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Album review : GENERATION RADIO – Take 2
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Album review: JENNY COLQUITT – Pockets Full Of Rain
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Album review: SOMETHING FOR THE LONGING – Scottish Independent Pop 1985-1999 (3 CDs)
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Album review : CREYE – IV Aftermath
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Album review : JACK BRUCE – Halfway To The Stars – The Recordings 2001-2003 (5 CD Boxset)
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Album review: ELEGANT WEAPONS – Evolution
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Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
Album Review: LORDI – To Beast Or Not To Beast
AFM Records [Release date 04.03.13] Lordi came to many people’s attention after winning the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’ and of course their eye catching onstage costumes. This is their sixth studio album … Continue reading
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Tagged AFM Records, LORD OF MUSHROOMS, Lordi, To Beast Or Not To Beast
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Album review: OCTOBER TREE – The Fairy’s Wing
(Canvas Productions, 2012) If there’s one thing in life that really gets up my nose it’s indulgence. Self indulgence is bad enough, but pandering to somebody else’s indulgence is just plain wrong. And this is what has … Continue reading
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Tagged Greg Lounsberry, October Tree, prog rock lite, review, The Fairies Wing
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Album review: SAILOR FREE – Spiritual Revolution
(Tide Records, 2012) This is definitely an album of ‘despites’. Despite not having English as their first language, despite this being a concept album and despite having a band name like a John Inman sit-com – this … Continue reading
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Tagged Italian, Progressive Rock, review, Sailor Free
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Album review: X11 ALFONSO – Charles Darwin
(Self-release, 2012) Every so often an album like this appears, that is so left-field, so out of kilter with the way things are, that it is extremely difficult to listen to and be totally objective. Not that it is totally … Continue reading
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Tagged Charles Darwin, Progressive Rock, review, X11 Alfonso
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Album reviews: HEXVESSEL – No Holier Temple
Svart Records – Out Now. A year or so ago I remember coming across a review from a fellow journalist which was pretty complementary of “Dawnbearer”, the debut release by the Finnish Folk Metal outfit Hexvessel and even though I … Continue reading
Album review: REBECCA PRONSKY – Only Daughter
Rebecca Pronsky is a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn, New York whose previous outings have combined folk, jazz and country elements. ‘Only Daughter’ signals a slight shift in direction with a more adventurous Americana crossover sound. Produced by her husband and guitarist … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Americana, Only Daughter, pop, Rebecca Pronsky, rock, roots, singer, songwriter
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Album review: ACELSIA – Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow
The debut from Norwegian three piece Acelsia, has a sound far bigger than its component parts. With all songs written by vocalist / pianist Marlene Markussen and guitar, bass and synth player Odd Henning, and with Bjorn Tore Erlendsen (of … Continue reading
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Tagged Alcelsia, Don't Go Where I Can't Follow, melodic, Norway, Norwegian, review, rock
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Album review: LARKIN POE & THOM HELL – The Sound Of The Ocean Sound
Edvins Records [Release date 04.03.13] 5 extended EPs and a live DVD over their two year career to date, and sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell have elected to share their first long playing outing with Norwegian songwriter Thom Hell. The … Continue reading
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Tagged Americana, country, Larkin Poe, Lovell, Megan, pop, Rebecca, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Sound Of The Ocean Sound, Thom Hell
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Album review: ROBERT PALMER – Heavy Nova,Don’t Explain,Ridin’ High,Honey – Reissues
Edsel Deluxe Editions [Release date 14.01.13] Edsel Records have done a neat job with these 2 in 1 packages, brigading together Palmer’s 1988 – 1994 output in slip case outers, extensive artwork and bonus tracks. But never mind the packaging, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Don't Explain, funk, Heavy Nova, Honey, jazz, R&B, reissue, Ridin' High, Robert Palmer, rock, Vinegar Joe
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Quick Plays: The Val,Juruda,Chris While & Julie Matthews,Carrie Rodriguez,Annabelle Chvostek
The Val – Back The Val, named after vocalist Gabrielle de Val, are a truly European band. De Val herself, is German, but writes in English (although I wonder whether lyrics that refer to Humpty Dumpty and petticoats has perhaps … Continue reading
Album review: 10cc – Tenology
Universal/Mercury [Release date 19.11.12] It’s about time 10cc’s excellent back catalogue got a decent airing. Up to now all we’ve really had is a set of distinctly average re-masters. That is, with the exception of the release of their classic … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 10CC, boxed set, compilation, Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, pop, review, rock, Tenology
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Album: Thenewno2 – Beautiful Creatures soundtrack
When you think of The Beatles the first thing that comes to mind isn’t usually psychedelic indie rock, which is probably why Dhani Harrison (son of the brilliant George Harrison, naturally) has managed to keep his band a separate entity … Continue reading
Album review: KOMPENDIUM – Beneath The Waves
7 Stones Records (Release Date 11.2.13) Every so often, and it’s becoming ever more rare, an album comes along that is so fine it assumes iconic status. Sergeant Pepper, Pet Sounds, Led Zeppelin 4, Tubular Bells, Dark … Continue reading
Album review: TOMMY EMMANUEL & MARTIN TAYLOR – The Colonel And The Governor
Mesa/Bluemoon Records [Release Date 4.3.2013] So, what happens when you put together one of the finest jazz guitarists in the world with one of the greatest finger-style fretmeisters around? Well the answer is…. not quite what you would think. Martin … Continue reading
THE BRONX – The Bronx IV
ATO/ White Drugs ( Release date – out now) It has been five years since the last Bronx album. During the intervening period the band have been far from idle, touring constantly and releasing an album under their … Continue reading
Album Review: ERIC JOHNSON – Up Close Another Look
Mascot Records [Release date 01.04.13] Whilst I have always been aware of Eric Johnson and his influence on a whole raft of modern guitarists I have never really investigated his music. ‘Up Close – Another Look’ should change all that. … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Another Look, blues, Eric Johnson, fusion, guitar, guitarist, review, rock, Up Close
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ALASTOR – Out Of Anger
Metal Mind Records (Release date – out now) Polish thrashers, Alastor, have become something of a legend in their home country. Formed back in 1986 the band have had a mixed career, releasing four well received albums . … Continue reading
DEVON ALLMAN – Turquoise
Ruf Records 1186 [Released Jan 2013] Devon Allman’s star is on the rise. After touring relentlessly and cutting a brace of albums with his own band Honeytribe, he made a deserved critical breakthrough with the excellent Royal Southern Brotherhood. Now he’s … Continue reading
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Tagged blues, Devon Allman, Jim Gaines, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Ruf, Tuquoise
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Album review: ERJA LYYTINEN – Forbidden Fruit
Ruf Records 1188 [Released Jan 2013] Forbidden Fruit’ finds Finnish slide guitarist Erja Lyytinen taking the blues into the new territories, by delving into the personal realm to explore previously untapped musical ambitions. From the deeply felt lyrics and well crafted … Continue reading
Album review: PAUL RAYMOND PROJECT – Terms & Conditions Apply
Hear No Evil Recordings [Release date 28.01.13] Paul Raymond may be best known as the quiet one in UFO and perhaps surprisingly this is his sixth solo outing. ’Terms & Conditions Apply’ will appeal to UFO fans, but more broadly … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Michael Schenker, Paul Raymond, Project, Reuben Archer, review, rock, Stampede, Terms & Conditions Apply, UFO
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SABBATH ASSEMBLY – Ye Are Gods
Svart Records – Out Now. Religion and Mysticism have been closely linked with Rock throughout its history, providing both artists and bands with subjects for inspiration and discussion through music. While images of the goat have been sported on many … Continue reading
STANDING OVATION – The Antikythera Mechanism
Inverse Records www.standingovationband.com Six piece progressive metal band from Finland who impress on this album, although it does take a few plays to really gel with the listener. The vocals of Jouni Partanen are another feature … Continue reading
Quick Plays: DONOVAN’S DEVILS, SAKLIF KEITA, WILD ROSE, HEIDI TALBOT
DONOVAN’S DEVILS – Brothers Above All www.donovansdevils.com Formed in 2011, Donovan’s Devils consists of Teddy Venezia (vocals/guitar), Austin Martinez (lead guitar), TJ Bernhard (bass) and Michael Gangino (drums). Their debut album is an acoustic driven one and despite on their website … Continue reading
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Tagged DONOVAN'S DEVILS, Heidi Talbot, SAKLIF KEITA, WILD ROSE
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PINK CREAM 69- Ceremonial (Frontiers records- release date 25.1.2013)
German melodic rockers Pink Cream 69 have been going nearly a quarter of a century now and I remember them supporting Europe back in 1992, yet have gone under the radar somewhat, possibly because of their rather naff name. Ceremonial … Continue reading
GOD SEED – I Begin
Indie Recordings – Out Now. How many bands can you name which have recorded a live album at a festival as prestigious as Wacken Open Air before having released even a single note under their name? Chances are that, apart … Continue reading
