Album review: JULIAN LENNON – Jude

September 4th, 2022 by jason

BMG [Release date 09.09.22]

Julian Lennon is back with his first new album since 2011′s ‘Everything Changes’ and only his seventh studio album since debuting with ‘Valotte’ way back in 1984. He has enlisted fellow songwriters as co-writers on much of the album including Mark Spiro, Guy Chambers (World Party, Robbie Williams) and Peter-John Vettesse (Jethro Tull, Simple Minds).

Julian Lennon acknowledges the Beatles history that runs throughout his life as the album’s title is a reference to ‘Hey Jude’, written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) for the then three year old Julian. The album’s cover photo features Julian Lennon photographed in 1974, adding to the sense of past meets present that runs throughout the album.

‘Every Little Moment’ is a perfect piece of pop, doffing a musical hat to the 80′s sound, whilst ‘Round and Round Again’ is a beautifully crafted piece focussing on Julian’s vocals and a musical sound that draws the listener in.

Overall the album has a reflective, mellow air with plenty of string arrangements and piano. ‘Love Never Dies’ is a perfect example and a song that demands repeated plays. ‘Breathe’ follows a similar vein, showing how his vocals still have that soothing, yet powerful, melodic sound. You could argue his singing has grown stronger with age.

‘Lucky Ones’ is the one song that shifts into a rockier sound, as the heavy drums and guitar add a bit of heft to a song understandbly released as a single.

The album closes with ‘Gaia’ which features the Blue Nile’s Paul Buchanan and Elissa Lauper. Very different from what has gone before with the French spoken word of Elissa intoducing the song, before Julian’s vocals start, followed by the soothing singing of Elissa and then Paul Buchanan’s vocals adds yet another dimension to the song. Gentle on the ears, yet never bland and featuring three fine vocal performances.

Julian Lennon’s most rounded and enjoyable album since his 80′s output. He has mined his pop writing skills and along with long-time musical collaborator Justin Clayton, made one of the year’s best albums. ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

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.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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 November 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 29 October 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 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)