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Album review: LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS – Limes Hotel
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Album review: SOMETHING FOR THE LONGING – Scottish Independent Pop 1985-1999 (3 CDs)
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Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
BLONDIE – Live
Eagle Records 2012 This live CD was recorded back in 1999 in the Town Hall in New York, the band’s first hometown gig in 17 years. The album contains 17 tracks covering Blondie’s career from their early days through to … Continue reading
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Tagged Blondie, Debbie Harry, live
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OF MICE & MEN – The Flood
(Re-Issued) Rise Records 2012 The Flood was originally released on June 14th 2011 and was re-released July 24th 2012, featuring 4 new songs. Selling over 13,000 copies in its first week, it’s already clear that The Flood was a very … Continue reading
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Tagged Of Mice & Men, The Flood
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PAUL McCARTNEY – Ram
Deluxe Box Edition reissue (Hear Music) 2012 Originally released in 1971, “Ram” was the only album credited to both Paul and Linda McCartney and was the second solo album he released between quitting The Beatles and forming Wings. The album … Continue reading
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Tagged Paul McCartney, RAM
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FATAL SMILE – 21st Century Freaks
GMR 2012 “21st Century Freaks” is the 4th album from Fatal Smile and is good old European metal- heavy yet melodic and with big choruses thrown in. Produced by the band’s guitarist Mr Y and engineered by drummer Philthy, Fatal … Continue reading
GOTTHARD – “FIREBIRTH”
GOTTHARD – “FIREBIRTH” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Losing a fellow band member and a dear friend is an unbelieveably difficult situation for any musician to deal with, especially when this person happens to be as inspiring as Gotthard’s frontman Steve Lee. … Continue reading
QUICK PLAYS: High Spirits, Fear Report, Bewilderland, Bones & Comfort
High Spirits – Another Night High Roller Records Album covers can be deceiving at times. Looking at the cover of Another Night I was fully expecting an 80’s hair metal cheesefest but High Spirits are a bit harder edged than … Continue reading
NEKROFEIST – Without Reserve Or Regret
Self Release 2012 I recently reviewed Nekrofeist’s debut EP which had been kicking around for a couple of years in their native Australia and awarded it 4/5 as it contained some rather good classic thrash. The band got in touch … Continue reading
RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STARR BAND – The Anthology…So Far 1989-2000
(3CD) Eagle Rock 2012 This is a re-issue of the original 2001 release that featured songs from ‘Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band’ (1990), ‘Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Volume 2: Live From Montreux’ (1993) and ‘Ringo Starr … Continue reading
DORO – Under My Skin: A Fine Collection Of Doro Classics
(2CD) AFM Records www.afm-records.de Doro Pesch is a true metal legend who has given her all for her fans and music (a telling interview I read with her said how she gave up any idea of raising a family as … Continue reading
FLYING COLORS – S/T
Ear Music/Edel A supergroup consisting of drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater), guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple/Dixie Dreggs), bassist Dave LaRue (Steve Morse/Dixie Dreggs), Neal Morse (Transatlantic/ex-Spock’s Beard) on keyboards/vocals and lead vocalist/guitarist Casey McPherson. The album was produced by the … Continue reading
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Tagged ELO, Flying Colors, Mike Portnoy, Muse, Neal Morse, Queen, Steve Morse
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THE SWEET – New York Connection
www.thesweet.com The Sweet – the version fronted by original guitarist Andy Scott – return with an album of covers. The current line-up consists of the aforementioned Scott joined by Pete Lincoln (vocals/bass), Tony O’Hora (guitar/keys/vocals) and Bruce Bisland (drums/vocals). Yes … Continue reading
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Tagged Andy Scott, Dead Or Alive, New York Connection, Russ Ballard, The Sweet
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TARJA – Act I
Ear Music/Edel 2012 (Double CD) www.tarja-act1.com Former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen releases her first solo live album (there is also a companion DVD and BluRay releases). I will admit I am not the biggest fan of her voice but freed … Continue reading
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Tagged Act I, Nightwish, Tarja
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Rock Candy Roundup: Johnny Van Zant, Lionheart, Fastway, Paris
Johnny VAN ZANT Round Two ***1/2 The Last Of The Wild Ones **** Youngest of the Van Zant family, Johnny follows an enormous legacy in Ronnie (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie (38 Special). These solo albums (sometimes credited to The Johnny … Continue reading
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Tagged Fastway, Johnny Van Zant, Lionheart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Motorhead, Paris, Rock Candy, UFO
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FM re-issues
Indiscreet **** Tough It Out **** Rock Candy Records Two classic AOR albums, where the band’s name sums up the sound perfectly. Formed by the former Samson rhythm section of drummer Pete Jupp and bassist Merv Goldsworthy, a few line-up … Continue reading
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Tagged FM, Rock Candy, Steve Overland
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VISION DIVINE – Destination Set To Nowhere
Ear Music/Edel 2012 Formed in Italy in 1998, this progressive power metal band release their seventh studio album with plenty of power and melody, Rhapsody’s Fabio Lione providing vocals with power, range and an operatic touch. From the outset the … Continue reading
RED JASPER – A Midsummer Night’s Dream/The Winter’s Tale
Angel Air 2012 www.angelair.co.uk The words ‘British’ and ‘quintessentially’ spring to mind listening to this eccentric brace of early 90’s releases from a former agitprop punk folk act that contrarily transmogrified itself into a progressive rock band. Seemingly in awe … Continue reading
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Tagged prog rock, Red Jasper
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L.A GUNS – Hollywood Forever
Deadline Music 2012 L.A Guns release their first original album in 7 years and not only will ‘Hollywood Forever’ go down as one of their best but the album also reminds me of why I liked the band in the … Continue reading
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Tagged LA Guns, Phil Lewis
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THE KENNEDYS – Closer Than You Think
www.kennedysmusic.com Husband and wide duo Pete and Maura have released a string of albums to date, as well as being part of Nanci Griffith’s backing band. This is their first album to get a proper PR push here in the … Continue reading
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Tagged Closer Than You Think, THE KENNEDYS
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LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY – “ASCENDING TO INFINITY”
LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY – “ASCENDING TO INFINITY” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Can somebody please explain to me what on earth is going on with the guys in Rhapsody? Having made quite an impression with their unique blend of Symphonic and Euro-Power … Continue reading
RHYS WILLIAMS – Great Falls
Right Track Records www.rhyswilliamsmusic.com This is his debut album having previously worked with Morrissey amongst others (he played flute on Morrissey’s ‘I’m Not Sorry’). He has a couple of name guests in pedal steel player BJ Cole and strings arranger … Continue reading
ERIK NORLANDER – The Galactic Collective
The Definitive Edition (2CD/DVD) A real ‘must have’ for fans that’s sure as Erik Norlander re-issues the Galactic Collective CD with a bonus CD featuring four reworkings of existing tunes including a marvellous extended musical workout on ‘Garden Of The … Continue reading
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Tagged Asia, Erik Norlander, Galactic Collective, John Payne
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BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – “A KNIGHT IN YORK” DVD
BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – “A KNIGHT IN YORK” DVD UDR/EMI (2012) Back in 1997, when guitar legend Ritchie Blackmore decided to abandon the world of classic Rock and instead indulge in his medieval folk musical fantasies with the help of his … Continue reading
AIRS – A Rock Opera
www.airs-rockopera.com Airs is a collaboration between lyricist/writer George Andrade and composer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Brockmann. They met on a Spock’s beard forum and keeping the Spock’s beard theme going Dave Meros and Alan Morse of the band guest on ‘Flight … Continue reading
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Tagged Airs, AOR, prog metal, prog rock, rock opera
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ETERNAL ‘Chapter 1’
www.eternalsweden.com Another top hard rock band from Sweden shock! Yes Eternal are another in that long line of excellent Swedish melodic hard rock/metal bands and this is their debut album after releasing an EP back in 2008. Keyboard player Pontus … Continue reading
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Tagged Eternal, hard rock, melodic rock, Sweden
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THE KINKS – The Kinks at the BBC
Universal 2012 The Kinks have a sumptuous back catalogue and rightly deserve their place in the pantheon of British pop and rock greats. As befits this status, the band have been the subject of some weighty compilations. But none quite … Continue reading
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Tagged The Kinks, The Kinks at the BBC
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