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Author Archives: brianmc
Album review : CHATEAUX – Spirit Of The Chateau (3 CD Reissue)
Cherry Red [Release date : 21.06.24] CD1: Chained And Desperate (1983) CD2: Firepower (1984) CD3: Highly Strung (1985) Led by guitarist, Tim Broughton, English metal band Chateau signed to Ebony Records, a NWOBHM startup label, in 1981. The band (previously … Continue reading
Album review : PALLAS – Eyes In The Night (The Recordings 1981-86, 7CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.06.24] You have to credit Cherry Red with their even handed approach to reissues/remasters. No offence to fans of neo-Prog band, Pallas, but the band is not front page news, and never have been, but … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged boxset, DVD, Eddy Offord, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson, London, Marillion, neo prog, Pallas, review, Scottish, Yes
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Album review: VICIOUS RUMORS – Welcome To The Ball (Remaster)
Rock Candy [Release date : 24.05.24] Rock Candy Records are perhaps, unfairly, more associated with AOR and Melodic Rock than they are Metal, but among reissue labels they have no peers when it comes to value judgement. The always underrated … Continue reading
Album review : AXE – The Offering (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.05.24] Third time lucky for Axe. The Offering, released in 1982, got enough sales and radio airplay to put them firmly on the USA’s Melodic Rock map, leading directly to tours with Kiss, The Scorpions … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Axe, Bobby Barth, Edgar Riley, Kiss, melodic rock, Mike Osborne, remaster, review, Rock Candy Records, Scorpions, ZZ Top
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Album review : THE LADDER – S/T (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date : 24.05.24] Another “obscure” 1980’s American AOR album, rescued by Rock Candy Records. It was “big in Japan” though. Aren’t they all. The Ladder – writers Joe and Lou Parente, with vocalist Frank Mancano – … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, ATCO, Chicago, David Foster, Frank Mancano, Joe Parente, Lou Parente, Philadelphia, review, Rock Candy, The Ladder
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Album review : STRIDER – Exposed and Misunderstood (Remasters)
Rock Candy Records [Release date: 24.05.24] In 1970, Strider formed in London. Wrong place, right time? Right place, wrong time? Who knows. Certainly wasn’t for lack of talent or quality songs. Hugely popular with a core UK fanbase, Strider could … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Babys, blues, Eddie Money, Exposed, Gary Grainger, Misunderstood, review, rock, Rock Candy, Rod Stewart, Strider, Terry Brock
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Album review : TKO – Total Knockout – The Complete TKO 5 CD Boxset
Cherry Red [Release date 28.06.24] CD1: Let It Roll (1979) CD2: Lost Demos (1980) CD3: In Your Face (1981) CD4: Below The Belt (1984) CD5: Early Mixes 1979, 14 years before Brad Sinsel’s War Babies became the only band not … Continue reading
Album review : ANVIL – One And Only
AFM Records [Release date: 28.06.24] There’s Old School Heavy Metal bands, and there’s Anvil. On their 20th album now, the aptly titled One And Only, these Canadian legends have shed any pretence of “modernising” their sound, reaching back to the … Continue reading
Album review : AS I ROVED OUT – THE STORY OF CELTIC ROCK 1968-78 (3CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date: 21.06.24] Celtic music dates back to the 17th century. It’s part of the musical scenery in western Europe… mainly Portugal, Spain and France. And across the Atlantic in Canada … most especially among the island communities … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Al Stewart, Cape Breton, Celtic rock, France, Ireland, Newfoundland, Pentangle, Portugal, review, Runrig, Scotland, Spain, TASTE, Thin Lizzy
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Album review : STATUS QUO – Official Archive Series Vol.3 (2CDs)
Ear Music/Edel [Release date : 12.07.24] If ever a band knew how to mine a rich back catalogue it’s Status Quo. We’ve said that before and no doubt we’ll say it again, and again. This third “Archive” release, Live at … Continue reading
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Tagged Archive Vol.2, Eike Freese, Forestry Commission, Kai Hansen, live, review, Rick Parfitt, Status Quo, Westonbirt
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Album review : DANA GILLESPIE – First Love
Fretsore Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Had it been published in the midst of today’s gender wars, the title of Dana Gillespie’s controversial autobiography, “Weren’t Born A Man” would have new resonance. As it is, celebrating 60 years in the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bob Dylan, Dana Gillespie, Green Day, Janis Ian, Laura Nyro, Leonard Cohen, Matt Gest, Python Lee Jackson, review
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Album review : KURT FROHLICH – 1977
Golden Robot Records [Release Date : 07.06.24] Kurt Frohlich, currently vocalist with Riley’s LA Guns, has already fronted Faster Pussycat and Mark Ramone’s band. Limited as that pedigree might be, it lets us know where he’s coming from. 1977 is … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Clash, Faster Pussycat, glam, Green Day, Kurt Frohlich, LA Guns, Mark Ramone, punk, review, Sex Pistols, television, Weezer
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Album review : NIGHTMARE – Encrypted
AFM Records [Release date: 06.06.24] Formed in 1979, French Power Metal band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Their 12th album, Encrypted, sees ex Songbird songbird, Barbara Mogore (a smart bit of recruitment by Yves … Continue reading
Album review: McCOY – The Sound Of Thunder (3 CD set)
Cherry Red [Release date : 31/05/24] CD1: 1985: McCoy : Hard Thinking (incorporates 1982 EP) CD2: 1998: McCoy : Brainstorm CD3: 1977: McCoy : Live 1977 The real (John) McCoy, bass player extraordinaire, was as much known for his fearsome, … Continue reading
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Tagged Al Romano, Bernie Torme, boxset, Brainstorm, Fleetwood Mac, Ian Gillan, John McCoy, Mile Sciotto, Paul Samson, review, Think Hard, ZZ Top
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Album review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Challenge The Wind
AFM Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Fans of the Symphonic Metal genre will know ROF is a band big on concept. This new album, Challenge The Wind, is the third in their “Nephilim Empire Saga”. The second, Glory For Salvation, … Continue reading
Album review : LINDISFARNE – Brand New Day The Mercury Years 1978-79 (3 CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date : 24.05.24] This is one of Cherry Red’s finer moments. A concise snapshot of Lindisfarne when they were at their best. CD1: Magic In The Air (1978) CD2: Back And Fourth (1978) CD3: The News (1979) … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Alan Hull, Back And Forth, Fog On The Tyne, Lindisfarne, Magic In The Air, Newcastle, review, The News
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Album review: CHRIS FARLOWE – Stormy Monday – The Blues Years 1985-2008 (3CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date: 24.05.24] Born to sing the blues, Chris Farlowe recorded genre standard, ‘Stormy Monday Blues’ in 1965, to huge critical acclaim. With his band, the Thunderbirds, he became a lightning rod for blues fans, continually burning down … Continue reading
Album review : FRANCIS ROSSI & HANNAH RICKARD – We Talk Too Much (2024 vinyl version with bonus track)
earMUSIC [Release date : 03.05.24] 2014’s Aquostic (Stripped Bare) was Status Quo’s first full blown tilt at “reimagining” older material in an acoustic set up. It was a big success, commercially and critically. It led to this collaboration between Francis … Continue reading
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Tagged album, bonus track, Cheap Trick, Francis Rossi, Hannah Rickard, Jeff Lyne, review, Vinyl, We Talk Too Much
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Album review: WARHORSE – The Recordings 1970-72
Cherry Red [Release date : 26.04.24] In 1970, on leaving Deep Purple, bassist/songwriter, Nick Simper, joined Marsha Hunt’s backing band, later striking out on its own under the band name, Warhorse. In the seventies, Metal and Hard Rock blossomed in … Continue reading
Album review : WILDSTREET IV
Golden Robot Records [Release date 26.04.24] US band, Wildstreet, took note of music’s direction of travel (ie there’s no money in standing still) some years ago and have toured incessantly ever since… frequent appearances at SXSW & M3 Rock Festival, … Continue reading
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Tagged Backyard Babies, glam rock, Nikki Sixx, review, Rocklahoma, Sunset Strip, Wildstreet
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Album review : WAYSTED – Won’t Get Out Alive Volume 1 (4 CDs 1983-86)
Cherry Red [Release date: 26.04.24] CD1: Vices CD2: I Won’t Get Out Alive CD3: The Good, The Bad And The Waysted CD4: Save Your Prayers In 2019, the late great Pete Way and his band played an unannounced gig in … Continue reading
Album review : UFO – Covenant + Sharks + Live (3 CD)
Twin reissue package plus a bonus CD, from British rock legends, UFO. Covenant (2000), Sharks (2002) and Live At Blind Melons (1995). The problem with releasing a career high album like Walk On Water (1995), the band’s de facto “comeback” … Continue reading
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Tagged 3 CDs, Covenant, Live Blind Melons, Michael Schenker, New York, Phil Mogg, reissue, review, Sharks, UFO
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Single review : WILDSTREET – Heroes
Golden Robot Records [Release Date 12.04.24] US band, Wildstreet, took note of music’s direction of travel (there’s no money in standing still) some years ago and have toured incessantly ever since… frequent appearances at SXSW,and M3 Rock Festival, plus 5 … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, Eric Jayk, glam rock, review, Rocklahoma, USA, Wildstreet, Wildstreet III, Wrath Star
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Album review : THE CRYIN’ SHAMES – Please Stay, Joe Meek’s Tea Chest Tapes
Cherry Red [Release date: 12.04.24] The Cryin’ Shames were late to the Merseybeat party, and departed almost as soon as they arrived. This a 2 CD reissue of every recording made by the band in its various guises. 48 tracks … Continue reading
Single review : KURT FROLICH – Another Heartbreak
Golden Robot Records [05.04.24] Single release from Kurt Frolich, vocalist with Riley’s LA Guns. It has only a passing resemblance to the music of his parent band. Doesn’t make him a bad person, of course. In fact … The first … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Kurt Frolich, LA Guns, power pop, review, single, The Raspberries
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