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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: PAUL McCARTNEY- 02 Arena, London, 18 December 2024
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Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
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Gig review: STRAY – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
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Author Archives: jason
Album review: SQUIRE – Get Ready To Go!/September Gurls
Hi-Lo Records [Release date 26.10.19] Squire formed around the time of the Mod revival in the late 70’s and were fronted by Anthony Meynell. They went on to release five studio albums, before relocating to the US in 1985 and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Anthony Meynell, Big Star, cover versions, Get Ready To Go!, mod, pop, power pop, review, Septembur Girls, Squire
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Album review: HEAT – II
earMUSIC [Release date 21.02.20] That difficult sixth album? Should that have been HEAT 2.0? The motive behind the title is not clear, even when reading explanation from the band. When a band uses its name in the album title this … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Ear Music, Erik Gronwall, hard rock, HEAT, II, melodic rock, review, rock
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Album review: RORY GALLAGHER – Check Shirt Wizard – Live In ’77
Chess/UMC (2CD, 3LP, 3 LP coloured vinyl) [Release date 06.03.20] Rory Gallagher is pretty much the first, last and foremost blues-rock guitarist, he was an influence on the likes of fellow Irish men Bernie Torme and Gary Moore, with the … Continue reading
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Album review: BIFF BYFORD – School Of Hard Knocks
Silver Lining Music [Release date 21.02.20] One of British heavy metal’s finest icons, vocalist (and occasional bassist) Biff Byford has fronted Saxon since the mid 70s, when they were called Son Of A Bitch. And after talk of a solo … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars
Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic rock, interview, metal, NWOBHM, OPETH, review, rock, Saxon, School Of Hard Knocks
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Album review: ROBERT HART – Pure
Escape Music [Release date 20.02.20] Vocalist Robert Hart sang on one of my all-time favourite albums, ‘Under The One Sky’ by The Distance, added to his solo album ‘Cries & Whispers’ is still revered in AOR circles. He has also … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bad Company, classic rock, FM, funk, Power Station, Pure, review, Robert Hart, rock, synth pop, Tommy Denander
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Album review: THE RECORD COMPANY – Early Songs And Rarities
Snakefarm/Universal [Release date 14.02.20] (vinyl only) Such is the demand for new product from Billboard top five debuting band, The Record Company, that their old product – their “recorded in the front room” tracks, following them from the past like … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Early Songs And Rarities, review, rock, roots rock, the Record Company, Vinyl
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EP review: STONE THIEVES – Church Of The Medicine Man
3MS Music [Release date 14.02.20] Stone Thieves are a London band who have been building a solid reputation with their Americana repertoire. One might argue that the music is American rock or even Southern Rock, rather than pure Americana, but … Continue reading
Album review: DUSTBOWL REVIVAL – Is It You, Is It Me
Medium Expectations/Thirty Tigers [Release date 31.01.20] Dustbowl Revival present their fifth album and one that sees them shift away from their original Dixieland jazz, swing and Depression-era folk songs. The band revolves around the singing talents of Z Lupetin and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Dixieland jazz, Dustbowl Revival, folk, melodic, Paul Simon, review
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Gig review: BILLY LOCKETT – O2 Academy 2, Oxford, 2 February 2020
We have ventured into the Academy a few times but have never been to the more compact upstairs Academy 2, which was the venue for Billy Lockett’s show. He’s certainly taking a big step and gamble by going out on … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 2 February 2020, acoustic, Billy Lockett, gig, live music, Mabes, melodic, Oxford, piano, pop, review, singer songwriter
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Album review: SETH LAKEMAN – A Pilgrim’s Tale
BMG [Release date 07.02.20] The latest album from folk singer Seth Lakeman marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower setting sale from Plymouth for north America. While A Pilgrim’s Tale showcases his distinctive vocal style and delivery precisely as his … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged A Pilgrim's Tale, album, Benji Kirkpatrick, Cara Dillon, Dr Who, folk, Mayflower, Paul McGann, Plymouth, review, Seth Lakeman, songwriter
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Album review: REVOLUTION SAINTS – Rise
Frontiers (Release date 24.01.20) Frontiers Records’ AOR superhero assembly is working like a dream. The Revolution Saints – Deen (Journey) Castronovo, Jack (Night Ranger) Blades and Doug (Whitesnake) Aldrich – are on their third album now, so that confirms it. … Continue reading
News: MARILLION, NICK MASON, STYX, BLUE OYSTER CULT (February 2020)
Marillion release an expanded version of ‘Script For A Jester’s Tear’ on April 3 as a 4CD/Blu-ray package and on 4LP. Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets will release ‘Live At The Roundhouse’ (2LP, 2CD/DVD and Blu-ray) on April 17 through … Continue reading
Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014
Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] “Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014” is Blue Oyster Cult’s sixth live album. Not many in a 50 year career. Maybe that’s why it’s a sumptious, 2 CD + DVD affair, housed in a sturdy gatefold … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, DVD, Eric Bloom, Frontiers, hard rock, Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014, live, review, rock
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Album review: DECARLO – Lightning Strikes Twice
Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] DeCarlo are Tommy DeCarlo (who has been a member of Boston since 2008) and co-founder (and son) Tommy DeCarlo Jr., along with drummer Dan Hitz. The songs have been written over a number of years, the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 70's rock, album, Boston, classic rock, debut, DeCarlo, Frontiers, hard rock, Lightning Strikes Twice, melodic rock, review, Tommy Decarlo
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Album review: MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – High Times, Live In Italy
Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] Michael Thompson’s reputation as the rock world’s original “go to guitarist” is unassailable. Though none is needed, he provides ample proof of his skill and virtuosity here. And understandably cashing in his cultural stock in the … Continue reading
Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – MMXX
Inside Out [Release date 17.01.20] Second studio outing from the prog metal supergroup Sons Of Apollo who consist of vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, bassist Billy Sheenan, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, drummer Mike Portnoy and on keyboards Derek Sherinian. Sons Of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Billy Sheenan, Bumblefoot, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Guns 'N' Roses, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, melodic metal, metal, Mike Portnoy, MMXX, prog metal, progressive, review, Sons Of Apollo
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Single reviews: SOLD, FALSE HEARTS, HELLZ
SOLD ‘Empty Words’ Seemingly making quantum leaps with each new release, Estonia band Sold have really hit things out of the ballpark with ‘Empty Words’. A snarling wildcat of a song, its mix of growling male and clean female vocals … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged False Hearts, Halestorm, Hellz, melodic metal, metal, new bands, review, singles, Sold
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Album review: ALUNAH – Violet Hour
Heavy Pysch Sounds [Release date 29.10.19] Midlands four-piece Alunah show that, without doubt, you can take something primal and brutal but turn it into a thing of beauty. Their 60’s tinged doom metal follows in the footsteps of pioneers Black … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alunah, Black Sabbath, Doom Metal, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, metal, psychadelic, review, Violet Hour
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Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Cult Classics
Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] Surprising and exciting news was announced in the autumn of last year in that Frontiers have signed Blue Oyster Cult for a series re-issues (including their hard to find 1998 album ‘Heaven Forbid’ which is re-issued … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, Cult Classics, Eric Bloom, hard rock, melodic, reissue, review, rock
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Album review: JORN – Heavy Rock Radio II
Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] Jorn Lande is back with his second volume of songs he grew up with or influenced him – making this his fourth covers album to date. These songs get the Jorn heavy rock treatment or as … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Black Sabbath, classic rock, Covers, Deep Purple, Dio, Eagles, Foreigner, Jorn, Jorn Lande, pop, review, rock, Russ Ballard, Trond Holter
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Album review: GLENN HUGHES – Justified Man
Cherry Red Records [Release date 31.01.20] Part One: Feel (CD1), Addicted (CD2), The Way It Is (CD3) : This clydebuilt boxset plugs into Glenn Hughes’ solo career in 1995, kicking off with his fourth solo album “Feel” (CD1). It’s the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Addiciton, album, box set, Building The Machine, Cherry Red Records, classic rock, Deep Purple, Feel, funk, Glenn Hughes, JJ Marsh, Justified Man, Pat Thrall, Return Of The Crystal Karma, review, rock, Songs In The Key Of Rock, soul, The Way It Is
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Album review: GIRL – Wasted Youth
Cherry Red Records [31.01.20] Arguably, Girl was simply the launching pad for Phil Lewis – later to join The LA Guns; Phil Collen – later to join Def Leppard, and Gerry Laffy – later to carve out a significant career … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, box set, classic rock, Def Leppard, Gerry Laffy, Girl, LA Guns, Phil Collen, Phil Lewis, reissue, review, rock, Russ Ballard, Wasted Youth
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Album review: SERPENTYNE & OPEROSE
Hell Fury Records [Release date 21.11.19] There is always so much to explore in music, as you explore every sub-genre of a sub-genre. Modern Symphonic Metal is a good case in point and, what was once just purely the domain … Continue reading
Quick plays: KIWI JR, OF MONTREAL
KIWI JR. – Football Money Persona Non Grata [Release date 17.01.20] Kiwi Jr. hail from Canada and feature Alvvays’ guitarist Brian Murphy amongst their ranks, with the group’s main songwriter being Jeremy Gaudet. They pack it in with ten songs … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Alvvays, Football Money, indie pop, Kevin Barnes, Kiwi Jr, of Montreal, pop, quirky, review, synth pop, ur fun
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Album review: LORDI – Killection
AFM Records [Release date 31.01.20] Finnish monsters Lordi have been rampaging through the planet since the first emerged from the deepest darkness in 1992. Over the years their own brand of twisted melodic and theatrical hard rock has won them … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AFM Records, album, Alice Cooper, glam, hard rock, Killection, Kiss, Lordi, melodic, pop rock, review, rock, shock rock
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