Author Archives: jason

Album review: SMASH FASHION – Rompus Pompous

Posted on June 10, 2018 by jason

Electric Pudding Recordings [Release date 13.07.18] It has been a long wait since Smash Fashion gave us the power pop-tastic treat that was their debut album ‘Big Cat Love’. Now they are back with their new album, the gloriously titled ‘Rompus … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 70's rock, album, David Bowie, melodic, Mike Garson, pop rock, power pop, review, rock, Roger Deering, Rompus Pompous, Smash Fashion | Leave a comment

Album review: SKERRYVORE – Evo

Posted on June 7, 2018 by jason

Tyree Tecords [Release date 11.06.18] Skerryvore formed in 2005 by Isle of Tiree-born Gillespie brothers Daniel (accordion) and Martin (Highland bagpipes), with Scott Wood (pipes, whistles) – the band’s newest member who joined last year, Craig Espie (fiddle), Alan Scobie (keys), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Evo, folk, folk rock, melodic, review, Scotlan, Skerryvore | Leave a comment

Album review: DARE – Out Of The Silence II

Posted on June 5, 2018 by jason

Legend Records [Release date 29.06.18] Amazing to think the classic album ‘Out Of The Silence’ is thirty years old, and also frightening to think where did the time go?! Like fellow melodic rockers FM did on ‘Indiscreet’, Dare have decided … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 30th anniversary, album, AOR, Brian Cox, Celtic, Classic Albums, Dare, Darren Wharton, melodic rock, Out Of The Silence II, review, rock, Vinny Burns | Leave a comment

Album review: SPACE ELEVATOR – II

Posted on June 5, 2018 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 25.05.18] Album number two from Space Elevator still sees the flamboyant singer The Duchess and guitarist David Young leading the band. In a neat twist they have collaborated with a Canadian space tech company Torth Technology who … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged album, David Young, II, interview, melodic, melodic rock, Mike Moran, pop, pop rock, Queen, review, rock, SPACE ELEVATOR, the Duchess, Torth Technology | Leave a comment

Album review: PARKER MILLSAP – Other Arrangements

Posted on June 3, 2018 by jason

Thirty Tigers [Release date 15.06.18] The new album from Parker Millsap who has earned praise from among others Elton John for his live performances, who he supported at an Apple Music Festival show in London. He is backed by Daniel … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, country, Other Arrangements, Parker Millsap, pop, review, rock, singer songwritwer | Leave a comment

Album review: JEAN BEAUVOIR – Rock Masterpieces Vol 1

Posted on June 3, 2018 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 29.06.18] Jean Beauvoir has a had a long and varied career working with Kiss, the Plasmatics, an album with cult faves Voodoo X and melodic rockers Crown Of Thorns, whose 1993 debut album featured Beauvoir alongside … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged best of, compilation, Crown Of Thorns, Jean Beauvoir, melodic, melodic rock, Micki Free, review, rock, Rock Masterpieces Volume 1, Voodoo X | Leave a comment

Album review: MADDY PRIOR with HANNAH JAMES & GILES LEWIN – Shortwinger

Posted on June 3, 2018 by jason

Park Records [Release date 25.05.18] It is fifty years since Maddy Prior released her first album with Tim Hart and since then she has been fronting Steeleye Span, with plenty of other musical diversions including the Silly Sisters with June … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bellowhead, folk, Giles Lewin, Hannah James, Maddy Prior, review, Shortwinger, Steeleye Span, tradtional | Leave a comment

Album review: JIZZY PEARL – All You Need Is Soul

Posted on June 3, 2018 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 11.05.18] Love/Hate front man Jizzy Pearl is a man that is one of the last of a dying breed. He IS rock n roll. Having fronted Ratt, LA Guns, Adler’s Appetite and Quiet Riot people seem to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All You Need Is Soul, Darren Householder, hard rock, Jizzy Pearl, LA Guns, Love/Hate, Quiet Riot, Ratt, review, rock 'n' roll, sleaze rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DOKKEN – Return To The East Live 2016

Posted on June 3, 2018 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 20.04.18] Well, where can I start? Dokken’s classic line up disbanded in 1989, got back together in 1993 but split again five years later. They then reformed for a short spell in 2016 for some live dates … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Dokken, Don Dokken, George Lynch, hard rock, live, Return To The East Live 2016, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ROSE TATTOO – Blood Brothers

Posted on June 3, 2018 by jason

Golden Robot Records [Release date 18.05.18] When it comes to good Aussie heads down, blues based rock n roll, played with a sense of urgency there are only three bands that come immediately to mind. AC/DC, Cold Chisel and Rose … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Angey Anderson, Blood Brothers, blues rock, hard rock, Pete Wells, re-issue, review, rock 'n' roll, Rose Tattoo | Leave a comment

Album review: THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT – Heart & Soul

Posted on June 2, 2018 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 30.05.18] Guitarist Dennis Heltorp and drummer Henrik Zetterlund formed the Senior Management in 2015. They recruited vocalist Göran Edman (Malmsteen/John Norum/Kharma/Street Talk et al) and bassist Magnus Rosen to complete the band, so far so AOR. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, country, Goran Edman, Heart & Soul, melodic, MelodicRock Records, review, rock, the Senior Management | Leave a comment

Album review: ANGELIC UPSTARTS – The Albums 1979-82

Posted on June 1, 2018 by jason

Captain Oi!/Cherry Red [Release date 27.04.18] It’s quite fitting that a Cherry Red label are releasing this box set of the first five Angelic Upstarts albums, as it was their Anagram Records imprint that released the faultless “Angel Dust” collection … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Captain Oi!, Cherry Red, Mensi, punk, punk rock, review, The Albums 1979-82, the Angelic Upstarts | Leave a comment

Album review: GENE CLARK – Gene Clark Sings For You

Posted on June 1, 2018 by jason

Omnivore Recordings [Release date 15.06.18] After leaving The Byrds, Gene Clark’s solo output contained some wonderful music, even though releases were fairly sporadic – particularly in his later years. There have been a small number of archival releases since his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, country, country rock, Gene Clark, Gene Clark Sings For You, review, The Byrds, the Rose Garden | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY – Strange Men, Changed Men (The Complete Recordings 1978-1981)

Posted on May 31, 2018 by jason

Cherry Red [Release date 27.04.18] Bram Tchaikovsky left The Motors in 1978 after playing on their 1977 debut album. Born Peter Bramall, he’d been christened Bram Tchaikovsky by fellow Motor, Andy McMaster. This new 3CD set collects all three albums … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Andy McMaster, box set, Bram Tchaikovsky, Cherry Red, melodic, Mike Oldfield, Nick Garvey, pop rock, power pop, review, rock, Strange Men Changed Men, The Motors | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SAGA, CUDDLY SHARK, THADEUS GONZALEZ

Posted on May 30, 2018 by jason

SAGA Live In Hamburg earMUSIC [Release date 01.06.18] ‘Live In Hamburg’ was recorded back in 2015 in one of Saga’s main national fan bases Germany. It was originally released as limited-edition, however now it gets a full release. Some of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, CUDDLY SHARK, live, Live In Hamburg, prog, punk pop, reviews, rock, Saga, Silver Inside, Thadeus Gonzalez | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK COFFEE – Take One

Posted on May 29, 2018 by jason

[Release date 21.04.18] Columbus, Ohio represents the US industrial heartland the same way Birmingham and Wolverhampton do in the UK so it’s entirely unsurprising that Black Coffee hail from there. Formed in 2017 by drummer Tommy McCullough, singer/bassist Ehab Omran … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Coffee, classic rock, debut, Ehab Omran, melodic, review, rock, Stoner, Take One | Leave a comment

Album review: ASH JOHNSON – The Mad Ship

Posted on May 24, 2018 by jason

Stunted Records www.stuntedrecords.co.uk [Release date 25.06.18] Ash Johnson has been a key figure on the North Lincolnshire music scene for many years working in various bands in the area. Now on the suggestion of the record label boss he has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged album, alternative, Americana, Ash Johnson, Mad Ship, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Interview: JIM LEA

Posted on May 22, 2018 by jason

Jim Lea, the former Slade bass-player and one half of the mega-hit Holder-Lea song-writing duo, has a brand new six-track EP out: Lost In Space. I caught up with Jim to discuss the inspiration behind the title track and the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged bassist, Classic Albums, classic rock, Cuz I Luv You, Dave Swarbrick, EP, interview, Jim Lea, Lost In Space, Noddy Holder, rock, Slade, songwriter | 1 Comment

Quick plays: MISHAPED PEARLS, LORDS OF BLACK

Posted on May 22, 2018 by jason

MISHAPED PEARLS Shivelight [Release date 25.05.18] Mishaped Pearls latest album’s title Shivelight comes from a word created by the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. The word describes the lances of sunshine that pierce through a woodland canopy. An apt description as Mishaped Pearls have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, country, folk, Frontiers, Lords Of Black, metal, Mishaped Pearls, Rainbow, review, Ritchie Blackmore, rock, Ronnie Romero, Shivelight | Leave a comment

Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Gravity

Posted on May 17, 2018 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 11.05.18] Originally part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, albeit at the more melodic almost AOR end of the spectrum, Praying Mantis are still going strong. This new album is their 10th studio outing, 11 if you include … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Chris Troy, Friontiers, GRAVITY, melodic, melodic rock, NWOBHM, Praying Mantis, review, Rodney Matthews, Tino Troy | Leave a comment

Album review: MANSUN – Attack Of The Grey Lantern

Posted on May 17, 2018 by jason

Kscope [Release date 08.06.18] Mansun’s ‘Attack Of The Grey Lantern’ gets a 21st anniversary re-issue with all the bells and whistles you’d expect. This reissue is remastered from the original multi-tracks and is available on all digital platforms and as a media book … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 21st anniversary, Attack of the Grey Lantern, Britpop, classic album, Kscope, Mansun, Paul Draper, progressive, re-issues, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SABBATH – Supersonic Years The Seventies Singles Box Set

Posted on May 17, 2018 by jason

BMG [Release date 08.06.18] This is no ordinary reissue; for a catalogue that has been reissued more times stamps have first day covers, last year’s 8LP + crucistick box took reissues to a new sonic and packing level, and this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 7" singles, Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, box set, classic rock, Geezer Butler, metal, Ozzy Osbourne, review, rock, the 70s Collection, The Supersonic Years, Tony Iommi, Vinyl | Leave a comment

DVD review: THE MOODY BLUES – Days of Future Passed – Live

Posted on May 17, 2018 by jason

Eagle Vision [Release date 23.03.18] Over the past few years a number of bands that have been releasing records since the 1960’s have reached that impressive milestone that is celebrating 50 years of being together, the other side to this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged classic rock, Days Of Future Passed - Live, DVD, Eagle Vision, John Lodge, JUSTIN HAYWARD, pop, review, rock, The Moody Blues | Leave a comment

DVD review: IGGY POP – American Valhalla

Posted on May 17, 2018 by jason

Eagle Vision [Release date 06.03.18] “American Valhalla” tells the story of Iggy Pop and Josh Homme’s experiences creating Pop’s 2016 “Post Pop Depression” album. We get to watch the very inception of the album from idea to finished product, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, alternative, American Valhalla, DVD, Eagle Vision, Iggy Pop, Josh Homme, Post Pop Depression, punk, QOTSA, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: RYAN ROXIE – Imagine Your Reality

Posted on May 16, 2018 by jason

Cargo When I look through my record collection there are not many other guitarists that feature as much as Ryan Roxie. Having recorded with the likes of Slash, Gilby Clarke, Electric Angels, Casablanca, Roxie 77, more than a few Alice … Continue reading →