Tag Archives: pop

Album Review: EXPLORERS CLUB – Rarities Vol 1

Posted on February 4, 2021 by brianmc

Gold Star Recordings [Release date 05.02.21] Explorers Club dropped two acclaimed new albums last year (To Sing And Be Born Again/Explorers Club). We reviewed both. In their own way they proved that Sixties Pop is timeless. Jason Brewer, the band’s … Continue reading →

Book review: On track…KATE BUSH, RENAISSANCE, DIRE STRAITS, JONI MITCHELL

Posted on January 30, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication dates: December 2020; January/February 2021] The On Track volumes from Sonicbond come thick and fast. I can’t help thinking that in the rush certain standards are being compromised or, at least, opportunities missed. Firstly there are a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Derek Taylor, Dire Straits, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, On Track, pop, prog, Progressive Rock, Renaissance, review, rock, singer, songwriter | 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: 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

Album review: TED & MAJELLA – Divine Timing (Ted Turner, ex-Wishbone Ash)

Posted on December 30, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

www.tedturnerandmajella.com [Release date 21.12.20] Ted Turner is best known as the one time original guitar slinger in Wishbone Ash with whom he remained until 1974 and then on and off until 1994. Ted reappeared in 2018 together with his partner … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, chill-out, Divine Timing, guitar, guitarist, new age, pop, review, Ted & Majella, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Album review: KEVIN GODLEY – Muscle Memory

Posted on December 19, 2020 by jason

State 51 [Release date 18.12.20] Kevin Godley is ex 10cc and was one half of a duo with Lol Creme. His first solo album, Muscle Memory, is a post modern permutation of songs largely written at his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 10CC, album, electronica, Kevin Godley, Muscle Memory, pop, quirky pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVID COURTNEY – Isolation Symphony

Posted on December 12, 2020 by jason

The Store For Music [Release date 18.12.20] Those in the know are well aware that David Courtney is a Grammy award winning composer, producer and songwriter. Over the years, his musical partnerships with Roger Daltrey, Leo Sayer, Eric Clapton, David … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, cinematic, Dave Gilmour, David Courtney, Isolation Symphony, Leo Sayer, melodic, pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE BALSAMO – The Millennium Tapes

Posted on December 6, 2020 by jason

Facebook [Release date 04.12.20] Steve Balsamo has unearthed these songs during lockdown that were recorded back at the start of the millennium as the album title suggests. Balsamo worked with Micky Lister on these songs. Lister was signed back in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, mellow, melodic, Micky Lister, pop, review, singer songwriter, Steve Balsamo, the Millennium Tapes | 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

Interview: TIM ARNOLD

Posted on November 26, 2020 by jason

Tim Arnold recently released his latest album ‘When Staying Alive Is The Latest Craze‘ – “An album of times, created in the current pandemic and although it may not have answers to end the virus, it does contain an underlying … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged alternative, experimental, interview, Kate Alderton, live music, melodic, pop, Tim Arnold, When Staying Alive’s The Latest Craze | Leave a comment

EP review: PYLON POETS – Lucid Hallucinations

Posted on November 22, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 18.12.20] Pylon Poets are an alt rock trio from Torquay featuring Dan Hughes (Vocals, Guitars, Synths), Sam McIver (Drums, Backing Vocals) and Nathan Hughes (Bass, Backing Vocals). This EP was recorded by Barnaby Ray at Momentum Studios … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, alt rock, EP, Lucid Hallucinations, melodic, pop, Pylon Poets, review, synth | 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: LOUISE STEEL – Sideshow

Posted on November 19, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 20.11.20] Here at GRTR! Towers we enjoyed Louise Steel’s 2017 debut ‘Heartstorm’ very much. Louise Steel’s second album has been two years in the making that has included personal tragedy and making this album has proved cathartic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Louise Steel, melodic, pop, review, rock, Sideshow, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE OCTOBER – This Is What I Live For

Posted on November 7, 2020 by jason

Up/Down – Brando Records [Release date 23.10.20] The tenth studio album from Blue October recorded during the current pandemic. All bar two of the album’s thirteen songs were solely written by Justin Furstenfeld. Producer Eric Holtz is another key element … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, BLUE OCTOBER, indie, JUSTIN FURSTENFELD, pop, review, rock, This Is What I Live For | Leave a comment

Album review: JUBILLEE – You and I

Posted on November 6, 2020 by jason

Vacancy Records [Release date 06.11.20] A Scottish country music duo? Really? As a Scotsman I somehow feel that this is a stretch of credibility – you know, quite a tenuous line to Nashville. However I immediately hold my hand up … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Warren, country, JuBillee, Justine Wilson, pop, review, Vacancy Records, You And I | Leave a comment

Album review: TIM ARNOLD – When Staying Alive’s The Latest Craze

Posted on November 1, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 06.11.20] It cannot be denied that lockdown and the coronavirus has been a huge strain on all of us, especially as much of the world enters a second round of lockdowns. On 23 March 2020, the day … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Bandcamp, experimental, Jocasta, melodic, pop, review, Tim Arnold, When Staying Alive’s The Latest Craze | Leave a comment

Album review: MALIBOOZ – QE2

Posted on October 28, 2020 by jason

Red Steel Music [Release date 30.10.20] Malibooz is John Zambetti and Walter Egan. Their individual and collective pedigrees are incontestable. Their songs have been used multiple times in movies, including “Catch Me If You Can” and “I Robot”. The music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, John Zambetti, Malibooz, Peter Noone, pop, QE2, review, rock, Walter Egan | Leave a comment

Album review: PROCOL HARUM – Something Magic

Posted on October 27, 2020 by jason

Cherry Red/Esoteric Recordings [Release Date 30.10.20] Procol Harum certainly needed to spin a spell or two after new US producers, Ron and Howie Albert, threw out half the songs they’d written for “Something Magic”, their 9th album. This was 1977. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classic album, classic rock, Gary Brooker, pop, Procol Harum, prog rock, reissue, review, rock, Something Magic | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: JESSICA LYNN

Posted on October 19, 2020 by jason

In this special, first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Jessica discusses her musical influences and plays several exclusive tracks. Rising country crossover star Jessica Lynn has recently released her latest single ‘Love Me That Way’, which is now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged Amazon Prime, country, interview, Jessica Lynn, pop, Rising Stars, singer songwriter, singles, streaming, Tour | Leave a comment

Album review: PARA LIA – Gone With The Flow

Posted on October 19, 2020 by jason

Independent [Release date 02.10.20] German husband and wife team, Rene and Cindy Methner are Para Lia, now on their second album. Pop, Electronica, Indie Rock, alt.rock, alt.pop, Dark Wave, New Wave, Old Wave? In fact, it’s all of the above. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt pop, alt rock, Dark Wave, electronica, Gone With The Flow, indie rock, New Wave, Para Lia, pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE EXPLORERS CLUB – To Sing And Be Born Again

Posted on October 8, 2020 by jason

Goldstar Records [Release date 16.10.20] This covers’ album, simultaneously released with “The Explorers Club”, is a mixture of the obscure and the enduring. The picks self evidently come from an era that embraced bubblegum pop and sublime pop artistry at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Covers, Emeen (Spirit Kid) Zarookian, Jason Brewer, melodic, pop, progressive, review, the Explorer's Club, The Turtles, To Sing And Be Born Again | Leave a comment

Album review: EXPLORERS CLUB – The Explorers Club

Posted on October 8, 2020 by jason

Goldstar Records [Release date 16.10.20] Less a revolving door band, more a fluid musical construct, The Explorer’s Club’s single constant is founder, Jason Brewer. This is his fourth album in 12 years, not exactly prolific, but when you spend most … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Emeen (Spirit Kid) Zarookian, Jason Brewer, melodic, pop, progressive, review, the Explorer's Club | Leave a comment

Album review: ASHLEY CAMPBELL – Something Lovely

Posted on October 5, 2020 by jason

Vacancy Records [Release date 09.10.20] It’s not the first time on these pages I’ve mentioned that in country music, pedigree is pretty important. They don’t come much more iconic than Glen Campbell – so being the youngest of Glen’s eight … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged .Ashley Campbell, album, country, Glen Campbell, Nashville, pop, review, Something Lovely | Leave a comment

Single reviews: JESSICA LYNN, IVY GOLD, FUTURE RADIO, ZEA SY

Posted on September 27, 2020 by jason

JESSICA LYNN Love Me That Way Another new song from a rising star in the country scene Jessica Lynn. As Lynn hereself says – “Love Me That Way is one of my favorite songs from my new television concert special … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues, country, Future Radio, Ivy Gold, Jessica Lynn, melodic rock, pop, review, rock, singles, soul, Zea Sy | Leave a comment

Book review: MARK BADGEMAN & ANDREW WOLFMAN – Memories of The Market Tavern Kidderminster 1990-96

Posted on September 25, 2020 by jason

Self-published [Publication date 16.11.20] Even if you didn’t attend a gig at Kidderminster’s Market Tavern, if you’re a live music fan then there’s plenty here to enjoy. This long defunct but fondly remembered and unique venue is celebrated in this … Continue reading →