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Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
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Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
Album review : MOUNTAIN – Leslie West and Corky Laing, Live In The UK
Cherry Red [Release date 25.10.24] Highly influential New York rock band, Mountain, formed by equally influential guitarist, Leslie West in 1969, never seemed to enjoy the public profile they deserved. Yet, the uniformly enthusiastic response they got from sellout crowds … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged BB King, Biloxi, Corky Laing, Cream, Felix Pappalardi, Gail Collins, Jack Bruce, Leslie West, Mississippi Queen, Mountain, review, Woodstock
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Album review : CASANDRA’s CROSSING – Garden Of Earthly Delights
Frontiers [Release date: 25.10.24] George is back. Has he ever been away? George Lynch, ex-too many to mention, returns in tandem with up and coming vocalist/songwriter, Casandra Carson. Their debut is called Garden Of Earthly Delights … the cover art … Continue reading
Album review: LAYLA ZOE – Into The Blue, Live In Concert
Layla Zoe Music [Release date: 13.09.24] To say Layla Zoe warms to the notion of being an independent artist, is to understate her willingness to both dig deep for her emotions in a concert situation, and fly in the face … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Cotten, Felix Dehmel, Janis Joplin, Josh Rigal, Krissy Matthews, Layla Zoe, live, Lowell George, review
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Album review: RUBY DAWN – Blood On Water
Self-released [Release date 01.11.24] Hailing from Wokingham in the UK, Ruby Dawn are a rather fine progressive/art-rock band consolidating their progressive credentials with this follow-up to 2023’s ‘Beyond Tomorrow’, which, from all accounts, was an excellent debut in itself. Fronted … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Blood On Water, Progressive Rock, review, Ruby Dawn
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Album review: ARIES DESCENDANT – The Ashes Of Deceit
Frontiers [Release date 18.10.24] An amazing sense of musical ambition can often be found among European Rock and Metal bands. Often that ambition is rooted in the classics, or at least how the classics have been interpreted by contemporary musicians. … Continue reading
Album review : STEVE HOWE – Guitarscape
HoweSound [Release date: 27.09.24] With more than one hundred albums featuring his name in the recording credits, to offer guitarist Steve Howe the title of a truly accomplished musician should come as no surprise to anyone – still, it does … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Asia, Dylan Howe, guitarist, Guitarscape, instrumental, progressive, review, rock, Solo, Steve Howe, Yes
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Album review : FATE – Reconnect ‘N Ignite
Frontiers [Release date: 18.10.24] As Frontiers Records powers up its fourth quarter release schedule for 2024, it’ll be interesting to see if the label can maintain the quality we have become used to. Already with good stuff from Fans Of … Continue reading
Album review: WILLIE DOWLING – The Simpleton
Bandcamp [Release date 01.11.24] A new Willie Dowling album, whether it be under his own name or as part of one of his many fine groups like the Grip, Honeycrack, the Dowling Poole et al, is always a treat. On … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic rock, review, The Simpleton, Willie Dowling
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Album review: BOBBY ‘BORIS’ PICKETT – The Monster Mash
Decca [Release date 11.10.24] Bobby Pickett, a comedian and singer/songwriter, recorded this track after fronting a band called the Cordials by night, while attending auditions by day. Part of his act would include a monologue imitating Boris Karloff (probably best … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett, classic pop, Decca, HaLLoween, pop, review, The Monster Mash
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Album review: STEVE KNIGHTLEY – The Winter Yards
Website [Release date 04.10.24] With Show of Hands on ‘an indefinite break’, Steve Knightley releases this, his first solo studio album in 17 years. Guest artists on the album include his Show of Hands partner-in-crime Phil Beer, Phillip Henry (Edgelarks), Madrid-based Track … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, contemporary music, folk, melodic, review, Show Of Hands, songwriter, Steve Knightley, The Winter Yards
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Album review: SMASH ATOMS
M-Theory Audio [Release date 11.10.24] This year SMASH ATOMS have been bubbling under, mainly from the overwhelming and surprising response the Swedish quartet have received from commercial/active rock radio. Servicing their first single/video “Down” inspired a dozen stations to immediately … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, debut, grunge, review, rock, self-titled, Smash Atoms
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Album review : THUNDER – The Complete EMI Recordings 1989-95 (7 CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date 27.08.24] Thunder rose from the ashes of Terraplane, a two album English band who never escaped from label interference. Singer Danny Bowes and guitarist, Luke Morley, along with Gary “Harry” James, Ben Matthews and Mark “Snake” … Continue reading
Album review: SUNJAY – I’m Just Like You
Website [Release date 11.11.24] This latest album by singer, songwriter and blues guitarist Sunjay is a tribute to blues legend Chris Smither. The album features 15 of Chris Smither’s original songs, it was originally recorded as a private gift for Smither’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, blues, Chris Smither, folk, guitarist, I'm Just Like You, review, singer songwriter, Sunjay
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Album review: RADIOACTIVE – Reset
Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] Swedish musician/songwriter/producer, Tommy Denander has been an integral part of the AOR/Melodic Rock scene for more than 25 years now. He’s worked closely with countless musicians in the genre, most notably Bobby Kimball, Alice Cooper … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Bobby Kimball, Jeff Paris, Jim Jidhed, Jimi Jamison, Mutt Lange, RADIOACTIVE, Reset, review, Robin McAuley, Tommy Denander, Toto
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Album review: SLIK – The Complete Slik Collection (2 CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date : 11.10.24] This is as much a story about two songwriters, Scotland’s Bill Martin and Irishman, Phil Coulter, as it is the story of Scottish band Slik who enjoyed a 3 year lifespan, 1975-1977. Martin and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Band Aid, Bay City Rollers, Bill Martin, Cherry Red, Live Aid, Midge Ure, Phil Coulter, review, Rich Kids, Slik, ULTRAVOX, Visage
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Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – Full Tilt Overdrive
Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] More of a commitment than an album title, the House Of Lords 12th recording, Full Tilt Overdrive, follows through on the “in your face melodic hard rock” of their 2022 release, Saints and Sinners. It … Continue reading
Album review: FANS OF THE DARK – Video
Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] There’s a lot to love about Fans Of The Dark’s third album, Video. Their last album, Suburbia, was a nostalgic look at the life we led in the eighties – primarily teen culture, home entertainment … Continue reading
Album review: KALANDRA – A Frame Of Mind
By Norse Music [Release date 13.09.24] What is it with Scandinavia – still enticing and alluring with it’s Scandi Noir blend of melancholy and repressed emotion? If you want an album to soothe the soul as we head out of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged A Frame Of Mind, album, ambient, folk, Kalandra, Progressive Rock, review
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Album review: MOUNTAIN – Over The Top
Voiceprint [Release date 04.10.24] Formed by guitarist/vocalist Leslie West in the late 60s, Mountain took their name from West’s debut solo album and soon became successful and important in the US hard rock/blues rock scene. Mountain are (or should be) … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 70's rock, best of, blues rock, classic rock, Corky Laing, Felix Pappalardi, Leslie West, Mountain, Over the Top, re-issue, review, rock
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Album review : D-A-D Speed Of Darkness
AFM Records [Release date 04.10.24] Not often we review a museum piece. Copenhagen’s Peoples Museum is celebrating D-A-D’s 40 years in the music business this year. The band itself is recognising this milestone with a double album of brand new … Continue reading
Album review: MOONSTONE PROJECT – New Life
Escape Music [Release date 18.09.24] Moonstone Project is masterminded by guitarist and songwriter Matt Filippini. ‘New Life’ is a re-issue, of sorts, as it sees the Moonstone Project’s 2006 album ‘Time To Take A Stand’, being completely remixed and remastered … Continue reading
Album review: THE CORONAS – Thoughts & Observations
So Far So Good [Release date 27.09.24] The Coronas are a big deal in their native Ireland where their last three albums have gone straight to number 1 in the Irish charts. Although technically a three-piece, with Danny O’Reilly (vocals, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Gabrielle Alpin, indie, Jamie Duffy, melodic, pop rock, rock, the Coronas, Thoughts & Observations
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Album review: JON BODEN & THE REMNANT KINGS – Parlour Ballads
Hudson Records [Release date 27.09.24] “Parlour Music” is a genre that has been much derided over the centuries. Its heyday was the Victorian era when many middle-class houses had pianos and many middle-class sons and daughters could sight-read piano scores … Continue reading