Author Archives: jason

Book review: THE ROLLING STONES 1963-1980 – On Track by Steve Pilkington

Posted on June 14, 2019 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 27.06.19] Over the years I have read a number of these types of books, each telling the story behind well-known artists albums and songs, and the trouble is that a song can easily be interpreted differently … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, On Track, review, rock, Steve Pilkington, The Rolling Stones | Leave a comment

Album review: DANNY VAUGHN – Myths, Legends & Lies

Posted on June 13, 2019 by jason

Self-release [Release date 14.06.19] It has been eleven years since Danny Vaughn’s last solo outing, although this one was delayed by issues caused by Pledge Music going into administration. Luckily Danny Vaughn has a loyal fan following meaning this album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, country, Danny Vaughn, folk, jazz, review, rock, singer songwriter, Solo, Tyketto, Waysted | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ROYAL REPUBLIC, ROB MORATTI, FINE SOFT DAY, TRAGIK

Posted on June 10, 2019 by jason

ROYAL REPUBLIC Club Majesty Nuclear Blast [Release date 31.05.19] Royal Republic are on the up and up with their mix of rock, dance, disco, funk, rock n roll – heck they will put in any style of music into their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Club Majesty, dance, disco, Fine Soft Day, folk, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, Pink Floyd, pop rock, progressive, Quick Plays, review, Rob Moratti, rock, rock 'n' roll, Royal Republic, Saga, Survival Code, Tragik | Leave a comment

Album review: PRINCE – Originals

Posted on June 9, 2019 by jason

Warner Brothers Records [Release date 07.06.19 exclusively on Tidal, 21.06.2019 CD, vinyl, streaming] In this multi-platform, content driven age it would be hard to imagine an artist ever producing too much material but such were his prolific studio habits, that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, funk, Kenny Rogers, Originals, pop, pop rock, Prince, rarities, review, rock, Sinead O'Connor, synth pop, The Bangles, The Time | Leave a comment

Album review: NAZARETH – coloured vinyl reissues (July 2019)

Posted on June 9, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 05.07.19] Celebrating their 50th Anniversary, Nazareth are still going, albeit with just founder member and bassist Pete Agnew at helm. Last year BMG issued the amazing Loud And Proud box (33CDs, 3 7” 45s, LP, picture disc … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, blues rock, Classic Albums, classic rock, coloured vinyl, Dan McCafferty, LP, Nazareth, Pete Agnew, re-issue, review, rock, Zal Cleminson | Leave a comment

Single review: TIGER & THE LIGHT SIDE – Somewhere Else

Posted on June 8, 2019 by jason

Website [Release date 24.06.19] A sparse ethereal atmosphere pervades the opening of ‘Somewhere Else’, a new single from barely a year old outfit, Tiger and The Light Side. Hailing from France, Tiger Finkel has assembled a distinctly international band coming … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Elbow, folk, indie, lo-fi, pop, review, singer songwriter, single, Somewhere Else, Tiger & the Light Side | Leave a comment

Album review: MYRATH – Shehili

Posted on June 8, 2019 by jason

earMUSIC [Release date 03.05.19] Tunisian metallers Myrath have been around since 2001, gaining more rave reviews and fans after 2016’s ‘Legacy’ album, one which saw them embrace their Arabic sounds more and ditch some of the Eurometal clichés. On ‘Shehili’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, melodic metal, metal, Myrath, power metal, prog metal, review, Shehili, traditional music, Tunisian | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – Regent Theatre, Stoke, 7 June 2019

Posted on June 8, 2019 by jason

When it comes to cult theatre, the grand daddy of them all refuses to go away. Fully some 46 years after it made its debut at a small upstairs space at the Royal Court Theatre in London, Richard O’Brien’s homage … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Blue, Duncan James, Frank N Furter, glam rock, Meat Loaf, musical, Regent Theatre, review, Richard O'Brien, rock, rock 'n' roll, Rocky Horror Show, Stoke-on-Trent | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE BRINK, RESTLESS SPIRITS, ZEPHYRA

Posted on June 6, 2019 by jason

THE BRINK Nowhere To Run Frontiers [Release date 17.05.19] The Brink – Tom Quick (vocals), Lexi (lead guitar), Izzy Trixx (rhythm guitar), Gary Connor (bass guitar) and Davide Drake Bocci (drums) – are another up and coming band, part of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

Album review: CRAZY LIXX – Forever Wild

Posted on June 6, 2019 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 17.05.19] “Forever Wild” is the sixth studio album from Swedish band Crazy Lixx, and could very well be their best to date. This is good, solid melodic rock n’ roll that is full of those ‘80’s style … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bon Jovi, Crazy Lixx, Def Leppard, Forever Wild, glam metal, hair metal, melodic rock, review, Skid Row | Leave a comment

Album review: THIS WINTER MACHINE – A Tower of Clocks

Posted on June 6, 2019 by jason

F2 Music [Release date 24.06.19] Second album by the Yorkshire based progressive rockers This Winter Machine, who are relative newcomers having formed in 2016. They consist of Al Winter (vocals), Mark Numan (keyboards, vocals), Graham Garbett (guitars, vocals), Scott Owens … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Tower of Clocks, album, Fish, Marillion, melodic, neo prog, prog rock, progressive, review, rock, This Winter Machine | Leave a comment

Album review: WARRIOR SOUL – Rock N Roll Disease

Posted on June 6, 2019 by jason

Cargo/Livewire [Release date 07.06.19] This is big ballsy rock n roll, just the way it should be, and Warrior Soul’s new album “Rock n Roll Disease” pretty much picks up where 2017’s “Back On The Lash” left off. With nods … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Kory Clarke, Lemmy, metal, punk, review, rock, Rock N Roll Disease, Warrior Soul | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DIVINE COMEDY – Office Politics

Posted on June 3, 2019 by jason

DC Records [Release date 07.06.19] Never one to do things by halves, Neil Hannon and the Divine Comedy return with a double album, three years after their last album ‘Foreverland’. As the album’s title suggests it has a loose theme … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, chamber pop, melodic, Neil Hannon, Office Politics, pop, power pop, review, The Divine Comedy, The Duckworth Lewis Method, Thomas Walsh | Leave a comment

Album review: TIM STAFFELL – aMIGO

Posted on June 2, 2019 by jason

Moscodisc [Release date 12.07.19] Tim Staffell’s 2006 solo album ‘aMIGO’ gets a timely re-issue, given the ongoing success of the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ film, plus Tim Staffell released his latest solo album ‘Two Late’ last year (the title a nod to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, aMIGO, Brian May, jazz, Jazz rock, Morgan Fisher, Mott the Hoople, Queen, review, Santana, Smile, Snowy White, Solo, Thin Lizzy, Tim Staffell | Leave a comment

Album review: STING – My Songs

Posted on June 2, 2019 by jason

A&M Island [Release date 24.05.19] Longevity can be both a blessing and a curse. Music industry economics are such that a tour is more successful with an album behind it and if that album isn’t of new material, a compilation … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Summers, classic rock, classic songs, My Songs, pop, reggae, review, rock, Solo, Stevie Wonder, Stewart Copeland, Sting, the Police | Leave a comment

Album review: D-A-D – A Prayer For The Loud

Posted on June 2, 2019 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 31.05.19] D-A-D are a band whose sound is instantly recognisable and are consistent in the quality of their albums, and I have always been surprised that they have not received the success and recognition that they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Prayer For The Loud, AFM Records, album, classic rock, D A D, melodic, revew, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: FICTION SYXX – The Alternate Me

Posted on May 30, 2019 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 28.06.19] Fiction Syxx follow up last year’s debut ‘Tall Dark Secret’ with ‘The Alternate Me’. Fiction Syxx is the brain child of songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Mark Allen Lanoue and he is joined again by guitarist JK Northrup (King … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alternate Me, Eric Ragno, Fiction Syxx, JK Northrup, Mark Allen Lanoue, melodic rock, progressive, review, rock, Styx, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: BADMINTON

Posted on May 30, 2019 by jason

Badminton are a trio from Leeds – singer, guitarist Robbie Tooth, guitarist Dominic Marshall and drummer Tom McAndrew - who have been writing together since 2015, releasing their first couple of tracks in 2016 under the name of Friends of Friends. These tracks … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged Badminton, band, Bon Iver, emo, interview, pop, Rising Stars, rock, The Cure | Leave a comment

Album review: BIG BIG TRAIN – Grand Tour

Posted on May 30, 2019 by jason

English Electric [Release date 17.05.19] Big Big Train return with ‘Grand Tour’ – the first since the band’s inception without founder Andy Poole – and they are joined by five brass players and 18 string players. Vocalist David Langdon helps … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Big Train, Genesis, Grand Tour, melodic, prog rock, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BEXATRON – Hey You!

Posted on May 29, 2019 by jason

Zube Records [Release date 07.12.18] Bexatron are Bexx (vocals), Belle Star (drums), Adam Adorjan (bass) and Greg Radcliffe (guitar), having formed in 2015. They have been building up a decent following with support slots including a recent one with the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bexatron, glam rock, Hey You, melodic, P!nk, pop rock, punk pop, review, sleaze | Leave a comment

Album review: DARWIN – Origin of Species

Posted on May 27, 2019 by jason

www.darwin.is [Release date 07.12.18] ‘Origin Of Species’ is an extravagant concept album spread over two discs, with DarWin not only the songwriter of the album and guitarist, he also stars in the album’s story. Ah yes, the story is a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, DarWin, environmental, Greg Howe, Matt Bisonette, melodic, progressive, review, rock, Simon Phillips, Spock's Beard | Leave a comment

Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – EST’D 1969

Posted on May 25, 2019 by jason

Park Records [Release date 21.06.19] Unlike many long established bands who only add a few songs off any new album into their set lists, Steelye Span have added nearly all of ‘EST’D 1969’ into their current set list. Take a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, EST’D 1969, folk, folk rock, Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, Maddy Prior, review, Steeleye Span, traditional music | Leave a comment

Album review: ALAN PARSONS – The Secret

Posted on May 21, 2019 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 26.04.19] ‘The Secret’ is the fifth solo album by Alan Parsons, some fifteen years after his last solo album ‘A Valid Path’. Magic provides a theme throughout the album with the Alan Parsons Live Project band members … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Parsons, Alan Parsons Project, album, classic rock, Disney, Foreigner, Jason Mraz, Lou Gramm, melodic, pop, progressive, review, rock, The Secret | Leave a comment

Quick plays: NITRATE, HOWARD JONES

Posted on May 20, 2019 by jason

NITRATE Open Wide AOR Heaven [Release date 21.06.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s enjoyable debut album ‘Real World’, Nitrate are back with album number two. The core duo of Nick Hogg (bass, guitars, keyboards) and Midnite City’s Rob … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 80's rock, album, BT, dance, electronica, hair metal, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, Howard Jones, melodic rock, Midnite City, Nitrate, Open Wide, pop, review, rock, synthpop, Transform | Leave a comment

Album review: HEADLINE MANIAC – The Chronicles of Dr. Leddfoot

Posted on May 19, 2019 by jason

3MS Music [Release date 12.07.19] “The Chronicles of Dr. Leddfoot” is the second album from Headline Maniac, the band whose members include Ian “Dipster” Dean, Simon Howley and Chris Taylor of Eddie & The Hot Rods fame. The album tells … Continue reading →