JOEY SUMMER – Even The Saints Are Sinners

Perris Records ww.joeysummer.com

Latest album from Joey Summer who has a grounding in classic sounding melodic rock. It’s not a bad album as Joey Summers has a voice suited to melodic hard rock and songs like ‘Lucky One’ and ‘Another Shot’ are decent enough tunes. There is an ill advised use of dance like synths on ‘Happy Children’ which sounds very dated and twee.

Limited interest really as there are much better albums out there and it needs a few stand out songs to capture the listener’s attention.

**1/2

Review y Jason Ritchie

WILLIE & THE BANDITS – Grow

www.willieandthebandits.com

Willie & the Bandits have already built up a decent live reputation touring with the likes of Deep Purple, Joe Bonamassa and Status Quo. The three piece – Willie Edwards (vocals/acoustic guitar/dobro/lap steel), Matt Brooks (bass/keys/vocals) and Andrew Naumann (drums/vocals) – produce a variety of sounds.

Highlights are the brash blues rock of ‘Gypsy Woman’ and ‘Got To Do Better’. Their mellower side comes through on ‘Forgiveness’, whilst ‘Under The Grove’ is a classic kickback and enjoy tune. But the album’s real stand out is the twelve minute instrumental ‘Angel’, written by Willie Edwards in memory of his late mother. It is a musical journey from gentle acoustic passages through to full on distorted rock guitar. Reminded me of Mastodon and Soundgarden. Listen out for the amazing drums and percussion too, very impressive.

In an age of musical labels it is refreshing to see a band who throw these aside and instead concentrate on making music they want to. They will appeal to fans of blues, 70’s rock and those after damn fine tunes. A band to definitely watch grow (sorry couldn’t resist that one!) over the coming months and years.

****

Review by Jason Ritchie

ANN SCOTT - Venus To The Sky

Somewhere between The Cranberries and Sinead O’Connor, but with strangely syncopated melodies and vocals that sound like they’ve been recorded inside a wardrobe (strangely echoey) Dublin based Ann Scott is Ireland’s answer to the likes of PJ Harvey.

So the chances are you’re either going to love or hate her fourth album Venus To The Sky. It’s highly unlikely to evoke no response from the listener – there are many who regard her left field material and delivery as one of the most courageous on the Irish scene. Others will feel a driven desire to reach for the ‘off switch’.

But the music scene needs those who are prepared to push the envelope, and there’s no arguing Scott does that on this ten song set recorded over several instalments between Chicago’s Audio and Sun Studios in Dublin.

Considered one of the top Irish acts right now, I have to confess that my love for Irish music and the female singer songwriter genre just doesn’t stretch this far. The otherworldliness of Venus To The Sky is just too wide of my mainstream comfort zone. But for those looking for something a little more ‘challenging’ …

**1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

PROSPEKT – The Colourless Sunrise

Sensory Records

Oxford based prog metal band comprising of guitarist/orchestration Lee Luland, drummer Blake Richardson, bassist Phil Wicker, and on vocals/keyboards Richard Marshall.

If you enjoy Dream Theater and Symphony X then this band are worthy of your time. That’s not to say they are copycats, its just that the vocals of Richard Marshall recall James La Brie at times and the guitar solos are up there with the best guitarists in the prog metal field. Plenty of musical depth too from the epics of the title track and ‘Hunting Poseidon’ through to ‘Visions’, a beautifully sung piece where the guitars have a rest! ‘Shutter Asylum’ is a big metal beast and based I think on Denis Lehane’s book ‘Shutter Island’ which was also made into a film.

Another young progressive metal band to keep tabs on.

***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

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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)