THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 460 of 491)

ANGEL – s/t

March 8, 2021 /

This is the first album by this pomp/glam band from Washington, and it was released away back in ’75. Just like their label mates Kiss, they were all about the image primarily to detract you away from the quality of the material – especially on later albums. This release has very little similarities to Sinful that was recorded just 4 years later.

The album opens with the band’s masterpiece, The Tower, which was keyboard overload from Greg Giuffria, with its extended intro and high range vocals from Frank DiMino. Next track, Long Time, is a typical mid-seventies sounding track, and to be honest, is quite Prog sounding and is not that commercial sounding. Last track on Side 1, Rock & Rollers, could almost be a Kiss outtake and is quite an average tune.

Side 2 starts with Broken Dreams. This track starts off at a frenzy before slowing down into another average song. Mariner is a ballad and highlights the quirkiness of DiMino’s vocals. The nearest vocalist he reminds me of would be Geddy Lee, but not as good. Sunday Morning starts with a big fat riff and is a notch up from the past few tracks, before settling down into keyboard romp-a-rama, and is very Rush sounding. On & On follows, with its Zeppelin riff but the vocals let it down. The final piece is The Angel theme with more keyboard noodling from Giuffria.

If I was wanting to buy an album by the band I would go for the live album Live Without A Net as it a fair representation of what they were about. Other than The Tower, this album is not that great.

5/10 from The Grooveman.

IT BITES – Eat Me In St Louis

March 8, 2021 /

It Bites: the band that Virgin didn’t have a clue how to market. The main problem was that the first single that was released (Calling All The Heroes) was a smash hit nearly all over the world, but was not representative of the band’s music as a whole. They saw themselves as more of a progressive band, but the label wanted a pop band.

This was the 3rd and last album from the original line up, and was produced by one time Queen producer, Mack – it sounds fantastic. He captured exactly what the band was about. A bit late as inner band squabbles, drugs, general record company apathy, and most importantly, Francis leaving to go solo, would basically end this period of the band. Who knew a band as good as this would be hiding away in a small town in Cumbria? The main creative force and the main focus of the band’s arguments was frontman/guitarist Francis Dunnery, and keyboardist John Beck.

Positively Animal starts things off with a heavier sound than on previous efforts, and is a fantastic opener with a great vocal from Francis. Next up is Underneath Your Pillow, a trademark It Bites song – heavy on the melody and great vocal harmonies. One of my favourite It Bites tracks is next with Let Us All Go. A great riff, some great key changes, a superb melody and chorus, and killer harmonies. Next is the absolute monster, Still Too Young To Remember. The one track that screams Prog. A bonafide classic track which just builds and builds and is It Bites to the max. Side 1 closes with Murder of The Planet Earth – reminding us how bad we as humans treat the thing that keeps us alive.

Over to Side 2 we go and it starts with People Of America, which is a song that sounds as though it was recorded in ’89 with its pseudo electronic beginning. Sister Sarah is next and should have been a smash single – if only the record company cared about the band at this point. A great song with a rockin’ up tempo groove. Leaving Without You is the penultimate track and showcases the range and feel in Francis’ voice. Another really huge sounding song thanks again to the great production. Ice Melts Into Water closes the album out, and is a beautiful chill song with some great guitar and again with those harmonies.

The band still exists today and have released a couple of really good albums with John Mitchell replacing Francis. He does an admirable job, but Francis was such a strong character both sonically and visually within the band that maybe they should have changed the name. Anyhoo, a great album and would be a welcome addition to your collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

FRANK MARINO – The Power Of Rock And Roll

March 5, 2021 /

There are four Frank Marino albums that are off the charts awesome. This one, Juggernaut, What’s Next, and the Live album. Forget about the fact that two of them were titled Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush – basically it’s the same thing, “Mahogany Rush” was dropped after the What’s Next recordings. No mention of the Hendrix nonsense as I touched on that in the review of the Live album. What I will say is I’m surprised and amazed that more guitarists don’t cite Frank as an inspiration. The only person that does is Zac Wilde. As I have mentioned before, Frank is an absolute monster of a player and he is up there with the very best for me.

We start things off with a couple of Frank-standard rockers. Some healthy solos are thrown in for extra points in the title track and Play My Music. Then track three, Stay With Me, rockets into the stratosphere with some killer playing, the first of the 5 all killer no filler tracks on the album. The close out track to Side 1 is Running Wild, and you just have to hear the playing – it’s other worldly. I’m sure there is a kitchen sink in there somewhere.

Time to take a breather before Side 2 kicks in with Crazy Miss Daisy. Another patent Marino rocker with another killer middle section. Go Strange is next, and is one my favourite Frank tracks. There are lots of textures and grooves happening on this track. Just freakin’ awesome! You run out of superlatives to describe his playing. Young Man is next and the pace drops slightly with a straight up rocker. Last track, Ain’t Dead Yet is my favourite Frank tune. This one has everything times ten. The ending is epic, you feel as though you’re in a war zone.

Big shout out to the band, Frank’s bother Vinnie on rhythm guitar, Paul Harwood on bass, and Jim Ayoub on drums for holding it all together. Another definite buy album. It loses half a point for Play My Music.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THE MUTE GODS – Atheists and Believers

March 4, 2021 /

This is the third album by an unusual amalgamation of muso’s. Namely ex Kajagoogoo bassist Nick Beggs, keyboardist Roger King (who plays in Steve Hackett’s band), and drummer to everybody – Marco Minnemann. Not so weird really, as Beggs plays with King in Hackett’s band, and he played with Marco in Steven Wilson’s band (until Marco had a falling out with SW).

The music has a post rock/prog/pop vibe to it, and is really quite good with the emphasis being on the songs and melody. Beggs’ voice is in a high register, but suits the music really well. This is a double album over 4 Sides, but the 4th side has a lathe cut band logo.

The title track is a great song and a perfect opener. Guitar duties are handled by Beggs and Minneman, as no recognized axeman plays on the album. One Day is another great track and would have made a great single. The last track on Side 1, Knucklehaed, has a funky under groove to it, and again, a focus on the melody.

Side 2 begins with Envy The Dead, it is the heaviest track on the album, and is a very riff driven track. Sonic Boom starts with a drum and bass pattern from Marco before the song kicks in, and has a very different groove to the rest of the tracks. This is my favourite on the album. Old Men is a quiet peace and shows the fragility of Nicks voice, a beautiful piece. The House Where Love Once Lived closes out Side 2, and again, is a slower paced track – very laid back and chill.

Over to Side 3 we go and Iridium Heart starts with an almost East Indian vibe before it settles into what is a great pop song. The penultimate track, Twisted World Godless Universe, is a quirky track and runs with the album’s theme of a dystopian future. Last track, I Think Of You, is a melancholic ending to a very good album.

This album is definitely more melodic and poppy album compared to the previous two, and for what it’s worth, I really like it.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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