Album review: PREACHERS SON – 10 Stories Tall

PREACHERS SON – 10 Stories Tall

Release date [June 2014]

Being the son of a folk musician and Catholic lay man preacher, former Kila bass player Brian Hogan’s rootsy band name has both a literal meaning and solid grounding.

‘10 Stories tall’ is his second solo album and it’s full of bluesy antecedents, a contemporary LA production, and several nods in the direction of mid-period David Bowie.  It’s also full of guitar driven bluster and a nascent songwriting style on an album in search of its own identity.

Produced by Warren Huart, Brian’s voice is frequently buried deep in the mix, and part of an imposing wall of sound.

Things start of promisingly with ‘Jericho’ – all jangling guitars, a throbbing bass and a booming chorus – and Brian revels on the nicely ragged, guitar driven single ‘Come On’. The sledgehammer riffs and waltz like carousel of ‘Angel’ pushes the stylistic envelope to the edge of the table, but then there’s a change of pace as Brian slips into a ‘Diamond Dogs’ Bowie mode, on ‘Johnny’s Alright’. It’s a sweeping arrangement with an essential sense of urgency and a poppy resolution, as his voice is significantly mixed back in the chorus.

Brian extends his Bowie fascination on ‘Weeping World’, all whispered phrasing, buzz guitar and an ascending angst ridden vocal that leads into the hook.

Having moved from roots rock to Bowie, he completes his musical jigsaw with a brush stroked, pedal steel and celeste inflected ballad ‘Unbroken’.

Arguably the best track on the album, it’s a beautifully wrought song that gives the album a pause for breathe. He’s still in Bowie mode, but it’s a heartfelt song that allows him to finally stamp his own mark on the album.  And as if buoyed by that success he opts for the ebow generated ethereal ‘Hands A Bleedin’, notable for its spoken word vocal and atmospheric bv’s.

‘Lead’ is an unreconstructed rocker that is well sequenced and brings the album back to its guitar driven origins, while the subtle groove of ‘Another Day’ envelops you with its warm production, mesmerising drone like guitar and Brian’s harmony vocals with bassist Tanja Callaghan.

There’s more echoes of Bowie on ‘Sophie’s Song’, an acoustic ballad featuring Phil Allen’s nuanced lap steel, and he explores a rockier edge on ‘Not The Only One’, but by the time of ‘Somebody Down’ it all starts to sounds a bit formulaic, right down to the micro pause before the hook.

That said, ‘10 Stories Tall’ is a decent album roots rock album with enough deep grooves, chiselled riffs and telegraphed hooks to make its mark. ***

Review by Pete Feenstra 


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply