Tag Archives: pop

Book review: NOW That’s What I Call A Quiz: Puzzle Your Way Through Sixty Years of Pop by Michael Mulligan

Posted on December 5, 2019 by jason

Trapeze [Publication date 31.10.19] Based on the bestselling series of NOW compilation albums this is a good all-round music quiz book. Split into sections that include decades, the themed NOW compilations (e.g. Disney, football anthems) and genres (rock, classic rock … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, charts, Michael Mulligan, music, NOW That's What I Call A Quiz: Puzzle Your Way Through Sixty Years of Pop, pop, punk, quiz, review, rock, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION (DBA) – Live In England (CD/DVD)

Posted on November 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Magical Thinker Records [Release date 29.11.19] Geoff Downes has been involved in a whole range of projects over the years, outside of Asia and Yes. His collaboration with UK born, LA-based Chris Braide seems to be one of the more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Live In England, pop, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SPARKS – Past Tense: The Best Of Sparks

Posted on November 12, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 08.11.19] For many people of a certain age Sparks are famed for the high vocals and scary looking bloke on the keyboards, yet there is so much more to their music aside from the big hits ‘This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, best of, classic rock, dance, Franz Ferdinand, pop, quirky, review, rock, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, synth pop | Leave a comment

Album review: SPARKS – Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins

Posted on November 10, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 01.11.19] ‘Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins’ originally came out in 1994 and came after a six year gap by Sparks since 1988’s ‘Interior Design’ album. The band were said to be on hiatus, something Ron Mael takes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Reissues | Tagged album, Christo Haydon, dance, Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, pop, quirky, review, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, synth pop, Techno | Leave a comment

Quick plays: WILDWOOD KIN, PAMELA SUE MANN, CATTLE & CANE, CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND

Posted on November 8, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

WILDWOOD KIN Wildwood Kin Silvertone/Sony [Release date 04.10.19] Alt-folkies Wildwood Kin – sisters Beth and Emillie Key, and cousin Meghann Loney follow up their 2017 debut (Turning Tides) with an altogether more ‘grown up’ sounding sophomore self-titled release. Majoring on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, Americana, Break, Cattle & Cane, Christopher Holland, electronica, folk, Golden Hour, Navigator, Pamela Sue Mann, pop, review, Rundown, Scratches, singer, songwritrer, Wildwood Kin | Leave a comment

Gig review: KIKI DEE & CARMELO LUGGERI – Goods Shed Arts Centre, Tetbury, 1 November 2019

Posted on November 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

In the first part of a two part special Kiki Dee chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio about her early career. First broadcast in March 2015. Part 2 is available here Kiki Dee is a Featured Artist at Get … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1 November 2019, Carmelo Luggeri, gig, Goods Shed Arts Centre, Kiki Dee, pop, pop rock, review, Tetbury | Leave a comment

Album review: THE SOUL REBELS – Poetry In Motion

Posted on November 2, 2019 by jason

Rebelution Music Group [Release date 25.10.19] From the opening of notes of ‘Blow the Horns’ The Soul Rebels exude swagger and confidence, promising to “shake the world up like an earthquake”. ‘Poetry in Motion’ marks the first release in seven … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Branford Marsalis, funk, hip hop, jazz, Maroon 5, Poetry In Motion, pop, review, Robert Glasper, soul, the Soul Rebels | Leave a comment

Quick plays: D’ERCOLE, THE WAY, SPEARMINT

Posted on October 29, 2019 by jason

D’ERCOLE The Ballad Of C.L. Rock Company [Release date 11.10.19] It’s that man again, Phil Vincent, on another release following hot on the heels of the Forest Field album. D’Ercole is a band affair with Damian D’Ercole (guitar) and B.F. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays | Tagged album, D'Ercole, Frequency of Spirit, funk, hard rock, indie pop, Joe Lynn Turner, melodic rock, metal, Phil Vincent, pop, review, Spearmint, The Ballad Of CL, The Way | Leave a comment

Album review: THEA HJELMELAND – Kulla

Posted on October 27, 2019 by jason

Proper Music [Release date 25.10.19] The third album by Thea Hjelmeland, KULLA, is the definition of artistic freedom. Hailing from Norway, Hjelmeland is a singer, writer and a multi-instrumentalist and demonstrates a genre-hopping confidence that suggests an artist completely at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Bjork, dreamy, Kate Bush, Kulla, pop, review, singer songwriter, Thea Hjelmeland | Leave a comment

Gig review: SQUEEZE – New Theatre, Oxford, 25 October 2019

Posted on October 26, 2019 by jason

A packed out New Theatre were eagerly awaiting Squeeze, however before the main event we had Heaven 17, a band who had plenty of chart success in the early-mid 80’s. Still featuring two thirds of the original line-up in vocalist … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Chris Difford, classic pop, concert, gig, Glenn Gregory, Glenn Tilbrook, Heaven 17, New Wave, Oxford, pop, pop rock, review, singer songwriter, Squeeze, synth pop | Leave a comment

Quick plays: STEELEYE SPAN, GALLAGHER & LYLE, HUMBLE PIE

Posted on October 13, 2019 by jason

GALLAGHER & LYLE - Live at De Montfort Hall Leicester 1977

STEELEYE SPAN Live at De Montfort Hall Leicester 1977 Store For Music/Angel Air [Release date 04.10.19] One glaring error on this CD is the concert was in fact recorded in 1978 on the band’s then farewell tour (although the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays | Tagged album, blues rock, De Montfort Hall, folk, folk rock, Gallagher & Lyle, Humble Pie, Leicester, live recording, Maddy Prior, Martin Carthy, pop, review, soft rock, Steeleye Span, Steve Marriott | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DIVINE COMEDY – O2 Academy, Oxford, 13 October 2019

Posted on October 13, 2019 by jason

Seeing the Divine Comedy live has been top of my bands to see list and I was very happy to be able to finally see them at a sold out show at the Academy (or the Zodiac as it was … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged chamber pop, gig, indie pop, indie rock, Neil Hannon, Office Politics, pop, quirky pop, review, The Divine Comedy | Leave a comment

Book review: THE MOODY BLUES – Every Album, Every Song (On Track) by Geoffrey Feakes

Posted on October 10, 2019 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 22.08.19] The format follows the tried and tested Every Album, Every Song formula by tackling each album in chronological order. In this book though Feakes adds in piece about the album cover – the Moody Blues … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, classic rock, Every Album, Every Song, Geoffrey Feakes, Graeme Edge, John Lodge, JUSTIN HAYWARD, On Track, orchestral rock, pop, Ray Thomas, review, rock, Sonic Bond Publishing, symphonic rock, The Moody Blues | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVID HASSELHOFF – Open Your Eyes

Posted on October 10, 2019 by jason

Cleopatra Records [Release date 29.09.19] David Hasselhoff, or the Hoff to his many fans, is no stranger to the recording studio having released his first album way back in 1985. He has always been big in Germany, indeed this album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged 80s, album, alternative, Charlie Daniels, Covers, David Hasselhoff, Glen Campbell, Ministry, Open Your Eyes, pop, review, rock, The Lords of The New Church, Todd Rundgren, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Gig review: FLIGHT BRIGADE – Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, 4 October 2019

Posted on October 5, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

What’s not to like? An architecturally interesting venue for food, drink and music. A beer festival. And a free gig!! The first thing you might say about Flight Brigade, two days into a 14-date tour, is “where are the girls?”. … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 October 2019, alternative, Chester, eighties, Flight Brigade, gig, indie, pop, review, synth, synth pop, Telford's Warehouse | Leave a comment

Album review: KING CALAWAY – Rivers

Posted on October 3, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 04.10.19] King Calaway formed last year, released an EP earlier this year and now are set to unleash their debut album ‘Rivers’. I will admit this is not your standard GRTR! fare, however good songs are just … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, country, country pop, King Calaway, melodic, pop, review, Rivers, Stephen Stills | Leave a comment

Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2019)

Posted on September 24, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Focus - Hard Rock Hell Prog, Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Your tour not listed? Contact us! Updated 08/12/2019 2019 ALABAMA 3 Fri December 13 MANCHESTER O2 Ritz Sat December 14 GLASGOW Barrowland Fri December 20 O2 … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases) | Tagged 2019, AOR, gigs, Ireland, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, tour dates, tours, uk | Leave a comment

Album review: ALLAN CLARKE – Resurgence

Posted on September 18, 2019 by jason

BMG [Release date 20.09.19] Former Hollies singer Allan Clarke returns with his first new album in 29 years after he had seemingly retired from music back in 1990. However, his son Toby set him on the road to recording this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Allan Clarke, country, GarageBand, Graham Nash, pop, Resurgence, review, rock, singer songwriter, The Hollies | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BRUCE COCKBURN, LOUIEN

Posted on September 17, 2019 by jason

BRUCE COCKBURN Crowing Ignites True North Records [Release date 20.09.19] ‘Crowing Ignites’ is Bruce Cockburn’s 34th and his second all instrumental album, which differs from his previous instrumental album in that the compositions on here are brand new. The music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, blues, Bruce Cockburn, Crowing Ignites, folk, instrumental, jazz, Joni Mitchell, Louien, None of My Words, pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SWIM DEEP – Emerald Classics

Posted on September 9, 2019 by jason

[Release date 04.10.19] Swim Deep formed in 2011 and their first two albums made the UK album charts. However, last year they were sat at a crossroads in their local pub – The Emerald, from which the album takes its … Continue reading →