Album review: MIKE TRAMP – Cobblestone Street

Target Records [Release date 08.04.13]

First up, if you are expecting something along the lines of White Lion, the harder rocking Freak Of Nature or something lighter in the melodic rock field be warned as this is an album Mike Tramp has wanted to make for many years. That said if you are a fan of his vocals like me and love folk/acoustic music and storytelling in songs you will LOVE this album.

The songs have sparse musical arrangements, although little additions here and there really add to the song’s atmosphere. Take ‘Once’ where Mike’s vocal is set to a crackly background bringing to mind an old movie and you can hear the reel of the imaginary film spooling out at the song’s end. The harmonica and acoustic strumming on ‘Ain’t The Life I Asked For’ recall the Alarm’s Mike Peters. Hey now there is a dream tour, the two Mikes :)

The title track sets the scene nicely being about his childhood and where he grew up. His knack of penning a potential chart topper show through on the pop rock of ‘New Day’. Throughout the album Soren Andersen adds in just the right musical backing, be it the subdued keys on the title track or the electric guitar solo on ‘Revolution’.

The nearest he gets to one of his previous bands is on ‘We’ll Be Alright’, which could be an acoustic White Lion number.

I rarely award five stars but this album deserves full marks, not a duff moment from start to finish. He may have taken thirty years to reach this point and make this album, but it has been worth the wait.

*****

Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)