THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 251 of 491)

ALICE COOPER – Schools Out

September 17, 2022 /

It’s hard to describe what an impact the single Schools Out had on a young boy who was just about to turn thirteen. “Schools Out Forever,” “Schools Been Blown To Pieces”. To me, who hated school at the time, this was music to my ears. Yes please, I’ll have some of that! That simple riff with Cooper’s sinister imagery – I was all in.

Unfortunately, the rest of the album does not have the impact of that track. The only other song other that grabs me is Gutter Cat Vs The Jets, with its obvious reference to a certain film. There is still a lot of the LA scene art rock vibes about on the rest of the album that I am not a fan of. Check out Blue Turk, they so are desperately trying to be The Doors. To me Billion Dollar Babies is a far superior record but that one track did all the business and put Alice Cooper firmly on the rock map.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

STEVE VAI – Inviolate

September 16, 2022 /

This is the first Steve Vai album I have heard in a while. I sort of just put him to one side as I thought he was getting a bit out there. I first heard of Steve when he was in Zappa’s band, then when he joined Dave Lee Roth’s band that’s when he really exploded and everyone paid attention. This is Steve’s tenth studio album out of 38, which doesn’t seem a lot but he has done a ton of collaborations. If you’re expecting a full shred fest metal monster then look elsewhere. This is not that type of album, although there are a couple of tunes that groove hard. This is a fantastic record full of great vibes and grooves with Steve really showing how deep his sonic pallet is.

Teeth Of The Hydra is a huge opening number with a very atmospheric vibe, and at times a feeling of fusion with so much killer playing. Zeus In Chains has a more familiar groove with some superb quirky moments and you definitely know it’s Steve as no one plays like that. Little Pretty has a killer funky groove. Man this is such a good track! Candlepower is the one track that I would say is out there!!! Incredible playing!!! Apollo In Color is just nuts as it doesn’t have a recognizable groove for you to grab on to, it changes constantly. Avalancha is my favourite track on the album. The riff is deep and mean with a killer beat and groove, and it’s so many notes from Steve. Greenish Blues gives away the vibe of this track but it’s done in a way that only Steve could do. Knappsack starts with a real burst of energy with drum beats flailing but settles back to some outrageous guitar. The album closes out with Sandman Cloud Mist and it’s just all guitar. I mean what a player!!!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

TED NUGENT – Intensities In Ten Cities

September 16, 2022 /

After this album I sort of checked out of Ted Nugent, as the craziness and comments were getting too much, plus the music started to go downhill when he changed his style and moved away from the raw rock n’ roll. This was sort of album number eight for Uncle Ted, as technically it’s a live album but full of all new songs that were recorded on various nights on his 1980 tour. It was really hard to capture what Ted did live on record, as his studio albums never quite captured that raw live sound. This album comes close to doing that. This is number three in my fave Ted records.

Put Up Or Shut Up kicks things off and this is classic Ted, an over the top rock n’ roll song. Spontaneous Combustion is the the first song that doesn’t do it for me on the record, it’s just ok. My Love Is Like A Tire Iron is a great tongue-in-cheek kick ass tune, and I love the Motown-style harmony vocals. Jailbait follows and despite the dodgy subject matter, this is the closest this album gets to a single. The second poor song on the album is I Am A Predator. It just sounds as though it was knocked up in soundcheck. Heads Will Roll is a killer Ted tune, very upbeat and loads of guitar – just raw rock n’ roll. The Flying Lip Lock is just a high octane boogie woombie turned up to eleven. Not a bad cover of Wilson Picketts’ Land Of A Thousand Dances just to get the crowd involved. There is even an instrumental called TNT Overture, which seems strange to do when introducing new songs to an audience. Take No Prisoners closes out the album and it’s where we came in with an old school Nugent romp.  

8/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM THEATER – Train Of Thought

September 15, 2022 /

Album number seven sees the band continuing with, and increasing, the heaviness and taking the band in that more metal direction, but still having those trademark hooks and harmonies. It’s hard to believe it’s nearly twenty years since the release of this monster. I clearly remember being at Manchester for the first night. I love this album in all of its magnificence. D-tuned riffage and killer grooves and songs make this one of my favourite DT albums.

What a freaking opening with As I Am. It has a massive massive riff and it doesn’t get any better than that kiddies. Well actually, the opening to This Dying Soul is equally as awesome and huge. Portnoy is really pounding at the kit. If this doesn’t get the goosebumps up on your arms nothing will. Endless Sacrifice starts with this big power ballad that builds into this huge monster tune. The Honour Thy Father intro is just insane, what a killer riff with that odd time groove from Portnoy. Vacant is one of those slow mood pieces that La Brie is so good at with that breathy style he has. The album closes with two massive numbers. Stream Of Consciousness and In The Name Of God, which is such a poignant tune with the state of the world today. My favourite on this album changes but today it’s This Dying Soul. At this point they could do no wrong.

10/10  from The Grooveman.

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