Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: DEXTER WANSEL – Life On Mars / What The World Is Coming To / Voyager / Time Is Slipping Away

Posted on April 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] Back in the day (mid to late 1980s), I was a closet listener to Robbie Vincent’s BBC Radio 1 show when he would frequently implore his audience to “open the fridge and freezer door” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Dexter Wansel, disco, funk, fusion, George Howard, jazz funk, Jean Carn, Life On Mars, reissue, The Jones Girls, Voyager and Time Is Slipping Away, What the World Is Coming To | Leave a comment

Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Les Fleurs / Fantasy / Keys To The City (Remasters)

Posted on April 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] BGO have done a great job releasing back catalogue from a number of big name artists and labels and packaging several albums on a couple of discs together with extensive liner notes in a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Earth Wind & Fire, fantasy, funk, fusion, instrumental, jazz funk, Keys To The City, Larry Dunn, Les Fleurs, Maurice White, piano, Ramsey Lewis | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January – March 2023)

Posted on April 6, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

URIAH HEEP Chaos & Colour (Silver Lining Music) Heep join a select bunch of veteran bands (including close contemporaries Deep Purple) who are sounding as good as ever. Indeed classic heavy rock does not come much better than this. **** … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged albums, classic rock, Cross Country Driver, February 2023, Floor Jansen, hard rock, heavy rock, January 2023, Katatonia, March 2023, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Robin McAuley, The Cold Stares, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! reviewers name their Best of 2003-2023 – Top Albums and Live Acts

Posted on April 5, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

As part of the rock website Get Ready to ROCK! 20th Anniversary year, the review team has named their favourite albums and live acts. An extensive feature is published on 5 April which reflects the interests and insight of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2003-2023, 20th Anniversary, albums, blues rock, classic rock, Get Ready to ROCK!, gigs, interviews, live acts, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, reviews, singer songwriter, top albums | Leave a comment

Feature: GRTR!@20 – Top Albums, Top Live Acts – reviewer choices 2003-2023

Posted on April 5, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023. Since 2003 it has been at the forefront of online rock music review and is one of the most visible and enduring rock websites. The review team is one of … Continue reading →

Posted in FEATURES, GRTR!@20 | Tagged 2003-2023, albums, best of, blues rock, classic rock, live acts, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – JOE BONAMASSA (April 2023)

Posted on April 1, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Photo: Simon Dunkerley Bonamassa brings the blues to a new generation, at least until 2039… “Let’s start by doctoring the immortal phrase, ‘He came, he saw, (he blinked twice, took a deep breath), and conquered”! Joe Bonamassa and his gifted … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Tagged blues, blues rock, feature, guitar, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa | Leave a comment

Album review: ALLY VENABLE – Real Gone

Posted on March 28, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Ruf Records [Release date: 24.03.23] When we reviewed the previous Ally Venable album we suggested that whilst the young guitar slinger/singer/songwriter had made great progress the perfectly formed finish was yet to come. ‘Real Gone’ takes things a step further … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ally Venable, blues, blues rock, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Real Gone, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ANN-MARGRET – Born To Be Wild

Posted on March 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 14.04.23] ‘Born To Be Wild’ is what, at first look, is often called a novelty album. Bring together a one-time Hollywood (and musical) icon (of a certain era) and hook them up virtually with a whole … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ann-Margret, Born To Be Wild, Brian Auger, Cliff Richard, film, Harvey Mandel, Joe Perry, movie, nostalgia, Pat Boone, Pete Townshend, review, Rick Wakeman, Robben Ford, Sonny Landreth, Steve Cropper | Leave a comment

News: JOE BONAMASSA enters The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness in April 2023

Posted on March 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

The latest inductee to “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” is blues/rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa. A major retrospective feature charting Bonamassa’s rise and rise in the millennium will be published on 1 April by rock website Get Ready to ROCK! and … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged blues rock, classic rock, feature, guitar, guitarist, history, Joe Bonamassa, retrospective | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE HILLAGE – LA Forum 31.1.77

Posted on March 23, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Madfish [Release date 17.03.23] Yet another Steve Hillage live album? And again focusing on the “classic era”? One for the fans, definitely, for whom the main attraction will be three bonus tracks recorded in London in March 1977 and seemingly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Cliove Bunker, Colin Bass, LA Forum 31.1.77, live, Miquette Giraudy, Psychedelic Rock, review, Steve Hillage | Leave a comment

Album review: STONETRIP – Run Free

Posted on March 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Golden Robot Records [Release date 10.03.23] If you’ve ever listened to our weekly new release show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio ‘New to GRTR!’ you’ll know that we feature a fair number of releases from Golden Robot Records. Established … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock, review, Run Free, Stonetrip | Leave a comment

Album review: RUFFYUNZ – Ruffyunz II

Posted on March 9, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Hyperspace Records [Release date 23.09.22] The second album from a veritable “superband” conglomerate featuring Bobby Rondinelli (Black Sabbath, Rainbow, drums) and Randy Pratt (Cactus, The Lizards, bass) with Ed Terry on vocals and JZ Barrell (guitars) They are joined by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bobby Rondinelli, classic rock, Dave Meniketti, Don Airey, funk, hard rock, Joel Hoekstra, Pat Thrall, Randy Pratt, review, Ruffyunz, Ruffyunz II, Tracy G | Leave a comment

Gig review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Alexanders, Chester, 2 March 2023

Posted on March 3, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Halfway through her UK tour, and a day after our major feature was published, Alexanders in Chester could well be the Grotto to Eleanor McEvoy’s Greatness. A favourite venue certainly since the early millennium. Catching up for a chat pre-gig … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 March 2023, acoustic, Alexanders, Chester, classic rock, Eleanor McEvoy, folk, gig, interview, jazz, radio, review, roots, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – ELEANOR McEVOY (March 2023)

Posted on March 1, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

As Irish and iconic as Guinness and also dark and lively in equal measures… Singer songwriter Eleanor McEvoy first came to wider attention in 1992 when she was part of “A Woman’s Heart” compilation with Mary Black and other female … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Tagged acoustic, classic rock, Eleanor McEvoy, folk, interview, March 2023, roots, singer, songwriter, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Leave a comment

News: ELEANOR McEVOY enters The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness in March 2023

Posted on February 20, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Irish singer songwriter Eleanor McEvoy is the latest inductee to “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness”. The equivalent of the “Hall of Fame” the Grotto honours selected artists who have been covered consistently at rock website Get Ready to ROCK! over … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE KENEALLY – The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat

Posted on February 19, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Exowax Recordings [Release date 24.02.23] Mike Keneally played keyboard and guitar with Zappa. More recently he’s provided similar support to Satriani. But on his latest solo album it’s the Zappa irreverence that comes out on the opening track ‘Logos’ which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, fusion, Jazz rock, Mike Keneally, Progressive Rock, review, The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat, Zappa | Leave a comment

Album review: THE HAYLEY GRIFFITHS BAND – Melanie

Posted on February 16, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Posh & Rock Records [Release date 20.01.23] We first came across Hayley Griffiths when she fronted Karnataka for a time, including one studio album in 2015. Her departure (with others) from that band was apparently acrimonious but she has dusted … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Karnataka, Melanie, metal, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Hayley Griffiths Band | Leave a comment

Album review: BRIAN TARQUIN & HEAVY FRIENDS – Brothers In Arms

Posted on February 11, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BHP Music/Guitar Trax Records [Release date 03.02.23] Yes I wasn’t too kind to guitarist Mike Campese when reviewing his album ‘Reset’. But you only have to listen to Brian Tarquin’s latest offering to understand how a guitar based album should … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alex De Rosso, Brian Tarquin, Brothers In Arms, Bumblefoot Thal, guitar, guitarist, hard rock, Heavy Friends, Joe Satriani, Johannes Welk, review, Vinnie Moore | Leave a comment

Album review: PROGedia – Dioscuri

Posted on February 7, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

R&S Records [Release date: 24.03.23 - Digital 24.04.23 - Physical] If you want a great groove to start the New Year, head this way. Fed Conti is an Italian producer and multi instrumentalist and his latest project is quite wonderful. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, beats, Dioscuri, electronica, Fed Conti, funk, PROGedia, review, rock, trip hop | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE CAMPESE – Reset

Posted on February 4, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

www.mikecampese.com [Release date 11.11.22] I’m sorry but Mike Campese exhibits all the worst aspects of “guitar virtuoso”. Guitarists may well acknowledge his technical mastery (and he has featured in several big guitar mags) but for the average listener this is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, guitar, guitarist, hard rock, Mike Campese, Neo Classical, Reset, review | Leave a comment

Album review: CERI JUSTICE – Walk In Shadow

Posted on February 4, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

www.cerijustice.rocks [Release date 15.04.22] Here at GRTR! it doesn’t really matter that we are reviewing an album nearly 12 months old. If it comes to our attention belatedly and is meritorious, we do it. It was Pete Feenstra playing a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ceri Justice, classic rock, Justified, pop, pop rock, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – CHANTEL McGREGOR (February 2023)

Posted on February 1, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Chantel’s down to earth Yorkshire lass delivery has endeared her to fans as much as her musicianship… Photo: David Randall Yorkshire singer/songwriter/guitarist Chantel McGregor first came to our attention in May 2010 when Pete Feenstra reviewed her debut London gig … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Tagged album, blues rock, Chantel McGregor, classic rock, feature, guitar, guitarist, interview, review | Leave a comment

News: CHANTEL McGREGOR enters “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” (February 2023)

Posted on January 28, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Rock website Get Ready to ROCK! has announced the second artist to be inducted in its “GRTR! Grotto of Greatness”. The website’s version of the “Hall of Fame” is part of its 20th anniversary celebrations in 2023. A different artist/band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Special features | Tagged award, Chantel McGregor, classic rock, Get Ready to ROCK!, guitarist, promotion | Leave a comment

Album review: LIV KRISTINE – River Of Diamonds

Posted on January 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Metalville [Release date 21.04.23] Since 1998, and during an acrimonius split from her band Leaves’ Eyes and partner, Liv Kristine has released a series of excellent pop rock albums. We chronicled these in our radio special in 2022 when we … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Leaves' Eyes, Liv Krisitne, pop rock, review, River Of Diamonds, Theatre Of Tragedy | Leave a comment

Album review: JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – Nobody’s Fool

Posted on January 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Keeping The Blues Alive (KTBA Records) [Release date 28.10.22] Joanne Shaw Taylor has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, establishing herself as one of the most formidable blues/rock performers. We’ve followed her rise and rise in the … Continue reading →