Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: RESURRECTION KINGS – Skygazer

Posted on July 8, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 16.07.21] The Resurrection Kings are less of a supergroup, and more a ragtag collection of talented musicians who struck gold at the box office a few times, but most often found their place in supporting roles. Craig … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Sabbath, Derringer, Dio, Dokken, Foreigner, Frontiers, Giuffria, metal, Resurrection Kings, review, rock, Rough Cutt, Skygazer | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MURRAY McLAUCHLAN, SEAN CHAMBERS, MARK GERMINO

Posted on July 8, 2021 by jason

MURRAY McLAUCHLAN Hourglass True North Records [Release date 09.07.21] Folk and country artist Murray McLauchlin has been recording and touring since the early 70’s. In his native Canada he is an eleven-time Juno award winning artist, received the Order of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, country, folk, guitarist, Hourglass, Hubert Sumlin, Mark Germino, Murray McLauchlan, review, Sean Chambers, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: HEAVY WATER – Red Brick City

Posted on July 8, 2021 by jason

Silver Lining Music [Release date 23.07.21] With, amongst others, the sons of both Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson’s sons kicking up serious dust in The Raven Age and As Lions respectively, it’s no surprise that Seb Byford stepped … Continue reading →

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Album review: DIM GRAY – Flown

Posted on July 3, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Grim Day Records [Release date 25.06.21] One band that came to mind when listening to Dim Gray’s debut album is Celtus. And the Norwegian “post prog” art rockers may well appeal to those who warmed to that now defunct band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, art rock, Dim Gray, Flown, prog rock, progressive, review | Leave a comment

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO – The Reckoning

Posted on July 3, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 09.07.21] Laurenne/Louhimo’s The Reckoning is an interesting new release from Frontiers. A musical “lockdown made me do it” marriage of Smackbound’s Netta Laurenne and Battle Beast’s Noora Louhimo. They’ve written a dozen or so Symphonic Rock songs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alicia Keys, Battlebeast, Frontiers, Laurenne Louhimo, Netta Laurenne, Nino Laurenne, Noora Louhimo, Norah Jones, review, Smackdown, Symphonic Metal Rock, Thunderstone | Leave a comment

Album review: STONE THE CROWS, MAGGIE BELL (reissues)

Posted on July 2, 2021 by jason

Repertoire [Release date 25.06.21] Noted blues rock band Stone The Crows formed in Glasgow 1969 after Alex Harvey introduced his younger guitarist Leslie Harvey to singer Maggie Bell. Bell already had a notable career and her voice, big bluesy and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged albums, blues, classic rock, Jimmy Page, Maggie Bell, reissue, review, rock, Stone The Crows | Leave a comment

Album review: LESLIE WEST – 5 Originals, Got Live

Posted on July 2, 2021 by jason

5 Originals (3CD) Voiceprint [Release date 21.05.21] The late great Leslie West is, perhaps, best known as the founder, guitarist and vocalist of the legendary American rock band Mountain, also pioneers of heavy metal and blues rock. The band took … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 5 Originals, albums, blues, classic rock, Got Live, guitarist, Leslie West, Mick Jagger, Mountain, reissues, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THOR – Alliance

Posted on July 2, 2021 by jason

Deadline/Cleopatra [Release date 16.07.21] Canadian bodybuilder, historian, actor, and musician John Mikl Thor has produced some very fine metal over the years, debuting in the mid 70s. Since the turn of the millennium Thor has been particularly prolific, and this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alliance, Danko Jones, metal, power metal, RAVEN, review, Ross the Boss, Thor | Leave a comment

Album review: DENNIS DE YOUNG – 26 East, Volume 2

Posted on July 1, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 11.06.21) This is an album I’ve been looking forward to for 12 months since the release of Volume 1. That represented the former Styx singer’s return to his melodic rock roots in far better fashion than … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Dennis De Young, Jim Peterik, melodic rock, pomp rock, Styx | Leave a comment

Album review: CROWNE – Kings In The North

Posted on July 1, 2021 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 18.06.21] Crowne is (another) gathering of Scandinavian melodic hard rockers from various bands comprising of vocalist Alexander Strandell (Art Nation), guitar, keyboards & producer Jona Tee (H.E.A.T), bassist John Levén (Europe) and drummer Christian Lundqvist (The Poodles), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Art Nation, Crowne, Europe, hard rock, HEAT, Kings In The North, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: MICK PINI AUDIO 54 – Backtrack

Posted on June 28, 2021 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Mick Pini and Craig Marshall for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 29 August 2021. Bandcamp [Release date 01.07.21] Mick Pini’s ‘Backtrack’ marks his 55th anniversary in the music business. It’s a career defining contemporary … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, ambient, Audio 54, Backtrack, blues, Freddie King, funk, jazz, Mick Pini, Mike Vernon, Peter Green, review, rock, Sherman Robertson, Snowy White | Leave a comment

Album review: THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY – S/T

Posted on June 28, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 27.08.21] The Immediate Family maybe a new band but their ranks are full of seasoned session players who have worked with the likes of James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Toto, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Stevie Nick … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, classic rock, country, Danny Kortchmar, Immediate Family, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt, melodic, review, rock, Russ Kunkel, Toto, Waddy Wachtel, Warren Zevon | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST OF THE MISFIT HEROES – Hope For The Hopeless

Posted on June 28, 2021 by petefeenstra

The Last Of The Misfit Heroes - Hope For The Hopeless

Self release [Release date 26.03.21] South London trio Last Of The Misfit Heroes confidently tap into rock’s pre-corporate ability to channel anger and frustration into socially conscious and meaningful songs with enough intensity and frisson to bottle the excitement. As … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anj Jackman, Chris Catt, Dan Lucas, Hope For the Hopeless, Hugh Cornwall, King Crimson, Last Of The Misfit Heroes, punk, review, rock, Steve Catt, The Edge, The Stranglers, U2 | Leave a comment

Album review: ONE DESIRE – One Night Only- Live in Helsinki (CD/DVD)

Posted on June 27, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 11.06.21) In normal times, it might seem vainglorious for a band to issue a live CD and DVD just two albums into their career. However, in these strange times it is easy to empathise with One … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, AOR, live album, melodic rock, One Desire | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE JACKSON & TODD RUNDGREN feat. ETHEL – State Theater, New Jersey 2005 (CD/DVD)

Posted on June 25, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramind [Release date 18.06.21] Back in 2005 the pairing of Joe Jackson and Todd Rundgren may have seemed rather incongruous. I remember thinking at the time that Rundgren had just released an excellent solo album ‘Liars’ and it would … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, CD, classic rock, concert, DVD, Ethel, interview, Joe Jackson, live, New Jersey 2005, pop, quartet, review, State Theater, strings, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review: VARIOUS ARTISTS – Rockets Of Love! Power Pop Gems From The 70s, 80s & 90s

Posted on June 24, 2021 by jason

Big Beat / Ace [Release date 25.6.21] Power pop collections are never going to be top sellers, so it’s encouraging to find Ace’s Big Beat imprint following up 2019’s “Come On Let’s Go” and last year’s “Girls Go Power Pop” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Cheap Trick, compilation, Josh Rouse, pop, pop rock, power pop, review, Rockets Of Love!, the Knack | Leave a comment

Album review: NITRATE – Renegade

Posted on June 24, 2021 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 30.07.21] Nitrate are back with album number three and it is all change in the line-up. Nick Hogg remains joined by a new vocalist, Art Nation’s Alexander Strandell, Alessandro Del Vecchio (keys, backing vocals) and lead … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 80's rock, album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, AOR, Def Leppard, melodic rock, Nitrate, review, Starship, Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: TIGERCUB – As Blue As Indigo

Posted on June 24, 2021 by jason

BLAME Recordings [Release date 18.06.21] Fans of Brighton based Tigercub have been waiting patiently for this, the band’s second album, after releasing their well-received debut in 2016. In between times main songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Jamie Hall has been busy … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, As Blue As Indigo, indie, Muse, QOTSA, review, rock, Tigercub | Leave a comment

Album review: TOTO – With A Little Help From My Friends

Posted on June 22, 2021 by andynathan

The Players Club/Mascot Label Group (Release Date 25.06.21) Last November Toto broadcast a live stream from California, which in the absence of concerts was the only way to introduce to the wider world their new line up in which Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Joseph Williams, live album, melodic rock, review, Steve Lukather, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE DANKS – Seaspeak

Posted on June 22, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 09.07.21] Joe Danks may live in landlocked rural Derbyshire but the sound and smell of the sea and maritime images are locked firmly in his head. Danks found his ‘sea legs’ when he landed a year-long residency … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged album, folk, Joe Danks, National Maritime Museum, review, Seaspeak, singer songwriter, traditional music | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE BROOKFIELD – Hey Kiddo!

Posted on June 22, 2021 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Mike Brookfield for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in June 2021. First broadcast 27 June 2021. Golden Rule Records [Release date 09.07.21] Mike Brookfield’s catchphrase is: “keep it burnin”. And he certainly does that on ‘Hey … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Buddy Holly, Dick Dale, Dire Straits, Duane Eddy, guitar, Hey Kiddo!, instrumental, Jet Harris, Jimmy Page, Link Ray, Lonnie Mack, Los Straitjackets, Mark Knopfler, Mike Brookfield, Peter Eades, review, surf music, Tarantino, The Shadows, The Ventures | Leave a comment

Album review: GERRY MARSDEN – My Home Town

Posted on June 21, 2021 by brianmc

Angel Air [Release date 26.06.21] Back in 1963, the song ‘How Do You Do It’, penned by prolific UK hit writer, Mitch Murray, was offered to Gerry &The Pacemakers, manager Brian Epstein’s second signing. This was after the Beatles had … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Brian Epstein, Classic Pop and Rock, David Martin, Dusty Springfield, Elvis, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Gerry Marsden, John Lennon, Liverpool FC, Mama Cass. Bill Shankly, Mitch Murray, review, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Album review: VARIOUS – Party For Joey

Posted on June 20, 2021 by jason

Sweet Relief [Release date 25.06.21] The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. One of those … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, Americana, Ben Harper, blues, Bonnie Riatt, country, indie, Joey Spaminto, Keith Richards, Los Lobos, Proper Music, review, rock 'n' roll | Leave a comment

Album review: DUFFY – Scruffy Duffy (remaster w/bonus tracks)

Posted on June 20, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 25.06.21] An undiscovered gem of an album. That’s a familiar phrase, and one that too often disappoints when exposed to the light. Scruffy Duffy doesn’t let us down. This was Brit band, Duffy’s second album, recorded … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 1973, album, Beatles, bonus tracks, Cherry Red, pop, prog, remaster, review, rock, Rush, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DOOBIE BROTHERS – Cycles, Brotherhood

Posted on June 19, 2021 by jason

BGO Records [Release date 25.06.21] Two albums for Capitol by The Doobie Brothers, first released in 1989 (‘Cycles’) and 1991 (‘Brotherhood’), get a re-issue and digital remaster from BGO Records. The Doobie Brothers officially split in 1982 but re-formed in … Continue reading →

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