numerous times, their first five albums are cast in stone and cannot be touched. Each one is a gem and treasure trove of delights. However, after the split with Sam Taylor the band’s sound changed as they strived to get their own identity. This album is a lot more chill and quite psychedelic in places.

Opener, The Train, has a Ty lead vocal and that Beatles Sgt. Pepper vibe. Thinking And Wondering follows and it is one of their songs that just makes you want to melt. The vocal harmonies are just incredible with that hint of melancholy, it’s basically just an acoustic piece. It sometime feels as though it’s a jam with a very loose groove and production, but those vocal harmonies just get you and I love the riff. A Box has a slow groove with that patented X guitar sound, but again it’s the vocal that gives you all the feels. Looking For Love has the vibe and groove of early Kings X. It’s my favourite track, with its a killer riff, very heavy groove, and superb hook and chorus. Mississippi Moon has Ty singing and the vibe is very psyche with those big jangly guitars. 67 has very slow, deep, and heavy groove, and Doug’s vocals are so cool.

Lies In The Sand  a is real slow tune with a Ty vocal that reminds you so much of The Beatles. Run follows with an odd drum groove, and some real heavy guitar. Fathers again has a real slow groove with lists of jangly guitars and multi layered vocals. American Cheese sounds like something off any latter Beatles album. Picture has a very similar intro to Goldilocks, one of their all time classic tracks, but it reverts to a more pedestrian vibe. Life Going By closes out the album and it’s back to how we came in, with Ty taking the lead vocal with a deep psyche groove. By anyone’s standards it’s a good album, but Kings X don’t make good albums, they make great albums and I would put this at #6 in the list.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

RIOT – Restless Breed

December 5, 2022 /

The first three Riot albums are all killer records, and Fire Down Under is their best. They were just beginning to gain some traction with the release of Fire Down Under when vocalist Guy Speranza decided to leave the music biz altogether and become a rat catcher. His replacement Rhett Forrester first record for the band is this album. He’s a completely different style of vocalist to Speranza. Forrester has a much more gravelly tone to his voice and the music changed to fit his style. Consequently this record sounds like a completely different band.

If, like me, you loved the Speranza sound then this album was initially a disappointment, as it felt like a backward step and has a very 70’s sound. I have come to accept it more over the years and it does have some great songs, the best of which and my favourite is Loanshark. It has that classic Riot sound, as does the final track Violent Crimes. A very apt title as Forrester would be shot dead in an attempted carjacking.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

GENESIS – The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

December 3, 2022 /

This is the last album to feature Peter Gabriel, and the one most fans think is their finest hour. I’ve always liked Nursery Cryme more, as it was the first Genesis album I heard. As in true prog tradition, this is a concept album with songs in multiple parts going on for days. Just a little humour there. It’s a fact that all the imagery and theatrical elements left when Gabriel did, and over time they bore no resemblance to the band that recorded this album.

Chart positions were at the bottom of the list of priorities here, but I do remember The Carpet Crawlers being a released as a single, although I’m not sure how well it did. Very hard to pick a favourite out of what is basically a whole piece of music, but the opening title track is the obvious choice. You have to listen to this as a whole thing to appreciate it, and it’s a piece of work for sure. I’m not sure Genesis will ever record again and definitely nothing like this.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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