Tag Archives: pop

Album review: SIMON KENT – In Another Life

Posted on March 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

ReprinT [Release date 04.05.18] Originally slated for release 12 months ago, and with the lead single ‘Never Stop Believing’ released as long ago as February 2016, Portsmouth singer songwriter Simon Kent’s follow up to his 2014 sophomore album Dreams And … Continue reading →

Album review: WILSON & WAKEMAN – The Sun Will Dance In Its Twilight Hour

Posted on March 1, 2018 by jason

Blacklake [Release date 16.02.18] Wilson & Wakeman – Damian Wilson on vocals and acoustic guitar and Adam Wakeman on piano, vocals and acoustic guitar – are back with a new album. They work well as a duo in the live … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Wakeman, album, Damian Wilson, melodic, Ozzy, pop, progressive, review, rock, Snakecharmer, The Sun Will Dance In Its Twilight Hour, Threshold, Wilson & Wakeman | Leave a comment

Album review: TOM TOOMEY – Turquoise

Posted on February 15, 2018 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Tom Toomey in his Feature show broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sunday 25 February 2018, including tracks from ‘Turquoise’. Giant Records [Release date 06.01.18] Tom Toomey is best known as the guitarist with The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Colin Blunstone, David Bowie, Flora Purim, Frank Zappa, fusion, guitar, interview, John Devine, Jon Anderson, Latino, Mark Knopfler, Melissa Kaplan, Pat Metheny, Paul Young, pop, review, rock, soul, Steely Dan, The Zombies, Tom Toomey, Turquoise, William Purefoy, world music | Leave a comment

Album review: STERLING BALL, JOHN FERRARO, JIM COX – The Mutual Admiration Society

Posted on February 13, 2018 by petefeenstra

Mascot [Release date 19.01.18] Guitarist Sterling Ball, bassist John Ferraro and drummer Jim Cox explore a musical lineage which their label tells us, is: “A celebration of up to forty years of friends making music together.” The label in this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged ALBERT LEE, album, blues, country, Dobie Gray, funk, guitar, Jay Grayson, Jim Cox, John Ferraro, John Petrucci, pop, review, rock, Sterling Ball, Steve Lukather, Steve Morse, Steve Vai, The Jackson 5, The Mutual Admiration Society | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVEY LANE – I’m Gonna Burn Out Bright

Posted on February 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Capgun [Release date 16.03.18] Introspective opener ‘Hell (A Prelude)’ hardly prepares the listener for what’s to come on Davey Lane’s second solo album. Before you know it, the belting synth epic ‘Taurus All Apart’ swirls into your head – sonically … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Davey Lane, I'm Gonna Burn Out Bright, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: THE POODLES – Prisma

Posted on February 6, 2018 by jason

Gain Music/Sony [Release date 26.01.18] The Poodles add to the growing list of rock acts who have released a covers album in the past few years. On ‘Prisma’ they tackle a variety of genres and eras, including a few surprise pop choices. Jakob … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blondie, Covers, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, metal, pop, PRISMA, review, rock, the Osmonds, The Poodles | 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

Album review: FIVE GRAND STEREO – Sex & Money

Posted on January 20, 2018 by jason

Five Grand Stereo [Release date 26.01.18] Five Grand Stereo are Chris Singleton (vocals/guitar/piano), Jane Fraser (vocals), Stelios Kalisperides (guitar), Michael Kirkland (sax/synths), Zane Maertens (bass) and Ben Woollacott (drums). Chris Singleton has of course released a series of excellent pop/rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Singleton, David Bowie, debut, Five Grand Stereo, melodic, pop, review, rock, Sex & Money | Leave a comment

News: For Your Listening Pleasure…January 2018 – Toto, Judas Priest, Narrow Plains

Posted on January 7, 2018 by jason

A new monthly page where we give a brief mention and/or review to new lead songs from upcoming albums and more… Judas Priest are back with ‘Lightning Strikes’ off their upcoming album ‘Firepower’ which is due on 9 March via … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Editorial & Opinion, NEWS | Tagged albums, Alex James Brierley, Fiction Syxx, Judas Priest, Kayak, melodic, melodic rock, metal, New releases, new songs, pop, prog rock, rock, Simon Lewis, singles, the Darker My Horizon, the Narrow Plains, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: RJ THOMPSON – Echo Chamber

Posted on December 16, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Chicken Wire Records [Release date 17.11.17] Currently on tour opening for Jools Holland, and with the endorsement of broadsheets like The Times and The Guardian ringing in his ears, North-East singer songwriter RJ Thompson’s debut studio album sails about as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Echo Chamber, pop, review, RJ Thompson, rock, singer, songwriter | 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

The Best of 2017: top albums, top live acts – the reviewers’ choice

Posted on November 27, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

On Sunday 17 December on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, David Randall announced the popular poll results. This two-hour special includes artists voted for in the various categories: Top Albums, Top Live Acts, Top Breakthrough Acts. Every year we ask … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged albums, Best of 2017, blues, blues rock, breakthrough acts, gigs, heavy rock, listing, live acts, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, reissues, reviewer, rock, selection, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: VON HERTZEN BROTHERS – War Is Over

Posted on November 21, 2017 by petefeenstra

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 03.11.17] ‘War Is Over’ isn’t so much a concept album as a dramatic prog rock album with associated musical influences, ranging from classic, hard and symphonic rock, to more poppy and synth influences. There’s plenty … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anathema, Caravan, classic rock, Eric Norlander, Grateful Dead, hard rock, Jethro Tull, Kie Von Hertzen, King Crimson, Lana Lane, Paul Buckmaster, pop, prog rock, Pye Hastings, review, Robert Engstrand, symphonic rock, synth, Von Hertzen Brothers, War Is Over, Wishbone Ash, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: BARENAKED LADIES – Fake Nudes

Posted on November 14, 2017 by jason

UMC [Release date 17.11.17] Barenaked Ladies, a band you have to be careful when Googling particularly with this latest album title… Barenaked Ladies have deservedly won many awards in their native Canada – 8 Juno awards to date – for their harmony filled pop songs, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Barenaked Ladies, Fake Nudes, folk, indie, pop, pop rock, power pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ANTHONY PHILLIPS – Invisible Men

Posted on November 13, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date 13.10.17] The former Genesis guitarist’s solo career has been enjoying a boom courtesy of Esoteric Recordings and their expansive reissue programme of his back catalogue. We’ve had the 70s – acoustic, analogue, much meditative melancholy resonating nicely … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, Anthony Phillips, electronic, Genesis, Invisible Men, pop, review, Richard Scott | Leave a comment

Gig review: SQUEEZE – Royal Albert Hall, London, 6 November 2017

Posted on November 10, 2017 by jason

Squeeze - BEARDED THEORY FESTIVAL, Catton Hall, Derbyshire, 26-29 May 2016

Nearly 40 years after emerging as one of the best bands from that burst of creativity known at the time as the New Wave, Squeeze are not content with the easy option coasting on the Rewind-style nostalgia circuit. Instead the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Chris Difford, gig, Glenn Tilbrook, London, pop, review, rock, Royal Albert Hall, Squeeze | Leave a comment

Album review: BARBARA BLACK – Ad Libitum

Posted on November 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 18.09.17] Barbara Black (not a very Spanish name) is, by all accounts, one of the best female voices on the Spanish female singer/songwriter, rock/metal scene. A classically trained singer, as well a pianist, and make-up artist and hairdresser … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Ad Libitum, album, Barbara Black, metal, pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Skyscraper Souls

Posted on November 7, 2017 by jason

David Randall chatted to Chris Braide in October 2015 and this hour special provides background to the singer-songwriter’s career and on hooking up with Geoff Downes. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Magical Think Tank Records [Release date … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Partridge, Asia, Big Big Train, Buggles, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Marc Almond, melodic, pop, progressive, review, Skyscraper Souls, Tim Bowness, XTC, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: WHEN MARY – Tainted

Posted on November 3, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond [Release date 10.11.17] The second album from Norwegian art rock band When Mary – Trude Eidtang (vocals, synth, percussion, glockenspiel), Christian Paulsen (guitars, programming, synth, bass) and Vidar Uthaug (synth, organ, korg, Rhodes) is a rather enchanting affair. That … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, art rock, electronica, pop, review, Tainted, Trude Eidtang, When Mary, White Willow | Leave a comment

Gig review: ANDREW ROACHFORD – Live Rooms, Chester, 2 November 2017

Posted on November 3, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Andrew Roachford has spent much of 2017 gigging with Mike + The Mechanics – during which time he was described in our review as ‘the epitome of cool.’ We should be grateful, therefore, that he can find the time to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 November 2017, Andrew Roachford, Chester, gig, Live Rooms, Mike & the Mechanics, pop, R&B, review, rock, soul | Leave a comment

EP review: JOSH TAERK – Stages

Posted on October 28, 2017 by jason

Apple Music [Release date 02.02.18] Josh Taerk has long been a favourite here at Ritchie towers and he is now back with a new five song EP, although one song ‘After The Fall’ is lifted from his last album ‘Here’s To … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars Revisited, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, interview, Josh Taerk, melodic, pop, review, rock, singer songwiter, Stages | Leave a comment

Album review: PUGWASH – Silverlake

Posted on October 27, 2017 by jason

Lojinx [Release date 25.11.17] Pugwash, the brainchild of Thomas Walsh, was a band until earlier this year when he disbanded it and went back to Pugwash being a solo project. However, on this album he finally managed to work with friend and fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ELO, Jason Falkner, Jellyfish, pop, pop rock, power pop, Pugwash, review, rock, Silvertide, Thomas Walsh, XTC | Leave a comment

Album review: SQUEEZE – The Knowledge

Posted on October 24, 2017 by jason

Love Records [Release date 13.10.17] ‘The Knowledge’ is Squeeze’s third album since they reunited back in 2007 and 2015′s ‘Cradle To The Grave’ received rave reviews, plus saw the band gain more exposure as the album formed the soundtrack to the TV series … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Difford, Glen Tilbrook, pop, pop rock, review, rock, Squeeze, The Knowledge | Leave a comment

Album review: THOMAS LANG – Scallywag Jaz (2 disc expanded edition)

Posted on October 22, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

SFE/Cherry Red [Release date 10.11.17] As we learn from the informative liner notes Tom T. Jones made his first demos in a studio in Birkenhead (Lily Savage’s spiritual home) before returning to his day job as a British Rail joiner. … Continue reading →