Album review: PHIL THORNALLEY – Holly Would

Lojinx [Release date 29.03.24]

This reviewer enjoyed Phil Thornalley’s last album, 2022′s ‘Now That I Have Your Attention’, a veritable musical delight for fellow lovers of ELO, Tom Petty and all things Jeff Lynne related. On this album Phil Thornalley continues to produce wonderfully melodic tunes that tip a musical hat at ELO, Travelling Wilburys and the much missed Jellyfish.

It will come as no surprise that label mates on Lojinx include the likes of Graham Gouldman and the Lickerish Quartet, both artists who know how to pen a decent melody and lyric. As Phil Thornalley says of this album, “…I wanted to have fun lyrically with the concept of ‘fame’, the ‘lust for glory’ but deliver it with some good old fashioned tunes and some self deprecating humour”.

Opening the album with ‘Holly Would Love (Suite)’ sets the standard high, as it features all manner of musical magic, along with strings that would keep the most ardent 70s ELO fan happy. These are all performed on the album by cellist Karl McComas-Reichl.

‘Failing Upwards’ has a wonderful late 80s/early 90s Tom Petty vibe, whilst ‘When The Riots Start’ could well be a long lost Travelling Wilburys song. Phil Thornalley may have a sound that recalls other artists, yet he has his own style, most notably with his soothing, melodious vocal and a deft and witty lyrical touch.

‘Drive, Baby Drive’ harks back to the 60′s rock ‘n’ roll of Roy Orbison, whilst ‘Golden Age’ is an ironic look at being an independent musician in the modern age – ‘You get a cent for a million streams’. The guitar solo is a thing of beauty.

‘How To Marry A Millionaire’ is one for radio, combining witty lyrics and a string fuelled melody that recalls ELO at their peak. Why songs like this aren’t better known is a travesty.

‘Shipwrecked Love’, ‘Christmas Lights’ and ‘Mr. Moonlight’ have been released ahead of the album (and all feature non-album songs worth checking out). Of these ‘Mr. Moonlight’ is the stand out, from the vocal effects through to the strings and clear cut drums, it is two minutes and forty seconds of pure melodic pop bliss.

We are lucky that the likes of Phil Thornally, Miracle Mile and the Lickerish Quartet continue to produce lovingly crafted pop music. As the main man himself states,

“Somehow I keep writing songs and making records. My family, dating back a few generations, has a habit of being crafty, making things – wheelwrights, coffin makers, seamstresses . I just happen to make records.

I love the whole process, from that light bulb tune that illuminates my imagination in the kitchen to the last drum fill of the recording’s finale. I hear it all. I can somehow play most of it all. And luckily I’m in a position to make those songs come alive. 40 odd years of humming, drumming and strumming’s got to be good for something. Hope you like it.”

We do like it Phil. We like it a lot and another album that will make my year end albums list with ease. ****1/2

Review by 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)