Share the post "Album review: RONNIE ATKINS – Make It Count"
Frontiers [release date: 18.03.22]
When Denmark’s Paul Christensen founded the Pretty Maids with Ken Hammer, he changed his name to Ronnie Atkins. And this despite assurances that his birth name sounded pretty cool.
None of this matters now, he lives on borrowed time, and is using it to create some of the best rock’n'roll of his career.
Like 2021′s One Shot, his first post-diagnosis album, Make It Count is reflective and thoughtful, and occasionally angry. It’s also very melodic, and is exquisitely crafted by producer, Chris Laney.
Pocket sized polemics, ‘Rising Tide’ and ‘Blood Cries Out’ are worthy of early mention. Each one, charged with electrifying currents of emotion, sees Atkins grapple with subjects that work hard to wriggle out of reach, but he holds fast. The subject matter is clearly signalled by the song titles.
‘I’ve Hurt Myself’, slick AOR mixed with pop; ‘Unsung Heroes’, a salute to the real heroes of the Covid years, and the powerful title track are massive pieces of composition and production, each painted on to its own unique canvas by Laney’s grand production. At times they seem like key songs beamed down from the AOR genre’s eighties heyday, flushed with success and ready for more.
The insightful, beautifully balladic ‘Remain to Remind’ is a simple song, sturdily tuneful, magnified by Laney’s kitchen sink production. It pairs neatly with the simpler, more subdued ballad, ‘Let Love Live’. The title is self explanatory. It’s a ballad that could be worked up into a showstopper in any other conditions, but Laney and Atkins keep it cool, focusing on the song’s illustrative lyrics. It’s initially underwhelming, but soon becomes sublimely exhilarating. Less is more.
Elsewhere, we might find the totality of Laney’s richly textured, detailed arrangements a bit much to take in one sitting. But we’ll enjoy coming back for more. ****
review by Brian McGowan
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.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
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 7 April 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 2 April 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 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: RONNIE ATKINS – Make It Count"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
