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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024
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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
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Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
Album review: L.A.GUNS – Black Diamonds
Frontiers [Release date 14.04.23] Since Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis buried the hatchet back in 2016 they have released four studio and two live albums in what can only be described as somewhat of a purple patch. The latest, ‘Black … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Black Diamonds, hard rock, L.A. Guns, review, sleaze
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Album review: BALDASSARRE – Grand Boulevard
Carl Baldassarre Music [Release date 28.04.23] The first thing this over-stressed reviewer thought when opening up the promo package was “what the hell will I play it on?” But it turns out that the album is on a USB stick … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Carl Baldassarre, classic rock, Grand Boulevard, pop, review
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Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Hang On Ramsey!/Wade In The Water/Don’t It Feel Good/Salongo/Tequila Mockingbird/Love Notes (Remasters)
BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date: various] Many readers’ first experience of Ramsey Lewis would have been the 1965 hit ‘The In Crowd’. This evokes happy times, stretched out with a transistor radio in the summer sunshine tuned in to a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Don't It Feel Good, Earth Wind & Fire, Hang On Ramsey!, jazz funk, jazz fusion, Love Notes, Maurice White, Ramsey Lewis, review, Salongo, soul jazz, Stevie Wonder, Tequila Mockingbird, Wade In The Water
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Album review: IAN HUNTER- Defiance Part 1
Sun Records (Release Date 21.04.23) Ian Hunter has taken into unchartered territory the concept of what rock n rollers are like when they reach a great age. Having celebrated his 80th birthday in 2019 with a Mott the Hoople 74 … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andy York, Ian Hunter, Jeff Beck, Johnny Depp, Mike Campbell, Mott the Hoople, Ringo Starr, Slash, Taylor Hawkins
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Album review : KING’S X – In The New Age, The Atlantic Recordings 1988-95 (6 CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date 28.04.23] Anyone who got truly tuned into King’s X will be familiar with words like “memorable”, “original”, “intoxicating”. These and other such qualifiers being liberally used in reviews of the band’s albums down through the years. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Arnold Lanni, boxset, Brendan O'Brien, Cherry Red, Dug Pinnick, Frozen Ghost, In The New Age, Jerry Gaskill, King's X, Our Lady Peace, Progressive Rock, Revolver, Sam Taylor, Sheriff, The Atlantic Recordings 1988-95, The Beatles
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Album review: WISHBONE ASH – Argus (50th Anniversary Edition 1972-2022)
Madfish/Snapper Music [Release date 14.04.23] In his Best of two decades listing our Melodic Rock Editor Andy Nathan (and big Wishbone Ash fan) included the gig at a country house in Buckinghamshire in 2012. Andy wrote: “Given the enmity between … Continue reading
Album review : TRAPEZE – Midnight Flyers (The Complete Recordings Vol 2) 5 CD boxset
Cherry Red [Release date 28.04.23] CD1 – Hot Wire (1974) & Trapeze (1976) CD2 – Hold On (1979) CD3 – Live At The Boat Club, Nottingham (1975) CD4 – Live In Arlington, Texas, (1976) CD5 – Live In Fort Worth, … Continue reading
Album review: ROB ORLEMANS & HALF PAST MIDNIGHT – Shake Them Down
Metal Horse Records & Media [Release date 21.04.23] It’s just over 20 years since Rob Orlemans struck out on his own with his Half Past Midnight band after being mentored by the late Curtis Knight (he of Jimi Hendrix fame). … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alvin Lee, Billy Gibbons, Black Sabbath, blues, boogie, Bukka White, Canned Heat, Curtis Knight, Ernst van Ee, Furry Lewis, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin Hopkins, Michael Katon, Ozzy Osbourne, Piet Tromp, review, Rob Orleman & Half Past Midnight, Rob Orlemans, rock, Rose Tattoo, Shake Them Down, Uriah Heep, ZZ Top
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Album review: THE MEL OUTSIDER REFORMATION – Miss Victory V
Planet UK [Release date 11.22] The Mel Outsider Reformation’s ‘Miss Victory V’ is an excellent album full of uniquely original songs, Mel Outsider’s cinematic phrasing and his band’s musical swagger. Its a musical arc that spans rock, soul, funk, rhythm and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Adrian Melling, album, Alex Harvey, Americana, Andy Morell, Bruce Springsteen, Ellie Coast, funk, Hayley Gaftarnick, Ian Hunter, Karl Francis, Mark Jones, Matt Pawson, Miss Victory V, review, rhythm and blues, rock, soul, Supersonic Blues Machine, The Mel Outsider Reformation, The Outsider's UK
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Album review: ELVENKING – Reader Of The Runes (part 2), Rapture
AFM Records [Release date 28.04.23] Heavy metal pirates, Elvenking, set sail again, boldly going where few bands dare to go. It’s no exaggeration to claim that this album is a unique heavy metal experience. Operatic, symphonic, folky, very lyrical, not … Continue reading
Album review: WINGER – Seven
Kip Winger chatted to David Randall for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, featuring tracks from the new album. First broadcast Sunday 7 May 2023. Frontiers [Release date 05.05.23] It’s a sign of the times that Metallica have apologised to Winger … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, hard rock, interview, Kip Winger, melodic, radio, Reb Beach, review, Seven, Winger
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Album review: TIM ARNOLD – Super Connected
Bandcamp [Release date 05.05.23] Tim Arnold returns with a concept album about social media, big tech and mental health, which culminated in Arnold’s unexpected diagnosis of autism. Arnold wrote Super Connected ‘in character’, with each song sung from the perspective of different … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, electronic, Jethro Tull, Kevin Godley, Lindsay Kemp, melodic, pop, progressive, review, Stephen Fry, Super Connected, Tim Arnold
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Album review: LAST IN LINE – Jericho
earMUSIC [Release date 31.03.23] As far as recent ‘superbands’ go I think it is fair to say that Last In Line come from the heavier bluesy rock end of the spectrum when say compared to a band like Revolution Saints. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andrew Freeman, Dio, hard rock, heavy rock, Jericho, Last In Line, Phil Soussain, review, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell
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Album review : ONE DESIRE – Live With The Shadow Orchestra
Frontiers [release date 21.04.23] Rising Finnish band, One Desire return with a live album. What is it with rock/ metal bands and orchestras? The ambition to match up the two has been realised regularly ever since most of us can … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classical, Deep Purple, live, Metallica, Nightwish, Procol Harum, review, Scorpions, Vassa orchestra Finland
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Album review: MORGANWAY – Back To Zero
Bandcamp [Release date 05.05.23] Having enjoyed Morganway’s self-titled 2019 debut expectations are high for this reviewer. Since releasing their debut album they have been gaining rave reviews for their live performances, along with winning awards including BCMA (British Country Music Association) … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Back To Zero, country, Harmony, melodic, Morganway, pop rock, review, rock
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Album review: IMAR – Awakening
www.imarband.com [Release date 21.04.23] The Scottish, Irish and Isle Of Man collective that is Imar return with their first album in five years. Imar’s line-up is Mohsen Amini (concertina), Adam Brown (bodhrán, guitar), Tomás Callister (fiddle), Ryan Murphy (flute, uilleann … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Awakening, folk, Imar, instrumental, review, traditional
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Album review: DEXTER WANSEL – Life On Mars / What The World Is Coming To / Voyager / Time Is Slipping Away
BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] Back in the day (mid to late 1980s), I was a closet listener to Robbie Vincent’s BBC Radio 1 show when he would frequently implore his audience to “open the fridge and freezer door” … Continue reading
Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Les Fleurs / Fantasy / Keys To The City (Remasters)
BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] BGO have done a great job releasing back catalogue from a number of big name artists and labels and packaging several albums on a couple of discs together with extensive liner notes in a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Earth Wind & Fire, fantasy, funk, fusion, instrumental, jazz funk, Keys To The City, Larry Dunn, Les Fleurs, Maurice White, piano, Ramsey Lewis
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Album review: MECCA – Everlasting
Frontiers [release date 21.03.23] First Mecca album to be released in Europe since the Brexit Referendum. And the suitably titled opener, ‘And Now The Magic is Gone’ turns out to be the album’s big moment. Everlasting is not quite as … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alias, AOR, Frontiers, Joe Vana, Marcie Free, melodic rock, review, Signal, Stefano Lionetti, Tommy Denander, Toto, Unruly Child, Vivien Lalu
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Album review: DAVE FOSTER BAND – Glimmer
English Electric Recording [Release date 21.04.23] Dave Foster Band features the aforementioned guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Foster (currently in Big, Big Train and a former member of Mr So & So) and vocalist Dinet Poortman. The other musicians involved are all top … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, alternative, Big Big Train, Dave Foster, Dave Foster Band, Dinet Poortman, Glimmer, Marillion, melodic, pop, Queen, review, rock, Steve Rothery
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Album review : BIOHAZARD – Urban Discipline and No Holds Barred, Live In Europe (2 CD Deluxe Digipack)
Cherry Red [release date: 14.03.23] New York band Biohazard are credited with fusing hardcore metal, punk and hip hop. Five years after formation they signed with Roadrunner Records and released their groundbreaking album, Urban Discipline. Urban Discipline (1992) This influential … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged 2 CD Digipack, album, Deluxe, Fishbone, hip hop, Kyuss, metal, New York Times, punk, review
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News: Albums of the Month (January – March 2023)
URIAH HEEP Chaos & Colour (Silver Lining Music) Heep join a select bunch of veteran bands (including close contemporaries Deep Purple) who are sounding as good as ever. Indeed classic heavy rock does not come much better than this. **** … Continue reading
Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged albums, classic rock, Cross Country Driver, February 2023, Floor Jansen, hard rock, heavy rock, January 2023, Katatonia, March 2023, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Robin McAuley, The Cold Stares, Uriah Heep
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Quick plays: CHRIS DUARTE, THE FLYING SYMBOLS, SANSOME & QUINN
CHRIS DUARTE Ain’t Giving Up Mascot Records [Release date 07.04.23] Blues-roots guitarist Chris Duarte releases this, his 15th studio album. It also marks the first time in 22 years Duarte has worked with producer-guitarist Dennis Herring (Buddy Guy, Modest Mouse, Elvis … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged albums, blues, Chris Duarte, folk, George Sansome & Matt Quinn, guitarist, hard rock, review, rock, roots, the Flying Symbols
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Album review: THE YOUNG’UNS – Tiny Notes
Hudson Records [Release date 07.04.23] The Young’uns are never one to shy away from a major musical undertaking as their last album, ‘The Ballad Of Johnny Longstaff’, proved. How do the Young’uns follow that? With this album ‘Tiny Notes’ which … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 3 dads walking, album, folk, Jon Boden, review, the Youbg'uns, Tiny Notes, topical, traditional
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Album review: MAGNUS KARLSSON’S FREEFALL – Hunt The Flame
Frontiers [Release date: 14.04.23] Fourth Freefall album from rock’n’roll workaholic, Magnus Karlsson. For this, Freefall’s fourth album, Karlsson’s rounded up 11 singers, all of whom offer something different, and we get a few tracks that show every sign that he … Continue reading
