THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 310 of 491)

ELECTRIC BOYS – Groovus Maximus

March 30, 2022 /

This the band’s 2nd album released back in ’92. At the time, mainstream rock bands (especially all the hair bands) were about as popular as Hitler in a kindergarten. Funk rock, however, was flavour of the month and Electric Boys were riding high after the success of their first album – why they waited 4 years to record a follow up is mind blowing.

The title track gets things under way and it’s where we left off from the first album – a great groovy funked up rocker. Knee Deep In You is a sleazy grooved up monster of a tune with tongue firmly in cheek lyrically. Mary In The Mystery World has a hook that would not be out of place on Sgt Pepper, and the instrumental middle eight is killer. Fire In The House has a nice riff and grooves hard. The Sky Is Crying follows, and it’s more of the same, with a real heavy funky vibe. Side 1 closes out with Bed Of Roses and is a change of pace and sound as we could be in the mid-west of the US with the Beatles as companions.

Great opening to Side 2 with She’s Into Something Heavy, with a great funky sing a long chorus. Dying To Be Loved is a sleazed up LA style ballad. Back to our normal programming with Bad Motherfunker – a full on Friday night party tune. Next up is When Love Explodes – possibly my favourite on the record. A great funky riff and groove, and I love the hook and chorus. Tambourine doesn’t quite work for me and is a bit of a filler track. Tear It Up is pure LA sleaze complete with the harmonica intro. The instrumental March Of The Spirits closes out the album, and although it’s good, it sounds as though it’s from a different band.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BE BOP DELUXE – Live In The Air Age

March 30, 2022 /

This live album was released in ’77. I think it was recorded during the touring cycle for the Sunburst Finish album. Even though it’s a double album, Side 1 and 4 are the album but Side 2 and 3 are a live EP. No idea why it was done this way, but it makes it all a tad confusing. Also included are two never before released tracks, one from way before the first album, Mill Street Junction, and a new track at the time, Piece Of Mine.

I was a huge fan of the band, and it was a big shame that the band did not carry on longer before Bill went on his merry way. They were a great live band and Bill is a killer guitar player with a superb voice. There are four tracks from Sunburst Finish, which was their most successful album at the time – mainly due to the hit single Ships In The Night. Sister Seagull and Made In Heaven are two of my favourite Be Bop tracks and are on Side 2 of the EP – these tracks are just superb Live. Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape is one of my favourite tunes by any band ever and I love this version. The instrumental Shine is included, and Bill shows what a killer player he is as the track is one big jam. Killer band and a great live album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

E.Z.O – s/t

March 29, 2022 /

Whereas most of the bands coming out of Japan at the time were very metal in nature (like Loudness, Earthshaker and Bow Wow), E.Z.O on the other hand were much more hard rock and glam driven. This album was even produced by Gene Simmons and they brought them to LA to record the album.

If you thought the only Japanese guitar with any chops was Akira Takasaki then you will be blown away by Shoyo. He really has some chops and a killer tone.

Things get off to a great start with House Of A 1,000 Pleasures. A killer fat riff that rocks and grooves, until we get to the breakdown then things really boil over. Flashback Heart Attack is sleaze glam at its finest. Mr. Midnight reminds me of Vinnie-era Kiss with some awesome guitar grooves. Here It Comes ups the tempo, and the song reminds me of the Bulletboys – except they weren’t in existence at this point. I love the chorus and hook on this one. Walk Alone closes out Side 1 and the intro is really heavy sounding with a great riff and pounding drums.

Destroyer opens up Side 2 and has the groove of Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crüe. Big Changes starts real slow and builds into a typical LA glam track with a nice sing-a-long chorus. Kiss Of Fire has a great driving groove, superb solo, and along with House Of A 1,000 Pleasure, this is my favourite on the album. The album closes out with Desiree and it’s the fastest track on the album – a full on metal crunch.

Along with Thunder In The East, this my favourite album by a Japanese rock band.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SLIPKNOT – We Are Not Your Kind

March 29, 2022 /

Love them or hate them, you can’t deny the impact Slipknot had on the metal scene. Their image of a “circus of the weird and wonderful of society” is really striking and they put on a killer Live show. They also have not forgotten that good metal music has to groove and make you want to move. A lot of metal bands today seemed to have lost the ability to do that – especially black and death metal ones – which mostly I find totally pointless.

This is a really good record, and after the intro, the opening track and lead off single, Unsainted, is a total slamming groove fest – it’s one of the best things the band have done. Birth Of The Cruel is a slower paced track but the groove is deep on this one. I love all these creepy little pieces they put between tracks as it adds to the atmos. The riff to Nero Forte is evil and huge and the beats are killer. I love the fast paced almost rap vocal delivery. Critical Delivery is a D-tuned chunk of awesome and I love the way this track swings – great harmonies as well. Red Flag just explodes out of the gate and this is all about the percussion – an insane rhythmic onslaught. Orphans is another rhythmic blast that slays. There are a couple of slower pieces on the album, the best of which is My Pain – a very eerie piece.

This is one of the better Slipknot albums and has a killer groove throughout.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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