Tag Archives: pop rock

Album review: TRAGEDY – Disco Balls To The Wall

Posted on July 17, 2021 by jason

Napalm Records [Release date 30.07.21] It was a genius idea to take some classic disco and pop music hits from the 70’s and 80’s, add some very loud guitars into the mix and crank things up to the max. Fortunately, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abba, album, Bee Gees, disco, Disco Balls To The Wall, glam rock, pop rock, review, rock, Tragedy | Leave a comment

Album review: VARIOUS ARTISTS – Rockets Of Love! Power Pop Gems From The 70s, 80s & 90s

Posted on June 24, 2021 by jason

Big Beat / Ace [Release date 25.6.21] Power pop collections are never going to be top sellers, so it’s encouraging to find Ace’s Big Beat imprint following up 2019’s “Come On Let’s Go” and last year’s “Girls Go Power Pop” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Cheap Trick, compilation, Josh Rouse, pop, pop rock, power pop, review, Rockets Of Love!, the Knack | Leave a comment

Album review: ANDY McMASTER – Rays On The Water

Posted on May 13, 2021 by jason

Generally Speaking Records [Release date 09.04.21] Pianist, bassist, vocalist and songwriter Andy McMaster is a name best known as (alongside bassist, guitarist and vocalist Nick Garvey) a founder member of The Motors, a band who mixed pub rock and rock’n’roll … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy McMaster, melodic, pop rock, Rays On The Water, review, rock, Solo, The Motors | Leave a comment

Album review: RAY FENWICK – Playing Through The Changes Anthology 1964-2020

Posted on May 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

RAY FENWICK - Playling Through The Changes Anthology 1964-2020

Ray Fenwick chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio about his career and the anthology. Lemon Records/Cherry Red [Release date 30.04.21] Perhaps not the first name to be checked in a conversation about music front runners, British composer/guitarist Fenwick is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Radio interview | Tagged album, classic rock, Fancy, guitar, guitarist, Ian Gillan Band, interview, Playling Through The Changes Anthology 1964-2020, pop rock, Ray Fenwick, review, Spencer Davis Group | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BADFINGER, CACTUS

Posted on May 3, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

BADFINGER No Matter What Revisiting The Hits Cleopatra Records [Release date 02.04.21] Badfinger were one of our greatest pop rock bands with a criminally short life-span, not least due to the sad demise of the band’s two main movers and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged ALBERT LEE, album, Badfinger, blues rock, Cactus, Carmine Appice, hard rock, Ian Anderson, No Matter What Revisiting The Hits, pop rock, review, Rick Springfield, Rick Wakeman, Sonny Landreth, Terry Reid, Tightrope, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review: SERENADE THE STARS – Astronomy

Posted on April 4, 2021 by jason

Facebook Serenade the Stars are a Buckinghamshire based band consisting of vocalists Matthew Harman and Coral Smith, guitarist Damian Carruthers (who is also the band’s main songwriter), bassist James Wrigley and drummer James Burton. They formed back in 2017 and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Astronomy, Deacon Blue, Del Amitri, melodic, pop, pop rock, review, Serenade The Stars | Leave a comment

EP review: SINKA – Take Me To The Skies

Posted on April 1, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 16.04.21] Sinka are Shaun Sewell-Sears (vocals & guitar), Matt Smith (bass) and Jack Wright (drums), who released a self-produced debut EP, ‘F.W.Y.K’ in April 2020 (which is well worth a listen and owning). For their new EP … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alt pop, alt rock, EP, Muse, pop rock, review, Sinka, Take Me To The Skies | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAGUE OF LIGHTS – Dreamers Don’t Come Down

Posted on March 7, 2021 by jason

Eightspace Records [Release date 12.03.21] League Of Lights, the husband and wife duo of Richard (also a member of prog metal band Threshold) and Farrah West, return with their third album. As Farrah explains, “The album is about the past, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dreamers Don’t Come Down, electronic pop, League Of Lights, melodic, pop, pop rock, progressive pop, review, Threshold | Leave a comment

Album review: SOUNDS INCARCERATED – Unswitchable Hits Vol 1

Posted on February 22, 2021 by jason

Fool’s Paradise Records Hot on the heels of The Galileo 7’s “Decayed” release, Allan Crockford and Viv Bonsels (aka Sounds Incarcerated) from the band unleash a series of recordings originally created for Mister Unswitchable’s semi-regular online themed cover version events. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Allan Crockford, Covers, pop rock, quirky pop, review, Robyn Hitchcock, Sounds Incarerated, The Dukes Of Stratosphear, Unswitchable Hits Vol 1, Viv Bonsels | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GOLD NEEDLES – What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You?

Posted on January 30, 2021 by jason

Jem Records [Release date 19.02.21] The Gold Needles are onto album number three that features nine new original songs plus three covers including The Hollies ‘Have You Ever Loved Somebody’ and The Beatles ‘If I Needed Someone.’ Formed in 2015, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Larry Fast, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review, the Gold Needles, What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You? | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Halcyon Hymns

Posted on January 28, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 05.02.21] Fourth album from DBA, the fruitful poprock collaboration between Geoff (Asia/Yes) Downes and uber songwriter/producer, Chris (Guetta/Aguilera) Braide. Halcyon Hymns is their living-in-the-lockdown album, and as the title more than subtly suggests, it’s a recording … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Chris Braide, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Halcyon Hymns, melodic, pop rock, review, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: FANCY – The Complete Recordings

Posted on January 23, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio features a series of interview specials to tie in with the Fancy release and the forthcoming Ray Fenwick compilation. Mo Foster: Sunday 31 January 18:00 GMT Mo Foster Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists: Monday 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Annie Kavanagh, box set, compilation, Fancy, Les Binks, Mo Foster, pop rock, Ray Fenwick, The Complete Recordings | Leave a comment

Album review: WORLD GOES ROUND – S/T

Posted on January 23, 2021 by brianmc

Viper Records [Release date 22.01.21] It was 30 years ago today that World Goes Round recorded their one and only album (Ed: we might be a year or two out). This supremely talented array of artists, whose names (almost) always … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, album review, AOR, melodic, melodic pop rock, pop, pop rock, review, self-titled, World Goes Round | Leave a comment

Album review: BITE THE BULLET – Black & White

Posted on January 21, 2021 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 27.11.20] Bite The Bullet were originally formed in 1986 by singer songwriter Mick Benton and drummer Graham Cowling (who are also the only two musicians on this album) and they released their debut album in 1989. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bite The Bullet, Black & White, Escape Music, melodic rock, Mr Mister, pop rock, review, The Outfield | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GALILEO 7 – Decayed

Posted on January 13, 2021 by jason

Bandcamp Medway’s finest, fronted by Allan Crockford (ex-Prisoners), mark their tenth anniversary as a band with a limited edition album containing studio recordings of some of their favourite cover versions that have featured in their live set over the years. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged album, Allan Crockford, Bandcamp, Covers, Decayed, Galileo 7, indie, interview, pop, pop rock, Prisoners, review | Leave a comment

EP review: THE LICKERISH QUARTET – Threesome Vol. 2

Posted on January 10, 2021 by jason

Stranger Danger [Release date 15.01.21] The Lickerish Quartet return with their second four song EP. The band comprise ex-Jellyfish members Roger Joseph Manning Jr, Tim Smith and Eric Dover and like the much missed Jellyfish, they carry on that band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, indie pop, indie rock, Jellyfish, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review, the Lickerish Quartet, Threesome Vol 2 | Leave a comment

Album review: THE SWEET – Isolation Boulevard

Posted on December 26, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 18.12.20] First recordings by the revamped Sweet line-up that sees original member guitarist Andy Scott and long serving drummer Bruce Bisland joined by bassist/backing vocalist Lee Small (Phenomena, Shy, Lionsheart) and vocalist Paul Manzi (Cats In Space, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Digital only, Reissues | Tagged album, Andy Scott, classic rock, glam rock, Isolation Boulevard, Lee Small, Paul Manzi, pop rock, review, rock, The Sweet | Leave a comment

Album review: PICTUREHOUSE – 1999 Live in Dublin

Posted on November 28, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 27.11.20] Ahhh live music we miss you so and even someone like me who isn’t normally a big fan of live albums has been playing a lot of live tracks this year. So when of the many … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1999 Live in Dublin, album, David Browne, indie pop, indie rock, melodic, PictureHouse, pop, pop rock, power pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE QUESTIONNAIRES – Atlantic Ridge

Posted on November 25, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Boom Chang Records [Release date 15.01.21] It seems a bit disingenuous in the PR blurb to refer to Jane Wade and Steve Hall, aka The Questionnaires, as having been ‘around a bit’. For most, me included, their formative bands – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Atlantic Ridge, pop rock, review, singer, songwriter, The Questionnaires | Leave a comment

Album review: ZEBRAS DON’T SMOKE – Don’t Mention The Swedes (ABBA Tribute)

Posted on November 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Singsong Music [Release date 20.11.20] www.singsongmusic.com ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus said what he thought of streaming live music during Lockdown. He wasn’t impressed and thought kitchen gigs will never be a substitute. I wonder what he would have thought of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abba, album, Deckchair Poets, Don't Mention The Swedes, Geoff Downes, Lynden Williams, Nick D’Virgilio, pop rock, review, tribute, Zebras Don't Smoke | 1 Comment

Album review: TREMENDOUS – Relentless

Posted on November 22, 2020 by jason

Facebook [Release date 20.11.20] TREMENDOUS (stand down grammar peeps as they deliberately have their name in capitals) hail from Birmingham, UK and consist of Mark Dudzinski (guitar, vocals), Ryan Jee (bass) and Dave Lee (drums). The TREMENDOUS name is taken … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Cheap Trick, debut, glam rock, melodic, Mott the Hoople, pop rock, Relentless, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, TREMENDOUS | Leave a comment

Album review: ANGELICA – All I Am

Posted on November 21, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 12.11.20] Murder of My Sweet vocalist, Angelica Rylin goes solo again after seven years. “All I Am”, written and produced by the multi talented Daniel Flores, is only Rylin’s second solo outing since 2013. It has opened … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All I Am, ANGELICA, country, Daniel Flores, Frontiers, melodic, MURDER OF MY SWEET, pop, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Atlantis

Posted on November 19, 2020 by jason

Harmony Factory [Release date 27.11.20] On new album, “Atlantis”, it seems the new CIS line up, with vocalist Damien Edwards replacing Mark Pascall, has largely abandoned the iconoclastic tone of its predecessor, “Daytrip To Narnia” That of course, is down … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 70's rock, album, Atlantis, Cats In Space, clasic rock, Damien Edwards, glam rock, Greg Hart, melodic rock, pop rock, power pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DUNHAM – Mass Hysteria

Posted on October 22, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sky Rocket Records [Release date 01.09.20] A new Doris Brendel album is a bit like Christmas coming early. That moment when your Aunty Doris invites you to dip blindfold into a tub of Quality Street, only to discover she’s mixed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, art rock, blues, Doris Brendel, Lee Dunham, Mass Hysteria, pop rock, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Album review: PADRAIG JACK – Making Sand

Posted on October 10, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 25.09.20] Padraig Jack writes and sings in Gaelic and English, being born and raised 10 miles off the west coast of Ireland on the Aran Islands. Padraig has won second prize at the Pan Celtic National Song … Continue reading →