Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Paintings

AOR Heaven [Released 26.02.16]

Album number twelve from Last Autumn’s Dream who, with a couple of exceptions, release a new album at the start of each year. The line-up is the same as 2015′s ‘Level Eleven’, making this the second album to feature guitarist Peter ‘Pac’ Söders as a fully fledged member of the band. They are no longer seen as a studio based band as they played last year’s inaugural Rockingham festival.

There are no surprises as with Last Autumn’s Dream you get high quality melodic rock meets AOR, topped off by the distinctive vocals of Mikael Erlandsson. That could be the slight undoing of this band as some of their albums can blend into the background, bar a couple of stand out songs.

On ‘Paintings’ this one is one of the better ones, with a couple of curveballs in the sax on ‘Too Late’ and the vocal harmonies/backing effects on ‘In Case Of Landing On Water’. The latter may surprise fans as much more softer than their normal output. More keys on this album in parts, no doubt due to Ulf Wahlberg being credited as a full member of the band.

It wouldn’t be a Last Autumn’s Dream album without a cover and this time they have a go at REO Speedwagon’s ‘Take It On The Run’. I am not overly convinced by this version, close but no cigar.

One of their better albums and to be honest you will never hear a duff Last Autumn’s Dream album. ***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.

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 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)