Author Archives: jason

Album review: THE YOUNG ‘UNS – Strangers

Posted on August 17, 2017 by jason

Hereteu Records [Release date 29.09.17] Teeside three piece the Young ‘Uns – Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes – have won the BBC Folk Awards Best Group in 2015 and 2016, along with picking up numerous plaudits from the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged acapella, album, BBC Folk Awards, folk, review, social history, Strangers, the Young 'Uns, vocal harmonies | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND, QUIET RIOT, WORLD TRADE

Posted on August 14, 2017 by jason

THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND What If Rounder Records [Release date 18.08.17] Jerry Douglas has played and appeared on over 1,600 albums, from artists such as Ray Charles, Paul Simon and Eric Clapton, plus he has been a member of Alison … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Billy Sheehan, country, glam rock, hair metal, prog, progressive, Quiet Riot, review, Road Rage, rock, roots, the Jerry Douglas Band, Unify, What If, World Trade | Leave a comment

EP review: THE VIRGINMARYS – Sitting Ducks

Posted on August 14, 2017 by jason

Self Release [Release date 22.09.17] The Virginmarys have had a roller coaster ride of a career to date, with many favourable plaudits for their music from the press, big name tour support slots and their debut album made the US Billboard … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, EP, modern rock, review, rock, Siting Ducks, The Virginmarys | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MARTIN SIMPSON, RIVERDOGS, HIRSH GARDNER

Posted on August 9, 2017 by jason

MARTIN SIMPSON Trails & Tribulations Topic Records [Release date 01.09.17] Trails & Tribulations’ is Martin Simpson’s twentieth album in a career spanning over 40 years. As he says the album “is a collection of songs about nature, about travels and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, AOR, California, Def Leppard, Dio, Escape Music, folk, Frontiers, Hirsh Gardner, Martin Simpson, melodic rock, New England, Quick Play, reviews, Riverdogs, rock, songwriter, Vivian Campbell | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS HILLMAN – Bidin’ My Time

Posted on August 9, 2017 by jason

Rounder Records [Release date 22.09.17] ‘Bidin’ My Time’ marks the first solo album from one of the Byrds founding members Chris Hillman in over twelve years. On this album he has long time fan Tom Petty handling production, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bidin' My Time, bluegrass, Chris Hillman, country, country rock, David Crosby, Flying Burrito Brothers, review, Roger McGuinn, The Byrds, Tom Petty | Leave a comment

Interview: JOHN MITCHELL (LONELY ROBOT)

Posted on August 7, 2017 by jason

Lonely Robot aka John Mitchell released the second album in the trilogy, ‘The Big Dream’, earlier this year. Lonely Robot play UK dates supported by Tilt at the end of this month. Over to John Mitchell… Have you been pleased … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged gigs, Inside Out, interview, John Mitchell, Kepler Ten, Kim Seviour, Lonely Robot, progressive, rock, Tilt, Tour, White Star Records | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TUBES – The A&M Albums

Posted on August 6, 2017 by jason

In Part 1 (above) of a two-part special, Fee Waybill chats about the formative years of The Tubes. (First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 28 June 2015) Part 2 (above) discusses the band’s progress from the early-1980s to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, alternative, avant garde, box set, Fee Waybill, Now, Remote Control, review, rock, the A&M Albums, The Tubes, Todd Rundgren, What Do You Want From Live, Young And Rich | Leave a comment

Album review: SUZI QUATRO – Legend

Posted on August 6, 2017 by jason

Chrysalis [Release date 22.09.17] To coincide with Suzi’s third, fourth, fifth and sixth albums (1975 – 1979 on RAK) being fully remastered and issued digitally for the first time, Chrysalis issue this compilation that covers a good chunk of her … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, glam, legend, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Suzi Quatro | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DA VINCI, LEPROUS

Posted on August 3, 2017 by jason

DA VINCI Ambition Rocks AOR Heaven [Release date 25.08.17] It has been a mere 25 years since Da Vinci last released an album, the rather good ‘Back In Business’. The 2017 version of the band appears to only feature guitarist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ambition Rocks, AOR, Da Vinci, LEPROUS, Malina, melodic, metal, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Single review: SHARON LAZIBYRD – Don’t Worry

Posted on July 31, 2017 by jason

[Release date 01.09.17] The third single by Sharon Lazibyrd from her upcoming album due later this year. The song features Sharon Lazibyrd on vocals, ukulele, viola and cowbell and she is joined by Damon Bridge (accordion), Kate Bridge (backing vocals), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Don't Worry, folk, pop, review, Sharon Lazibyrd, singer songwriter, single, ska | Leave a comment

Album review: QUARTZ – Against All Odds

Posted on July 29, 2017 by jason

Dissonance Often associated with the NWoBHM, Quartz were at the melodic end; a bit like Magnum without the pomp. And before splitting in 1983 they produced some fantastic hard rock (and since their reformation too). The catalogue has been reissued … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Against All Odds, album, heavy rock, metal, NWOBHM, Quartz, reissue, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TIM ARNOLD – I Am For You

Posted on July 26, 2017 by jason

TA Music [Release date 01.09.17] Tim Arnold has had a busy year to date with the ‘Sounds To Pictures’ album earlier this year, a re-issue of the ‘No Coincidence’ album by indie rockers Jocasta, who Arnold was a member of, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, I Am For You, melodic, pop, review, rock, singer songwriter, Stephen Fry, Tim Arnold | Leave a comment

EP review: SAINT APACHE – Wolf Machine

Posted on July 22, 2017 by jason

[Release date 21.07.17] Wolf Machine is a 4 track long EP, by alt-rock band Saint Apache. It is an absolutely solid entry into alt-rock, and could comfortably sit alongside other popular artists of the genre. The whole EP has a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, EP, Highly Suspect, Rage Against The Machine, review, rock, Royal Blood, Saint Apache, Thom Meredith, Wolf Machine | Leave a comment

Quick plays: EMPIRE, LAST BULLET, TOM RUSSELL, DICK

Posted on July 21, 2017 by jason

EMPIRE The Raven Ride Pride & Joy Music [Release date 18.08.17] Pride & Joy Music continue their Empire re-issues and here we have the band’s third album which was originally released in 2006. Former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin sang … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, country, Dangerous Dreams, Dick, Empire, folk, Folk Hotel, Juanita Stein, Last Bullet, metal, review, rock, Rolf Munkes, Tom Russell, Tony Martin | Leave a comment

Album review: EDGUY – Monuments

Posted on July 20, 2017 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 14.07.17] Edguy are celebrating their 25th anniversary in style with this 28 song compilation that has an added live CD and DVD. Edguy main man Tobias Sammet never does things by halves and there are five … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged 25th anniversary, album, AVANTASIA, Edguy, metal, Michael Kiske, Monuments, Nuclear Blast, power metal, review, rock, Tobias Sammet | Leave a comment

News: JON STEVENS announces new album Starlight (September 2017)

Posted on July 18, 2017 by jason

On September 15th Jon Stevens returns with his new solo album, ‘Starlight,’ out on BMG. ‘Starlight’ is 11-track collection bursting with soulful artistry and honesty, masterfully crafted by one of Australia’s most prolific rock stars. Different as they are, each track overflows with … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged Dave Stewart, INXS, Jon Stevens, new album, news, Noiseworks, pop, Ringo Starr, rock, September 15 2017, Starlight | Leave a comment

Album review: ALL 4 1 – The World’s Best Hope

Posted on July 18, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 07.07.17] All 4 1 are another Frontiers project, with this one overseen by Alessandro Del Vecchio, who produced the album as well as playing keys and co-writing a few songs. The band consists of half of Alliance (about time … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, All 4 1, Alliance, AOR, Frontiers, melodic, Nigel Bailey, review, Robert Berry, rock, Strangeways, Terry Brock, The World's Best Hope | Leave a comment

Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Scarecrow

Posted on July 17, 2017 by jason

www.catsinspaceband.com [Release date 25.08.17] Cats In Space’s debut album ‘Too Many Gods’ was released in 2015 and rightly won the band many rave reviews. Since then they have toured supporting Thunder, done a joint headline tour with Space Elevator, appeared … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 1970's, album, Cats In Space, Greg Hart, melodic, Pilot, pomp, Queen, review, rock, Scarecrow, Sweet | Leave a comment

Album review: TEN – Gothica

Posted on July 16, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 07.07.17] Album number thirteen from the enduring melodic rockers Ten, which also sees them back on Frontiers in a multi-album deal. They have hit a purple patch these past few years, helped no doubt by the same line-up … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Gary Hughes, Gothica, John Halliwell, melodic, review, rock, Steve McKenna, TEN | Leave a comment

Album review: BITCHES SIN – Predator

Posted on July 16, 2017 by jason

Dissonance Formed in 1980, Bitches Sin were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and have since issued a number of classic metal albums, including Invaders, Uduvudu, The Rapture and First Temptation. It’s a genuinely great catalogue. This, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Bitches Sin, Dissonance, Heavy Metal Records, metal, NWOBHM, Predator, reissue. album, review, rock, Rodney Matthews | Leave a comment

Album review: FICTION SYXX – Tall Dark Secret

Posted on July 12, 2017 by jason

MeldodicRock Records [Release date 21.08.17] Fiction Syxx is the brain child of songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Mark Allen Lanoue who has had these musical ideas for some time now. To help him realise his musical vision he is joined by guitarist JK Northrup (King … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Eric Ragno, Fiction Syxx, JK Northrup, Mark Allen Lanoue, melodic rock, MelodicRock Records, prog, review, Tall Dark Secret, Tony Franklin | Leave a comment

Album review: NICOLE ATKINS – Goodnight Rhonda Lee

Posted on July 12, 2017 by jason

Single Lock Records [Release date 21.07.17] Nicole Atkins returns with her fourth album and one recorded against a backdrop of personal issues as she stopped drinking and finding out her dad as lung cancer. Often such life changing events can … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Isaak, country, crooner, Goodnight Rhonda Lee, Nicole Atkins, pop, review, singer songwriter, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: PICTUREHOUSE – How Do I Explain How This Came To Be?

Posted on July 10, 2017 by jason

Vinyl/digital release This album is not so much a best of more a collection of songs, some previously unreleased, that PictureHouse recorded between 1995 and 1998. There are twelve songs in all, with a couple drawn from the ‘Shine Box’ (1996) and ‘Karmarama’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dave Browne, How Do I Explain How This Came To Be, PictureHouse, pop, pop rock, power pop, review, Shine Box | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SNAFU, BELL XI, ADRENALINE MOB

Posted on July 10, 2017 by jason

SNAFU Live Nottingham 1976 Angel Air www.angelair.co.uk [Release date 04.08.17] Snafu featured vocalist Bobby Harrison and guitarist Micky Moody amongst their ranks, although Micky Moody left the band shortly after the tour this gig was recorded from and joined Whitesnake. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Adrenaline Mob, album, Arms, Bell XI, blues, Bobby Harrison, Duane Forrest, indie pop, Live In Nottingham 1976, metal, Micky Moody, review, rock, Russell Allen, Snafu, Symphony X, The Climb, We Are The People | Leave a comment

Album review: LIONHEART – Second Nature

Posted on July 8, 2017 by jason

AOR Heaven [25.08.17] Blimey, it has been a few years since Lionheart last released an album – over thirty to be precise! Their sole studio album to date was 1984′s ‘Hot Tonight’, rightly revered among many rock fans. They split-up in 1986 with Dennis … Continue reading →