THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl (Page 11 of 50)

INTRONAUT – The Direction Of Last Things

March 23, 2021 /

This is another one of those album where there are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to bestow on such greatness. It’s very hard to pigeonhole these guys as there is so much happening in the space of one song – never mind a whole album. I will call them tech-metallers with a hint of jazz and Prog. I think that covers most bases. With two killer guitarists, an amazing bass player, and an alien for a drummer – they will no doubt give extreme sounds of awesomeness.

Fast Worms is first up, and within the space of the first 8 bars I am in awe of their heaviness. So many twists and turns within the confines of one tune. Amazing! Digital Gerrymandering is next up, and it is another epic tune. It has lots of off time drum grooves and maximum riffage before the killer instrumental section just blows your mind – with maximum groove and riffs a plenty. The supreme groovy heaviness of The Pleasant Surprise follows, and is again another brain mash of a tune. Even when they take the pace down a notch with The Unlikely Event Of A Water Landing, the awesomeness does not let up. The monster Sol Ponticello crunches your brain with maximum effect – another great tune with lots of changes and big chuggas. The title track is next up and announces its arrival with supreme heaviness that grooves hard. The middle eight and breakdown really slows things down with the groove still intact before the heavy returns. Last track, City Hymnal is here oh so quick and is an epic ending to a truly great album.

I know death metal is fun when you are twelve, but when that wears thin you need something that is going to keep you enthralled and entertained for more than five minutes. This is another in the series of everyone should own one. It gets 10/10 from The Grooveman for just existing, another10/10 for the cover, and 10,000/10 for the musical content within the grooves.

ZZ TOP – El Loco

March 23, 2021 /

We all know that Eliminator was their best selling album, and it made ZZ Top a household name all over the universe. Some people, me included, much like the output that came before that album. This album in particular is one of my favourite ZZ albums. Yes it’s boogie blues, but it’s done with invention, a willingness to try new things, and experimentation with sounds and grooves. This is the 2017 remaster in shocking pink vinyl and it sounds amazing. A lot more clarity to what’s going on in the background – and it’s huge.

Things start off in typical ZZ style with a standard Texas boogie with lots of innuendo and double entendres. I Wanna Drive You Home is a killer sounding track, a blues groove with plenty of experimenting with effects pedals. Ten Foot Pole is another weird and wonderful ZZ tune, it has killer sounding guitars, weird vocals, and a funky groove that makes this one of the best tracks on the album. Leila is the weakest song on the album and is almost a country tune. I hate country music!!! Side close out track, Don’t Tease Me, starts with an awesome Billy Gibbons riff and is ZZ’s attempt at a single done Texas style.

Side 2 starts with a double dose of innuendo with It’s So Hard and Pearl Necklace. The first is done soul style and would have been a great single, whereas Pearl Necklace is pure ZZ Top boogie a great drivin’ tune and reached the heady heights of the Top 30. Groovy Little Hippy Pad is another weird and wonderful tune and sees the introduction of synths into the sound mixed with a boogie – very cool. Next up is one of my favourite ZZ tunes, Heaven Hell Or Houston. A really weird spoken lyric starts the piece before a serious groovy Tex-Mex funk kicks in. The last track is a trademark tune for the band, a good old fashioned blues boogie, Party On The Patio.

This album and Deguello are IMHO the best ZZ Top albums. I guess when you start to make pots of cash, it’s a hard decision not to write tunes not to please the punters instead of yourself. I know recent albums have seen them reverting to a more natural sound. A great enjoyable album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – One Night At Budokan

March 22, 2021 /

The max axeman does a UFO move, and releases a love album that would really boost his career. This two-disc set is the best tracks from the first 2 MSG albums – plus a couple of UFO favs. Rumours were rife at the time that Braden had gone into a studio to re-record his vocals – he was very hit and miss when performing live. Nothing wrong with that really, as the whole of Judas Priest’s Unleashed In The East was recorded in the studio. There is also the addition of ex-UFO bandmate Paul Raymond on rhythm guitar and keyboards to fill out the sound. Fairly standard versions of most of the songs – except extra and different solos from Schenker added everywhere. Other than a rousing version of Doctor Doctor, the instrumental Into The Arena is my favourite track.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

ROBIN TROWER – In City Dreams

March 22, 2021 /

This is the fifth solo album from the ex-Procul Harum guitarist. This was the first album where James Dewar hung up the bass and concentrated on vocals alone. For me, this was a marriage made in heaven, as Trower and Dewar complement each other so well. Trower’s tone and style of playing is unique – I don’t see the Hendrix copycat nonsense. There is so much more to Robin’s playing! Dewar’s vocals are so soulful and rich in texture. RIP Jimmy!

In City Dreams sees Trower delving deeper into funky territory that he briefly visited on previous releases. First track in, Somebody Calling, is funk gold as Trower’s funky riff and Dewar’s soulful groove capture the vibe perfectly. There is a YouTube live clip of this song, which is awesome – go take a look! Sweet Wine Of Love follows and keeps the mood flowing before the soulful laid back tones of the beautiful, Bluebird, chill the listeners mood. The Falling Stars opening riff and groove take us back to funky town with another great vocal from Dewar and some slinky licks from Trower. The only cover on the album, Farther Up The Road, closes out Side 1, and is a great representation of the tune.

Over we go to Side 2 with Smile – the track has a very cool riff and groove – a very funky tune. Little Girl follows with a very slow bluesy funky vibe with a killer vocal from Dewar. The very slow blues of Loves Gonna Bring You Round is next and is showcase for both Trower and Dewar. The album closes out with the title track which has a very spacey vibe.

A great album. I don’t think Trower made a bad album for the first 7 of his solos records.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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