Category Archives: Quick Plays

Quick plays: PAUL RODGERS, ATOMIC ROOSTER

Posted on May 27, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

PAUL RODGERS – Free Spirit Quarto Valley Records [Release date 29.06.18] This account of Paul Rodgers revisiting his Free-form past was recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall in May 2017 . It was the culmination of his UK tour where … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Classic History Of, album, Atomic Rooster, blues rock, classic rock, compilation, Deborah Bonham, Free, Free Spirit, John DuCann, Paul Hammond, Paul Rodgers, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Vincent Crane | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MISHAPED PEARLS, LORDS OF BLACK

Posted on May 22, 2018 by jason

MISHAPED PEARLS Shivelight [Release date 25.05.18] Mishaped Pearls latest album’s title Shivelight comes from a word created by the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. The word describes the lances of sunshine that pierce through a woodland canopy. An apt description as Mishaped Pearls have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, country, folk, Frontiers, Lords Of Black, metal, Mishaped Pearls, Rainbow, review, Ritchie Blackmore, rock, Ronnie Romero, Shivelight | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SHARKS, GIG, SANDERS & SAVAGE

Posted on May 7, 2018 by jason

SHARKS Ready Steady Go 3MS Music [Release date 29.06.18] Sharks can trace their origins back to 1972 when they were formed by former Free bass player Andy Fraser, guitarist Chris Spedding and vocalist Steve ‘Snips’ Parsons, both of who are in this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Awake, blues, Brave New World, Bruce Gaitsch, Chris Spedding, Dave Innis, folk, gig, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, melodic, pop, Randy Goodrum, Ready Set Go, review, rock, Sharks, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: HEARTWIND, CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD

Posted on May 1, 2018 by jason

HEARTWIND Higher and Higher AOR Heaven [Release date 25.04.18] Heartwind hail from Sweden and were formed by guitarist Goran Engvall (ex-Hitworks) and keyboard player Mikael Rosengren (Constancia, Token). They are joined by drummer Peter Svensson (Constancia, Faith), vocalist German Pascual … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Captain Black Beard, hard rock, Heartwind, Higher and Higher, review, rock, Struck By Lightning | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TRACK DOGS, ULTAN CONLON, FUNNY COW

Posted on April 12, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

TRACK DOGS Kansas City Out Groove Mondegreen Records [Release date 01.06.18] Made up of two Irishmen, an Englishman and an American (no, it’s not the opening line of a joke), Track Dogs came together in 2011 when the four folk … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, Corrine Bailey Rae, folk, Funny Cow, Kansas City Out Groove, Last Days Of The Night Owl, review, Richard Hawley, roots, soundtrack, Track Dogs, Ultan Conlon | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE DARK LIGHT, MOOD GROOVE, GREG RUSSELL & CIARAN ALGAR

Posted on April 10, 2018 by jason

THE DARK LIGHT Keep Off The Grass [Release date 06.04.18] The Dark Light formed in 2015 and this is their debut album with a line-up consisting of Gerrard Edwards (vocals), Henning Brand (drums), Roberto Cicorella (guitars), Sonny Moylan (guitars) and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, Benjamin Lazar Davis, folk, funk, Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar, In Transit, JK Northrup, Keep Off The Grass, melodic, Mood Groove, review, rock, the Amazing, the Dark Light, Utopia and Wasteland | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MICHAEL MCDERMOTT, COLD TONE HARVEST, LUCKY BONES

Posted on April 1, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

MICHAEL McDERMOTT Out From Under Pauper Sky Records [Release date 18.05.18] On the cover of his last album (Willow Springs (2016)) Illinois-based singer songwriter Michael McDermott looked like a shaven headed ex-con. Two years on, he looks like Jimmy Carr’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged After You, album, Americana, Annie Keating, Cold Tone Harvest, country, Ghost Of The Untraveled Road, Lucky Bones, Matchstick Men, Michael McDermott, Out From Under, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SCOTT MATTHEWS, SHIRAZ LANE, MIKE LEPOND’S SILENT ASSASSINS

Posted on March 31, 2018 by jason

SCOTT MATTHEWS The Great Untold Sheido [27.04.18] Album number six from the Wolverhampton singer songwriter Scott Matthews, who has gone for a sparse sound and production on this album. His guitar playing is simply superb, which coupled with his haunting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Frontiers, hard rock, metal, Mike Lepond, Mike Lepond's Silent Assassins, Quick Plays, reviews, rock, Scott Matthews, Shiraz Lane, singer songwriter, Symphony X | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ESP 2.0, ROAMER, UNRULY CHILD

Posted on March 17, 2018 by jason

ESP 2.0 22 Layers Of Sunlight [Release date 20.04.18] www.suncreative.com ESP released a very enjoyable prog rock album in 2016′s ‘Invisible Din’ and now they are back with a revamped line-up. Composer/producer/guitarist Tony Lowe and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Big Country, Esp 2.0, Layers Of Sunlight, Marcie Free, melodic, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Roamer, rock, Tony Lowe, Unhinged: Live From Milan, Unruly Child, What The Hell | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE ZIPPERS, MATTHEW FISHER, CHRISTINA MARTIN, DARLING WEST

Posted on March 1, 2018 by jason

THE ZIPPERS Angel Air [Release date 09.03.18] Back in the late 80′s it seemed the major record companies signed up any band with long hair and guitars, only for them to record an album and then never get it released. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged albums, Americana, Angel Air, Christina Martin, country, Darling West, Fleetwood Mac, hard rock, Matthew Fisher, Procul Harum, review, rock, the Zippers | Leave a comment

Quick plays: VARVARA, I’M WITH HER, CHIARA BERARDELLI

Posted on February 23, 2018 by jason

VARVARA Go [Release date 23.02.18] Hailing from Finland (the most exciting thing to come out of Finland since fromer Liverpool player Jari Litmanen according to one previous review), are based around guitarist/vocalist Mikko Kari. This is the band’s fourth album and is one for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Chiara Beradelli, Crooked Still, folk, I'm With Her, indie, melodic, Mikko Kiri, Nickel Cfeek, reviews, rock, Varvara | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LUKE JACKSON, TOM TOWNSEND

Posted on January 25, 2018 by jason

LUKE JACKSON Solo, Duo, Trio First Take Records [Release date 09.02.18] Luke Jackson has been steadily building a name for himself since his debut album ‘More Than The Boys’ was released in 2013. Indeed, he has been nominated for the BBC … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, blues, folk, funk, jazz, Leave It Up To Me, live, Luke Jackson, pop, Quick Plays, review, singer songwriter, Solo, Tom Townsend | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN, ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD, RAINTIMES

Posted on January 16, 2018 by jason

BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN Hearts Of Glass Proper Music [Release date 09.02.18] www.bethnielsenchapman.com Beth Nielsen Chapman’s latest album is nearly all her own songs, with many of them being re-recorded versions where the piano on the originals is replaced by guitar. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Blind Arcade, albums, All The Luck In The World, alternative, Beth Nielsen Chapman, country, folk, Frontiers, Hearts Of Glass, inide, melodic, melodic rock, Raintimes, reviews, the Storm, Von Groove | Leave a comment

Quick plays: PRIMAL FEAR, KRANKSCHAFT

Posted on December 12, 2017 by jason

PRIMAL FEAR Best Of Fear Frontiers [Release date 10.11.17] Primal Fear have been around since 1997 and to celebrate their twentieth year we have a two disc best of. Disc one has four new songs, although one ‘Area 16′ is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, best of, Best Of Fear, Hawkwind, III Mysteries, Krankschaft, Matt Sinner, metal, Primal Fear, punk, Ralf Scheepers, reviews, space rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TYPHOON, EWAN CRUICKSHANKS, THE HAZEY JANES

Posted on December 7, 2017 by jason

TYPHOON Offerings [Release date 12.01.18] The PR copy states that ‘If a Fellini film, a Bosch painting and a Rorschach drawing had a collective sound, it would be Typhoon’s new release’. Or in more simpler terms it is an album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Glasgow Bandf, album, Ewan Cruickshanks, Hands Around The City - Live, indie, Offerings, pop, review, rock, singer songwriter, the Hazey Janes, Typhoon | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TALK-SHOW, STEVE RAVENSFIELD

Posted on December 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

TALK-SHOW Permanent Honeymoon (Wooden Piano Records) The brainchild of Maidstone singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lawrence O’Shea, Talk-Show brings together Gustaff Llunggren (brass, woodwind, strings and lap steel) and Chris Pepper (drums, percussion, programming, electric and bass guitars and syths), overseen by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Boo Hewerdine, Into The Next Life, Lawrence O'Shea, Permanent Honeymoon, pop, pop rock, review, Steve Ravensfield, Talk-Show | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SONIC TOOLBOX, THE MAGNETIC SOUTH

Posted on December 2, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

SONIC TOOLBOX A Space In Time Double Dutch, anyone? Sonic Toolbox, a fairly grizzly pair of old proggers (?) from Denmark who – on the cover art – look like Boris Becker and Robert Plant after a night on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Space In Time, album, Lars Boutrup, Mary Gauthier, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Rifles & Rosary Beads, Sea level, Sonic Toolbox, The Magnetic South | Leave a comment

Quick plays: PENDULUM OF FORTUNE, TOMI MALM, THE ESKIES

Posted on November 21, 2017 by jason

PENDULUM OF FORTUNE Searching For The God Inside [Release date 08.12.17] Pendulum Of Fortune are based around former Eloy drummer Bodo Schopf, who is joined by Pink Cream 69/Almanac vocalist David Readman, guitarist Vladimir Shevyakov and bass player Franky R (who … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, And Don't Spare The Horses, AOR, Dennis Ward, hard rock, Headstrong, melodic, Pendulum Of Fortune, Pink Cream 69, review, rock, Searching For The God Inside, soul, The Eskies, Tomi Malm, Walkin' On Air, West Coast | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DANTE FOX, CHEAP TRICK, KATE RUSBY, LOTS HOLLOWAY

Posted on November 1, 2017 by jason

DANTE FOX Six String Revolver AOR Heaven [Release date 24.11.17] This album sees Dante Fox re-record ten songs from their first two albums ‘Under Suspicion’ (1996) and ‘The Fire Within’ (1999) – five songs from each album. Joining the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Angels & Men, AOR, carols, Cheap Trick, Christmas Christmas, Dante Fox, folk, Kate Rusby, Lots Holloway, melodic, review, rock, Roy Wood, Six String Revolver | Leave a comment

Quick plays: GREGORY PORTER, DYED IN BLUE, KIRSTY MERRYN, JOE HENRY

Posted on October 25, 2017 by jason

GREGORY PORTER Nat King Cole & Me Decca/Blue Note [Release date 27.10.17] Gregory Porter has shot to fame from his jazz background to become a major name in the jazz and soul world. On his latest release he pays homage … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Dyed In Blue, folk, Gregory Porter, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, jazz, Joe Henry, Kirsty Merryn, melodic, Moment Of Leaving, Nat King Cole, Patrick Grehan, review, rock, Show Of Hands, soul, Thrum, You & I | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JIM BYRNES, INTASTELLA, THE JAMIE PORTER BAND, BILL FEEHELY

Posted on October 18, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

JIM BYRNES Long Hot Summer Days Black Hen Music [Release date 27.10.17] Sixty nine year old, multiple Canadian Juno and Maple Blues Awards winner, Jim Byrnes turns the clock back to his St Louis high school days for inspiration on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Bill Feehely, blues, dub, Intastella, Jah Wobble, Jamie Porter Band, Jim Byrnes, Long Hot Summer Days, Money & Love, reggae, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Sonic Smile, The Rise And Fall Of A Northern Dubstar | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE REMEDY CLUB, GYPSY SOUL

Posted on October 10, 2017 by jason

THE REMEDY CLUB Lovers, Legends & Lost Causes [Release date 08.10.17] ‘Lovers, Legends and Lost Causes’ is the first release under the duo’s new name The Remedy Club (they released two albums under the previous name – B & The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Americana, country, Escape Music, Foreigner, Gypsy Soul, hard rock, JK Northrup, Johnny Edwards, reviews, rock, the Remedy Club | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DIRTY THRILLS, STEELHEART, SHAKRA

Posted on September 29, 2017 by jason

DIRTY THRILLS Heavy Living Frontiers [Release date 15.09.17] Despite their name Dirty Thrills are not a sleaze rock band, instead they draw from the musical well of 60′s/70′s rock giants Led Zep and Bad Company, to produce a big, hard … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged AFM Records, album, Bad Company, classic rock, Dirty Thrills, hard rock, Heavy Living, Led Zeppelin, melodic, Miljenko Matijevic, review, Rival Sons, rock, Shakra, Steelheart, Through The Worlds Of Shadows | Leave a comment

Quick plays: FRIGG, PALE HONEY, HELL IN THE CLUB, CATHEDRALE

Posted on September 20, 2017 by jason

FRIGG Frost On Fiddles Frigg [Release date 06.10.17] Frigg (be careful how you spell that on a Google search!) hail from Finland and feature the talents of four fiddle players, plus a guitarist, bassist and cittern/mandolin players. All instrumentals and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Cathedrale, Devotion, fiddles, folk, Frigg, Frost On Fiddles, Hell In The Club, John Young. Jon Camp, melodic, Pale Honey, progressive, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: STEVE HILL, JARED JAMES NICHOLS

Posted on September 18, 2017 by jason

STEVE HILL Solo Recordings Volume 3 No Label Records [Release date 06.10.17] Steve Hill is a proper one-man band as his feet play bass drum, snare drum, hi-hats and with a drum stick fused to the head of his guitar, … Continue reading →