Album review: SMASH FASHION – Big Cat Love

www.smashfashionmusic.com [Released 11.08.14]

Now this loyal reader is a real treat for the ears! Put it this way, if you like any of the following bands – the Stones, the Faces, the Sweet, Cheap Trick and Jellyfish – you will love this album. The band features a few names in former Rock City Angels’ Lloyd Stewart Casson on guitar and they did feature former Quireboy Nigel Mogg on bass until last year. The real star though is vocalist/guitarist Roger Deering, who has the knack of penning memorable tunes.

There is a lot to enjoy on there from the Stones/Faces vibe on opener ‘Wicked Ways’ through to the 70’s glam stomp of ‘Super Glam’, imagine Roy Wood and T.Rex jamming with Elvis on vocals! Those after more 70’s glam will love ‘Stay Of My La La’ which recalls the Sweet in their hard rock pomp. ‘Blame It On The Brandy’ will get even the most reluctant feet tapping, a Cheap Trick approved chorus arrangement make for another top notch song.

Plenty of great lyrical couplets too – `Feel like a black cat in a coal mine’ – on ‘Stairs To Nowhere’ and ‘Time to screw my head back on’ on ‘Blame It On The Brandy’.

I love it when you have no expectations of an album from a band you’ve not heard before and then they proceed to blow your musical mojo to pieces. Smash Fashion deserve to be huge!

****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.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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 3 November 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 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)