Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: SAVOY BROWN – Witchy Feelin’

SAVOY BROWN – Witchy Feelin

Ruf [Release date 25.08.17] There’s a certain timeless appeal about Savoy Brown that extends beyond the familiar riff driven start of this album, through Kim Simmonds’ world weary vocals that bring years of experience to bear on familiar blues subject … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (May-August 2017)

The Best of 2017

Albums of the Month May 2017 COCO MONTOYA Hard Truth (Ruf Records) “It’s rare for an artist in the middle of his career to push himself up to another level, but ‘Hard Truth’ does precisely that … an album that … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (February-April 2017)

The Best of 2017

Albums of the Month February 2017 BLACK STAR RIDERS Heavy Fire (Nuclear Blast) “The band have thrown off the shackles of the ‘used to be Thin Lizzy’ moniker and have solidly established themselves as a major player in their own … Continue reading

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Album review: ICE AGE – Breaking The Ice

ICE AGE - Breaking The Ice

GMR [Release date 21.10.17] Many fans of 80s thrash may well remember all girl Swedish band Ice Age. Originally formed in Gothenburg by Sabrina Kihlstrand, Pia Nystrom, Sabrina’s sister Helena (later replaced by bassist Viktoria Lafsson), and drummer Tina Stromberg, … Continue reading

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Album review: DJABE & STEVE HACKETT – Life Is A Journey – The Sardinia Tapes

DJABE & STEVE HACKETT - Life Is A Journey - The Sardinia Tapes

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 06.10.17] I recall when chatting to Steve Hackett several years ago he mentioned that he is very receptive to  his environment  in terms of new sounds and possibilities.  This might simply be hearing something ear-catching whilst … Continue reading

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Album review: TARGET – In Target

TARGET - In Target

Escape Music [Release date 20.10.07] Target will be of interest to melodic rock fans as the band featured future Cobra/Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison, who sadly died back in 2014. This was planned to be Target’s third album and was recorded … Continue reading

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Quick plays: FRIGG, PALE HONEY, HELL IN THE CLUB, CATHEDRALE

FRIGG - Frost On Fiddles

FRIGG Frost On Fiddles Frigg [Release date 06.10.17] Frigg (be careful how you spell that on a Google search!) hail from Finland and feature the talents of four fiddle players, plus a guitarist, bassist and cittern/mandolin players. All instrumentals and … Continue reading

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Album review: RINGO – Give More Love

Ringo Starr - Give More love

UMC [Release date 15.09.17] Ringo’s ‘Give More Love’ -  he’s dropped his Starr moniker on the album credit – is better than you might imagine, for an artist who has been known to ration his appearances on his own all … Continue reading

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Album review: GAMMA RAY – Reissues (Land Of The Free/Alive ’95)

earMUSIC [Release date 29.09.17] earMUSIC’s Gamma Ray re-issue schedule continues with the band’s fourth studio album (original released in 1995) getting a deluxe 2CD re-issue. The second disc adds three songs (including the band’s blistering cover of Holocaust’s ‘Heavy Metal … Continue reading

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Quick plays: STEVE HILL, JARED JAMES NICHOLS

STEVE HILL - Solo Recordings Volume 3

STEVE HILL Solo Recordings Volume 3 No Label Records [Release date 06.10.17] Steve Hill is a proper one-man band as his feet play bass drum, snare drum, hi-hats and with a drum stick fused to the head of his guitar, … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE MILLER BAND – Ultimate Hits

UMC [Release date 15.09.17] This hits set is available as a single disc and a two disc edition which features 4 previously unreleased live tracks, 3 previously unreleased studio tracks and a previously unreleased demo. It is released ahead of a … Continue reading

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Quick plays: LEVI CUSS, JIM McHUGH

LEVI CUSS Just Below Radio

LEVI CUSS Just Below Radio (Vol. 1 & 2) [Release date 03.11.17] Well, that’s a first – 2 EP CDs, 4 tracks on each, which surely doubles up on the production cost, when both would fit handsomely on a single … Continue reading

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Album review: JANIS IAN – The Essential 2.0

JANIS IAN - The Essential 2.0

Sony Legacy [Release date 22.09.17] This 2 CD collection neatly brings together, for the first time, some of Ian’s best (?) works spanning her whole career from 1967 to date on the Columbia, Verve And Rude Girl labels. All too … Continue reading

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Album review: DAVE STEWART – Nashville Sessions The Duets, Vol.1

DAVE STEWART - Nashville Sessions The Duets, Vol.1

Dave Stewart Entertainment [Release date  25.08.17] Pop, rock – Dave Stewart is a master of both.  And his taste in female vocalists, second to none.  But his output, even with The Eurythmics was always patchy.  More moments of sheer brilliance … Continue reading

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Album review: MOONLIGHT DESIRES – Just The Hits 1981-1985

MOONLIGHT DESIRES - Just The Hits 1981-1985

Infamous Butcher Records [Release date 15.09.17] Moonlight Desires hail from Canada and have produced a set of very enjoyable covers, and not the usual suspects either as they have gone for 80′s synth led pop rockers. The band’s name comes from … Continue reading

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Album review: APPICE – Sinister

APPICE - Sinister

SPV [Release date 27.10.17] This is the first ever studio collaboration between the Brothers Appice.  Carmen is of course best known for his work with Vanilla Fudge and Jeff Beck.  Vinny is the younger whipper snapper who has worked most … Continue reading

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Quick plays: RICKY ROSS, MATT PATERSHUK

RICKY ROSS - Short Stories Vol. 1

RICKY ROSS Short Stories Vol. 1 earMUSIC [Release date 15.09.17] While there’s no argument Ricky Ross can pen a decent tune, and has a signature vocal timbre, he’s perhaps not the most technically gifted of singers, which in no small … Continue reading

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Album review: AMELIA WHITE – Rhythm Of The Rain

AMELIA WHITE - Rhythm Of The Rain

[Release date 27.10.17] East Nashville based singer and songwriter Amelia White’s 2014 offering Old Postcard, her 6th long player, was what I’d describe as ‘a keeper’ – an Americana/soft rock cross over album reminiscent of classic Tom Petty and delivered … Continue reading

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Album review: TOM KILLNER – Live

TOM KILLNER – Live CD

Cleopatra Records [Release date 02.06.17] Rotherham based blues rocker Tim Killner plays the blues the way he feels them. Uninterested in the disposable music that holds its thrall on many of his musical contemporaries, the young Killner taps into the … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS – The Long-Awaited Album

STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS - The Long-Awaited Album

Rounder Records/Decca [Release date 29.09.17] Steve Martin, not content with being a comedian, actor, playwright and author, has in recent years found a new area of success with his banjo playing. He has released albums previously with the Steep Canyon Rangers and … Continue reading

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Album review: COLDSPELL – A New World Arise

Coldspell - A New World Arise

Escape Music [Release date 22.09.17] ColdSpell have been around since 2005 and this is the band’s fourth album, with what is quite a gap for them since 2013′s ‘Frozen Paradise’. However, that extra time in between albums has allowed the … Continue reading

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Album review: PHIL VINCENT – XX

PHIL VINCENT - XX

Phil Vincent Music Phil Vincent is very prolific, this being his twentieth solo album, plus he has been in various bands/projects through the years including D’Ercole, Legion and Tragik. Although Phil plays and produces all of the music on here, he … Continue reading

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Quick plays: A II Z, INTO THE UNKNOWN

A II Z - The Witch Of Berkeley

A II Z The Witch Of Berkeley Caroline Records [Release date 18.08.17] Part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, AIIZ (pronounced A To Z) were formed in Manchester in 1979 and recorded one album, this live set (like … Continue reading

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Album review: DR JOHN – The Atco Albums Collection

DR JOHN - The Atco Albums Collection

Rhino [Release date 15.09.17] Born Malcolm John Redennack. Dr John is a renowned American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. Inspired by work with New Orleans R&B and Jazz pianist/singer Professor Longhair, Dr John’s work is often for its New Orleans … Continue reading

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Album review: VARDIS – Reissues

VARDIS - Quo Vardis

Dissonance [Release date 22.09.17] Vardis have to be one of the most underrated and overlooked bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal genre. Their brand of metal, often dipping into boogie/biker metal, could also be seen as a … Continue reading

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