THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 398 of 491)

STEELY DAN – Two Against Nature

August 12, 2021 /

I can guarantee that this record is, sonically, one of the best records you will ever hear. It’s an incredible sounding record, produced by Donald and Walter themselves. As usual, it’s a veritable who’s who of session musos helping the guys out, and the list is way too long to mention here. This is the first release back after almost 20 years after the release of their last album, Gaucho, and it took over two years to record. Not only is the music incredible, but Donald Fagen’s lyrics are fantastic. He paints pictures and tells stories like no one else I know.

This album is such a groovy record – I don’t think the band have ever been this funky – every song just makes you want to move. Gaslighting Abbie has an incredible bass line, and the lyrics and melody just bounce between the grooves. Two Against Nature is almost a funky samba – this track alone should get those dancing shoes moving. On the flip side of the coin, Janie Runaway and Negative Girl sees Fagen at his story telling best, as he squeezes lines into seemingly impossible grooves.

I could go on and on about this record, but how many times can I tell you how freaking awesome it is? So, if your mind is open, and you want to test out your hi fi, and to see if your groovin’ shoes can still move, then I suggest you delve deep into the wallet for this beauty.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

RATT – Out Of The Cellar

August 11, 2021 /

After the success of their self-titled and self-financed first album, record companies were falling over themselves to sign the band. Atlantic won the race to release Out Of The Cellar, which is a masterpiece of glam/sleaze rock. The band had a knack for writing super catchy songs.

Round And Round was the huge smash from this record, as heavy MTV rotation made this song a global hit. Stephen Pearce is not the best singer in the world, but his raspy strained style suits the music perfectly. Guitarist Warren De Martini had the flash chops that was a requirement of every band that came from the whole LA scene, and the whole band had the look.

Opening track, Wanted Man, is a great opening track that lets you know what the band are all about. Side 2 opening track, Lack Of Communication, is my favourite from the record as I love the riff and hook. This album set the band up for the follow up Invasion Of Your Privacy, which would be the peak the band would achieve. It was a steady decline after that.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

FOREIGNER – Double Vision

August 11, 2021 /

This is the second album released in ’78 from this Anglo-American band. The credentials from the British contingent would suggest that they would lead in a progressive direction, seeing as Mick Jones was a member of Spooky Tooth, and Ian McDonald was a member of King Crimson. All the American members were basically unknowns, and they got lucky with the finding of vocalist Lou Gramm, as he had the million dollar voice.

The band set out using the Free/Bad Company blueprint of a hard edged blues rock group, and Hit Blooded and Double Vision off this album show that perfectly – both were released as singles. The intro being blatantly stolen by Autograph for their smash Turn Up The Radio. There are moments where the Beatles are obvious inspiration, like in Back Where You Belong with the Sgt. Pepper melodies. Then there are nods to the future with the ballads, You’re All I Am, and I Have Waited So Long. Here, Gramm’s million dollar voice came into its own, and the ballads would make Foreigner the housewives favourite.

To emphasize how big the band were in the US, the first five albums all went multi platinum and they couldn’t put a foot wrong.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KILLING JOKE – s/t

August 10, 2021 /

This album sees the band going back to a more raw natural sound after the heights of their eighties success. This is one of my favourites by the band as everything is on the money for me. With the surprise addition of Dave Grohl on drums, all the tunes really drive hard – both musically and lyrically. Jazz is his usual threatening self – he is the one guy who really intimidates me. His live performances are so intense that I’m sure he goes into a trance like state.

The album opens up with The Death & Resurrection Show, and jeez, what a tune to open the album up with! The driving beat and groove, coupled with Geordie’s distorted riffs, and Jazz’s menacing vocal – it’s one of the better KJ tunes. Total Invasion reminds me of their old goth like post punk days as the song has that feel. The insanely deranged Asteroid is next with that pounding trance like groove, and Jazz howling, and Geordie with the simplest of riffs. Implant has the unfortunate task of following that onslaught, but Grohl’s pounding of the skins and Jazz’s robot style vocals make this a very intriguing track – until the explosion of the distorted guitar and the screamed vocal. One of the highlights of the band’s existence, Blood On Your Hands, follows and from the very first note of that deranged guitar riff and that pounding driving beat, I am lost in the sheer intensity of this track. It’s about how corporations control every aspect of our lives, and the line “Man made hell and a man made devil” is so true and apt. This is as good as the band get for me!

A more electronic groove licks off Side 3 opener, Loose Cannon, and Jazz is leading the line with a football style chant for the chorus. You’ll Never Get To Me is as close as this album gets to a commercial moment, as it sees Jazz in a more reflective mood. Seeing Red closes out Side 3, and we’re back to the twisted distorted riffs and beats. A very simple heavy sounding riff and pounding drums are what Dark Forces is all about in the intro, before Geordie’s distorted strumming leads into the chorus. The album closes out with The House That Pain Built, and has a relatively simple metal riff that keeps morphing sound wise. Is that Dave Grohl mimicking blast beats?

I really love this record, and it’s up there with one of the best that Killing Joke has done.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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