Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: STEVE IGNORANT’S SLICE OF LIFE – Don’t Turn Away

Posted on August 6, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Overground Records [Release date 23.08.19] Sculptor, Music Hall historian, Punch & Judy performer, volunteer life boatman, and perhaps most significantly – from a musical perspective – vocalist and co-founder of seminal 1970′s punk band Crass, Steve Ignorant is a man … Continue reading →

Album review: THE HOLD STEADY – Thrashing Thru The Passion

Posted on August 4, 2019 by jason

Frenchkiss Records [Release date 16.08.19] Whilst frontman Carif Finn has been busy releasing a trilogy of solo albums, the Hold Steady have been mainly seen in the live arena, until this new album ‘Thrashing Through Passion’ was announced earlier this … Continue reading →

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Album review: CARAVAN – The Decca/Deram Years (An Anthology) 1970-1975

Posted on August 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Decca/UMC [Release date 06.09.19] Caravan The Decca/Deram Years may not look quite as handsome as the previous 4 disc anthology (2010), and notwithstanding the 2-disc compilation (2000), it is nevertheless the most complete introduction to the band. Presented in a … Continue reading →

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Album review: IAN McNABB – Our Future In Space

Posted on August 1, 2019 by jason

Fairfield Records [Release date 08.03.19] I will be honest I have not really followed Ian McNabb’s musical journey since 1994’s excellent ‘Head Like A Rock’ he did with Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse. He’s been regularly releasing albums and touring … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND – Down To The River

Posted on August 1, 2019 by petefeenstra

BMG [Release 28.06.19] The Allman Betts Band don’t so much reinvent the wheel as relive subliminal snapshots of the band’s musical antecedents. They formed on the 50th anniversary of the first Allman Brothers gig and brought with them a weight … Continue reading →

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Album review: REDD KROSS – Beyond The Door

Posted on July 29, 2019 by jason

Merge [Release date 23.08.19] Amazingly this year marks the fortieth year that Redd Kross have been playing live (albeit originally under the name Red Cross) and it is the band’s first new album in seven years. The band are still … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, Beyond The Door, Melvins, pop rock, power pop, punk, Redd Kross, review, SPARKS | Leave a comment

Album review: IAMTHEMORNING – The Bell

Posted on July 28, 2019 by alanjones

K-scope (Release date: 02.08.19) One thing is for certain – you don’t listen to the music of iamthemorning for a laugh. Their exceptional 2016 album ‘Lighthouse’ which was based around the complexities of mental illness and which I described … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classical, folk, Gleb Kolyakin, Iamthemorning, Marjana Semkina, Progressive Rock, review, Russia, The Bell | Leave a comment

Album review: IAN GILLAN & THE DON AIREY Band and Orchestra – Contractual Obligation Album #2 Live In Warsaw

Posted on July 28, 2019 by jason

IAN GILLAN with the DON AIREY BAND - Contractual Obligaiton #2 Live In Warsaw

earMUSIC/Edel [Release date 26.07.19] Recorded in November 2016, while Deep Purple were on some downtime, and vocalist Ian undertook this short tour with current Purple pianist Don Airey’s band. Oh, and an orchestra. Deep Purple have, with their current line-up, … Continue reading →

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Album review: FREEDOM CALL – M.E.T.A.L.

Posted on July 28, 2019 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 23.08.19] Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Chris Bay, Freedom Call have been going since 1998, several line-up changes under their belt, and Bay has overseen a few changes. And this album is as great as ever. I have championed … Continue reading →

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Album review: PISTON-s/t

Posted on July 27, 2019 by andynathan

Release date 13.09.19 Midlands rockers Piston have been going since 2012 but having gone under the radar till now, their first album finally arrives in a year where they seem to be touring extensively and belatedly attracting attention. Opener ‘Dynamite’ … Continue reading →

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Album review: ALBERT CASTIGLIA – Masterpiece

Posted on July 26, 2019 by petefeenstra

Gulf Coast Records [Release 15.07.19] It’s often said that an artist discovers their best work when they find their muse. And when Albert Castiglia tells us that his new ‘Masterpiece’ album resulted from finding a daughter he didn’t know he … Continue reading →

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Album review: MICHAEL J BOLTON – Earthrise

Posted on July 26, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Market Square [Release date 30.08.19] www.marketsquaremusic.com Arriving to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, Michael J Bolton has fashioned his own tribute. As he outlines in the liner notes “I wanted to portray the drama and … Continue reading →

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Album review: BEN FEATHERSTONE – Prisoner To The Wind

Posted on July 25, 2019 by jason

Website [Release date 23.08.19] Ben Featherstone has been working on this album over the past decade, mostly recorded in a 400 year old abandoned chapel on a disused cemetary in the middle of nowhere on mostly a 1950′s reel to … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE NEW ROSES – Nothing But Wild

Posted on July 24, 2019 by jason

Napalm Records [Release 02.08.19] What can I say, I f’king love this album. “Nothing But Wild” is the fourth album from German band The New Roses and what an album it is, from the start this is from the heart, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Aerosmith, album, Bon Jovi, classic rock, country rock, hard rock, Napalm Records, Nothing But Wild, review, southern rock, the New Roses | 1 Comment

Quick plays: JIMI ANDERSON GROUP, HOLLOW HAZE, HUMBLE PIE

Posted on July 23, 2019 by jason

JIMI ANDERSON GROUP I Belong AOR Heaven [Release date 30.08.19] Second album from the Jimi Anderson Group, which sees singer Jimi Anderson working again with producers/musicians Sandy Jones and Greame Duffin, plus guitarist David Cuthbert. There is nothing on here … Continue reading →

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Album review: MORGANWAY – Morganway

Posted on July 21, 2019 by jason

Morganway/UE-Records [Release date 02.08.19] Morganway were formed in 2016 by brothers Callum (vocals, bass) and Kieran Morgan (lead guitar) along with keyboards player Matt Brocklehurst, who were in turn joined by vocalist SJ Mortimer, fiddle player Nicole J Terry and … Continue reading →

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Album review: LIVE – Throwing Copper 25th Anniversary Edition

Posted on July 21, 2019 by jason

Universal [Release date 19.07.19] With their roots dating back to 1984, and a name change or two, LIVE formed in Pennsylvania, USA, and in 1994 released this, their third album. Mixing hard rock and alternative rock, this album brought LIVE … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 25th anniversary edition, album, alternative, classic album, grunge, Jerry Harrison, live, review, rock, Talking Heads, Throwing Copper | Leave a comment

Album review: DEEP PURPLE – Live In Newcastle 2001 The Soundboard Series

Posted on July 21, 2019 by jason

earMUSIC [Release date 05.07.19] First in a series of official bootleg type recordings/releases, getting a wider release as they originally had a very limited showing. And well worth it they are too. This is one of six shows recorded on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classic rock, Deep Purple, EarMusic, hard rock, Ian Gillan, Jimmy Barnes, Jon Lord, live, Live In Newcastle 2001, review, The Soundboard Series | Leave a comment

Album review: DANNY BRYANT – Means Of Escape

Posted on July 18, 2019 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Danny Bryant about the album ‘Means Of Escape’ in August 2019. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 4 August 2019. (30:31) Jazzhaus [Release date 20.09.19] It’s tempting to view Danny Bryant’s ‘Means Of Escape’ … Continue reading →

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Album review: STRANDED – New Dawn

Posted on July 18, 2019 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 19.07.19] Stranded are the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Lewis Nitikman, who was in Stonebolt and on this album he is joined by fellow ex-Stonebolt member guitarist Ray Roper. On vocals is Troy Reid (check out his singing … Continue reading →

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Album review: MIND KEY – Aliens In Wonderland

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 12.07.19] Nearly a decade since Mind Key’s last offering ‘Pulse For A Graveheart’ the Italian prog/power metallers return. For those who like lots of great orchestration (Dario De Cicco), lots of melody and strong vocals throughout (Aurello … Continue reading →

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Album review: DANNY BEARDSLEY – Blood From A Stone

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

www.dannybeardsley.com [Release date 20.09.19] Just when you thought it was safe to go back in to your ageing album collection – frustrated that much new stuff merely recycles the old and not as convincingly – along comes an album to … Continue reading →

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Album review: HANNAH WICKLUND & THE STEPPIN STONES

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Strawberry Moon Records [Release date 30.05.19] With her previous two albums (Looking Glass (2013) and Steppin Stones (2015)) recorded when she was 15 and 17 being self-released under the branding of The Steppin Stones and no longer available, 22 year … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: ANGELA PERLEY, ANNIE KEATING, SESSION AMERICANA

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

ANGELA PERLEY 4:30 [Release date 30.08.19] With two albums, and a clutch of EPs behind her as the lead singer of Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons – a rock ‘n’-roll band from Columbus, Ohio imbued with country, blues and … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE ROLLING STONES – Bridges to Bremen

Posted on July 17, 2019 by jason

Eagle Rock [Release date 24.06.19] There can be no doubt that the Rolling Stones were an immense touring force throughout the nineties, and they were a great live act. By 1998 it seemed like there was no stopping them, but … Continue reading →