THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 268 of 491)

TIN MACHINE – s/t

July 19, 2022 /

Apparently Bowie put this band together to play the type of music he enjoyed listening to, and he said it revitalized his career. This album and the band were all about Reeves Gabrels, who I was totally unaware of before this and he is the star of the Tin Machine project.

Heavens In Here is a wickedly grooved up blues romp, with Reeves ripping it up, and Bowie just being Bowie; this is by far my favourite track on the album The title track is just a very weird sounding rockabilly romp. Prisoner of Love is more like a tune from Bowie’s Ziggy era. They obviously all like Velvet Underground, as this is very Lou Reed. I Can’t Read is a bit of a mess sonically, and they are just trying to be weird. Under The God is an old school rock n’ roll riff, with a punk rock vibe. Amazing has a very west coast vibe mixed with Bowie’s Low period. Working Class Hero flows, and is that Bowie being autobiographical? Bus Stop sees the return of Bowie’s flirtation with R’n’B beats, with a punk vibe. Pretty Thing I just don’t like, as it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. Video Crimes is all weird noises and attitude. Baby Can Dance closes out the album, and it’s a bit of a mess. Tin Machine 2 is a much better album, and is way ahead of this record.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

JOE BONAMASSA – Redemption

July 18, 2022 /

I’m amazed at how Joe keeps it fresh, as he seems to churn out albums every week. Whether it be solo records or collaborations, and even side projects, there is so much with JoBo on it out there.

This album was put out in 2018, and has the full ensemble, with female backing singers, and horn section. All original compositions this time, and no covers. Evil Mama has Joe’s patented blues rock groove, and this is a really great track. King Bee Shakedown is more of a traditional fast blues shuffle, and sounds epic with the full band – almost a big band vibe. This sets the tone for the whole record: a mixture of modern blues rock groovers and more traditional sounding pieces, even a jug band sounding tune with Pick Up The Pieces. Joe has a love of country, and that shows through on the Ghost Of Macon Jones. My favourite track is the opening tune, Evil Mama. It’s one of the best things he’s done. From the Zeppelin drum fill at the beginning, this track has such a killer groove. Great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

CROBOT – Feel This

July 18, 2022 /

This is the Grooveman’s 900th Review!!!

Well, it does say on the hype sticker “Dirty Groove Rock”, and you can’t really argue with that. They seem to get better with every release, and this is one hell of a record. Groove has been missing from rock albums of late, and it’s great to see young bands bringing it back.

Electrified gets things under way and boom what a great track, plenty of groove and riffage, with a killer vocal. Dizzy which is my favourite track on the album, it’s a real heavy groover with a monster riff and hook, and chorus to die for. Set You Free starts real slow before the main groove kicks in; a great use of dynamics and power, and the middle eight is awesome. Better Times follows, and this baby really swings with massive riffage and a wicked groove. Golden slows things down somewhat initially, and then we groove again. It has a killer hook and chorus, and Brandon Yeagley sings his ass off. Without Wings closes out Side 1, and starts out slowly but grows into the heaviest sounding track yet, with a beast of a riff.

Living On The Streets really rocks Side 2 into life with a ripping hard rock monster of a tune. Into The Fire is up next, and the retro vibes are strongest on this one, mainly with the riff. Dance With The Dead is the most commercial sounding track so far with a hook and chorus that will stick in your brain. Holy Ghost has an evil riff that will have you bouncing off the walls. Never Break Me has a riff that is the bastard son of My Sharon’s. The album closes out with the epic Staring Straight Into The Sun. And again, a superb use of dynamics with the most beautiful turning; the dirty evil beast that they are. Killer record and they should be the next big break through band.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

GIANT – Shifting Time

July 16, 2022 /

Is this really a Giant album, or an Alessandro Del Vecchio solo album? Del Vecchio has a hand in all but one of the tracks. For those who don’t know who he is, he is Frontiers’ in house guy who they try to shoe in on everything. The only connection with the original band is drummer David Huff, and bassist Mike Brignardello who have zero hand in writing any of the material. So are Frontiers just using a well known name in Giant? Anyway, let’s listen to the tunes.

Let Our Love Win is a pretty good hard rockin’ opener, with a nice vocal from Kent Hill and John Roth on guitar riffing it up. Never Die Young is a really good song, and props to Kent Hill for another superb vocal. Don’t Say A Word is AOR by numbers, not a bad song just very generic. My Breath Away opens with a really nice riff and melody before ballad city takes over. Highway Of Love has a really great opening, and the hook and melody are really good. It’s Not Over is another ballad and it’s heavy on the syrup. The Price Of Love is ballad heavy at the intro, and the power switch is found at some point to add a bit of oomph. Standing Tall adds some much needed balls to proceedings, with a nice riff and funky groove. Anna Lee is the only non-Vecchio track, and it’s yet another ballad. Don’t Wanna Lose You is another ballad; heavy track with a slight interjection of riffage. I Walk Alone close out the album with yes, you guessed it, another power ballad. So it’s a well played album, sounds great, with too much reliance on ballads for me but, the overriding question is, is it a Giant album?

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2026 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑