Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: ROBERT REED – Sanctuary IV

Posted on January 28, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Tigermoth Records [Release date 16.04.25] I can’t quite understand Robert Reed’s obsession with Mike Oldfield. ‘Tubular Bells’ was a landmark album but in some respects very much of its time. Yes, it made greater impact in 1973 because of Oldfield’s … Continue reading →

Album review: LAURENCE JONES – On My Own

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Davoski

Ron Records [Release date: 23.01.26] New music from Laurence Jones is always welcome. Jones has an impressive career that includes multiple British Blues Awards and more than 50,000 units shifted since his debut in 2012. His often incendiary and virtuoso … Continue reading →

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Album review : FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS – You Were Made For Me, The Complete Recordings, 1963-70

Posted on January 25, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 30.01.26] The Complete Recordings’ Boxset is a feat of logistics and research in itself, for which it deserves 5 stars, never mind the music. 136 tracks, 5 CDs. In the “Swinging Sixties” Manchester band Freddie And … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Cherry Red, Freddie and the Dreamers, Freddie Garrity, John Carter, Mitch Murray, review, Roger Greenaway, The Sixties, You Were made For Me | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL THORNALLEY – Stacked

Posted on January 25, 2026 by jason

Facebook [Release date 23.01.26] Here at GRTR! Towers we love the work of Phil Thornalley, be it his solo pop/power rock delights or with Astral Drive, a band whose albums should be in any self-respecting music lover’s collection. On his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Casey Shea, melodic rock, Phil Thornalley, pop punk, pop rock, power pop, review, Stacked | Leave a comment

Album review: AMY HOPWOOD – Gone to Flowers

Posted on January 25, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 19,02.26] When I first put this album on I thought you’ve got to be joking, its just a bunch of nursery rhymes sung by a little girl. But then I thought of Ivor Cutler, a strange old … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Amy Hopwood, folk, Gone to Flowers, Ivor Culter, John Peel, melodic, quirky, review, traditional music | Leave a comment

Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – First Light

Posted on January 23, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 06.02.26] Multi instrumentalist and prolific songwriter Sean Taylor releases his fourteenth album First Light, full of eclecticity and surprises. His voice, reminiscent of JJ Cale is a pleasing toned whisper, blending well with the mostly acoustic backing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, First Light, folk, review, Sean Taylor, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: THE HARA – The Fallout

Posted on January 20, 2026 by jason

Mascot Records [Release date 23.01.26] This album from The Hara tackles mental health struggles and subjects of toxicity and self-doubt along with the pitfalls of the industry on their journey. Channelling this into their livewire performances has seen them pick up … Continue reading →

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Album review : ANDREW GOLD – Lonely Boy – The Asylum Years Anthology (6 CDs + DVD)

Posted on January 20, 2026 by brianmc

Esoteric Recordings / Cherry Red [Release date : 30.01.26] Andrew Gold was one of the finest musicians and songwriters to emerge from the Los Angeles music scene in the mid 70s. Most will remember him as being one half of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 10CC, Andrew Gold, boxset, Cherry Red, Graham Gouldman, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Sedaka, review, The Beatles, The Eagles, Wax | Leave a comment

Album review: VARIOUS – With A Little Help From My Friends, A Tribute To Matt Long

Posted on January 19, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 20.03.26] Only the good die young they say, and bluesman Matt Long must have been a real good guy judging by the amount of artists offering their services on this tribute album. This list includes Joe Bonamassa, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Tribute To Matt Long, album With A Little Help From My Friends, blues, Catfish, charity, Elles Bailey, fundraiser, guitarist, he Royal Surrey County Hospital, Jac Shultz, Joe Bonamassa, review, The Cinelli Bros, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

Album review : MCAULEY SCHENKER GROUP – Bad Boys, The MSG Story 1987-92 (4 CD boxset)

Posted on January 17, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 30.01.26] Axeman Michael Schenker’s considerable CV has been well documented over the years and it’s clearly delineated in these liner notes. Brief version: between 1972 and 1984 he cycled through The Scorpions, UFO and MSG Version … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Cherry Red, Frank Filipetti, hard rock, Michael Schenker, MSG, Perfect Timing, review, Robin McAuley, Save Yourself, Scorpions, UFO | Leave a comment

Album review: THUNDER- Live (expanded and remastered reissue)

Posted on January 16, 2026 by andynathan

earMusic [Release Date 16.01.26] As Danny Bowes continues his long but encouraging recovery, in the absence of any new Thunder music or touring we have to content ourselves with reissues. Originally released in 1998, the Ronseal-titled ‘Live’ was their first … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Ben Matthews, Chris Childs, Danny Bowes, Harry James, live album, Luke Morley, reissues, Thunder | Leave a comment

Album review: BIG BIG TRAIN – Woodcut

Posted on January 16, 2026 by jason

InsideOut Music [Release date 06.02.26] Woodcut is the sixteenth studio album from Big Big Train, the progressive rock band originally formed back in 1990. It sees a band that has had more than its fair share of line up changes … Continue reading →

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Album review : FRANCIS ROSSI – The Accidental

Posted on January 16, 2026 by brianmc

earMUSIC [Release date : 30.1.26] Francis Rossi’s fifth solo album, The Accidental, sees him reconnecting with the bricks and mortar foundation that underpinned Quo’s music over the years. It’s a recording studio free-for-all eventually shaped by a longing for simple, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Andy Brooks, Bob Young, Francis Rossi, John 'Rhino' Edwards, Leon Cave, review, Status Quo, The Accidental | Leave a comment

Album review : EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS – Teenage Depression &ife On The Line (2CD set)

Posted on January 15, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 23.01.26] So much crammed into these “two CD” reissues from punk/ new wave/ R’n’B legends Eddie and The Hot Rods’. So much history here. Of the band, of the nascent sound of Punk. Of the talent … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Barrie Masters, Canvey Island, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Graeme Douglas, Kursaal Flyers, punk, review, seventies | Leave a comment

Album review : AUTUMN’S CHILD – Melody Lane

Posted on January 13, 2026 by brianmc

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 23.01.26] Mikael Erlandsson: 9 solo albums, 17 albums with Last Autumn’s Dream, 10 collaborations (with Tom Galley, Tommy Denander and others). Melody Lane is his 6th (since 2019) with Autumn’s Child, his fourth on … Continue reading →

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Album review: BASTION ROSE – Traces Of Gold

Posted on January 12, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Epictronic [Release date 07.11.25] ‘Traces Of Gold’ is essentially a mini-album clocking in at barely 30 minutes. But great things come in small packages. The album is a meaty riff-fest with little gristle. Great melodies abound too and it would … Continue reading →

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Album review: ELLES BAILEY- Can’t Take My Story Away

Posted on January 11, 2026 by andynathan

Cooking Vinyl & Outlaw Music (Release Date 16.01.26) Elles Bailey’s career seems to be picking up momentum at present. The Bristolian singer-songwriter’s last album ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ reached No 12 in the charts and a European tour with Rag … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, blues, Can't Take My Story Away, Elles Bailey, Ethan Johns, Luke Potashnick, review, soul | Leave a comment

Quick plays: AVALANCHE, UUHAI

Posted on January 11, 2026 by jason

AVALANCHE Armed to the Teeth [Release date 13.02.26] Avalanche are husband & wife duo Steven Campbell on lead vocals & bass, and Veronica ‘V’ Campbell on lead guitar, who are joined by Blake Poulton on rhythm guitar and drummer Bon … Continue reading →

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Album review: VARIOUS – Turkish Delight Volume III

Posted on January 10, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Escape Music [Release date 07.11.25] Turkish Delight is now in its third iteration – the pet/vanity project of Escape Music label boss Khalil Turk who for 500 vinyl junkies will even include his signed postcard. The idea is to bring … Continue reading →

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Album review : SO HIGH I’VE BEEN European Rock Anthology 1967-73 (V/A 3CDs)

Posted on January 8, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 16.01.26] Time was you could tell a friend that John Peel likes this band. They would either shy away like you’ve got the plague, or embrace the band like an old friend. There was no middle … Continue reading →

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Album review: PETRA – Hope

Posted on January 5, 2026 by jason

Girder Records [Release date 12.01.26] 2026 could well be the year of the comeback and one highly anticipated is this new album from Petra, their first studio album since 2003’s ‘Jekyll & Hyde’. Petra have been touring on and off … Continue reading →

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Album review: ZOE SCHWARZ – Colourful House

Posted on January 2, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 31.10.25] Are they Blues? Are they jazz? Are they psychedelic? What the hell does it matter when they are are all fused together in such a seamless and powerful way. The Zoe Schwarz Blues Commotion release their … Continue reading →

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Album review: DAVE RENEGADE – Haunted Heart

Posted on January 2, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp If you like taking journeys to despair and melancholy, look no further than this album by London’s Dave Renegade. This boy wears his pain on his sleeve and is not afraid to admit it. He himself acknowledges that it … Continue reading →

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Album review: RETREAT FROM MOSCOW – The Illusion Of Choice

Posted on January 1, 2026 by alanjones

White Knight Records [Release date: 07.11.25] Third album from Retreat From Moscow since they reformed in 2016 and this one’s a belter. Active from 1979 – 82, the band have been on hiatus, while life happened, but re-emerged with ‘The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged Christina Booth, Magenta, Progressive Rock, Retreat From Moscow, review, The Illusion Of Choice | Leave a comment

Album review: 3 MILE SHOUT – Round We Go

Posted on January 1, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Who Said That Records [Release date: 03.11.25] Here at GRTR! Towers at the end of the year there is a certain amount of housekeeping, reflection, and resolve. This process can reveal those albums that “got away” during the year and … Continue reading →