Sonicbond Publishing [Various publication dates 02-11.25] www.sonicbondpublishing.com

Here’s our traditional annual round-up of books published by Sonicbond, this time in 2025. The publisher specialises in music books written by enthusiasts and usually dissecting the output of a particular artist. This applies particularly to the “On track…” series with now over 150 titles in the catalogue.

These volumes are a good entry point for newcomers who want a general overview and a specific album breakdown. As you might expect most of the views are highly subjective and whilst fans of the artist(s) will find much of interest they will certainly be frustrated by this aspect. Richard Butterworth in his foreword to The Pretenders 1978-1990 – although referring to his own work – sums it up:

“On the following views and reviews, I should stress these reflcct nothing uther than the subjective self-importance of the author…Nothing should be taken as holy writ, nor as the slightest hint that my acuity is in any way sharper than yours.”

Relying mainly on secondary sources each volume is illustrated with screen grabs, memorabilia, and album covers. The lack of an index makes these tomes less useful as a reference work.

Andrew Wild is a more reliable author than most and has written several titles in the “On track… series and the latest covers The Beatles 1962-1966. This is an essential companion to his “A-Z Guide to Every Song’ but there is inevitable overlap. His co-write with Alberto Bravin (lead singer with Big Big Train) also discusses the different versions of albums in the USA during this period . ****

Given that The Cure made their first album for 16 years in 2024 Matthew R.Davis exposition is welcome and timely. It charts the band, led by the enigmatic Robert Smith, from the late 1970s and is enhanced with a section on live albums and rare stuff. ****

Many serious songwriters cite Leonard Cohen as a major influence although some might find his work melancholic and depressing. Opher Goodwin aims to put this to rights describing Cohen as “the most improbable, bohemian, intellectual singer-songwriter ever.” ***1/2

Like Cohen, Iggy And The Stooges is an acquired taste. A pioneer of proto-punk in the late sixties, can you remember the title of any singles or “hits”? Iggy and his band The Stooges worked with Bowie but by 1974 had imploded. Reuniting in 2003 they produced a comeback album four years later but folded again following the deaths of two band members. Robert Day-Webb examines their legacy and their influence on many other bands. Iggy Pop’s solo work post-2016 is not covered. ***

The on-off Journey story of recent years does nothing to bolster the band’s fine legacy and Doug Thornton’s expose puts the AOR monolith in context whilst deconstructing each song.

Readers can debate the merits of vocalists Steve Perry and Arnel Pineda whilst not forgetting Steve Augeri. For this reviewer, two albums stand out over a long recorded history ‘Raised On Radio’(1986) and ‘Eclipse’ (2011), significant because they broke the usual band formula – politically as well as musically - and not yielding any “hits”. ****

Phil Kafcaloudes Deep Purple from 1984 complements an earlier volume covering 1968-79. The book benefits from the author’s first-hand interviews, including Steve Morse and Joe Lynn Turner, an aspect sadly lacking in most “On track” analyses.

The band’s various line-up changes are discussed: the going and coming (back) of Ian Gillan, the departure of Blackmore and death of Jon Lord in 2012 (although he’d left the band a decade earlier), and the most recent addition of guitarist Simon McBride (and his 2024 album debut). ****

With founder member Chris Dreja’s passing in September 2025 more poignancy is given to Andrew Darlington’s book about The Yardbirds. This covers the 1960s but also the later iteration at the turn of the 1990s and various offshoots such as early Renaissance and Box Of Frogs.

There is a useful section on compilations and solo work. This is a band where three great guitarists cut their teeth – Clapton, Page and Beck – but whilst long regarded as merely a “stepping stone” The Yardbirds should be considered for their own intrinsic merit. Darlington’s book helps this appreciation. ****

Review by David Randall

Also published in 2025 ‘Thank You For The Days – Fans Of The Kinks Share 60 Years Of Stories’ (edited by Chris Kocher); Music In The 80s (Peter Woolliscroft) – first hand recollections by engineer/producer who worked with Thin Lizzy, Yes and many others; Van Der Graaf Generator – Pawn Hearts (Paolo Caernelli) – a shorter appreciation of one album.

2025 reviews

Book review (On track…Anthony Phillips 1977-1990)
Book review (Hoggin’ The Page – Groundhogs The Classic Years)
Book review (On track… David Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Talking Heads, Porcupine Tree)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

Upcoming sessions:

February 15
March 8
April 12

Josh Taerk - Sunday Session - 11 January 2026

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 25 January 2026.

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). First broadcast 27 January 2026

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Power Plays w/c 9 February 2026

EVA UNDER FIRE Murder Scene (Better Noise Music)
ARGOVIA Ebb & Flow (Presagio Records)
TELENOVA In The Name Of Your Love ()
TAILGUNNER War In Heaven (Napalm Records)
FROM ASHES TO NEW Villain (Fiction Records)
WITHIN TEMPTATION & SMASH INTO PIECES Somebody Like You (indie)
EVA UNDER FIRE Murder Scene (Better Noise Music)
ARGOVIA Ebb & Flow (Presagio Records)
TELENOVA In The Name Of Your Love ()
TAILGUNNER War In Heaven (Napalm Records)
FROM ASHES TO NEW Villain (Fiction Records)
WITHIN TEMPTATION & SMASH INTO PIECES Somebody Like You (indie)
XO SOUNDTRACK Talk About Me (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 9 February 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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