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Category Archives: Reissues
Album review: WISHBONE ASH – Two Barrels Burning/Raw To The Bone (reissues)
Lemon/Cherry Red [Release date 02.02.18] Back in the racks for their first official outing on CD in some years, two eighties “lost classics” from the band who are currently receiving renewed attention largely thanks to the massive limited “vintage years” … Continue reading
Album review: MONGREL STATE – Mestizo
Mongrel State [Release date 29.01.16] Did I tell you the one about the two Irishmen, an Englishman and an American? No, sorry, that was last week’s Americana review. This week it’s a tale of an Irishman, an Italian, a Spaniard … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Americana, Mestizo, Mongrel State, review, rock, roots
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Album review: DWORNIAK BONE LAPSA – Fingers Pointing At The Moon
Platinum Pursuits/Proper Records [Release date 09.03.18] I’m not quite sure why this album, originally released in 2014, by Winchester-based three piece Joe Dworniak (bass/backing vocals), Greg Bone (lead and rhythm guitars/backing vocals), and Chris Lapsa (lead vocals/guitars and keys), who … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, DBL, Dworniak Bone Lapsa, Pink Floyd, prog, Progressive Rock, review
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Album review: RAVEN – Wiped Out
Dissonance Productions [Release date 27.04.18] Formed in the north of England in the mid 70s by brothers John (bass, and vocals) and Mark (guitar) Gallagher, Raven were a trio associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Playing what … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, hard rock, heavy metal, metal, NWOBHM, RAVEN, re-issue, review, Wipe Out
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Album review: SPIRIT – It Shall Be (The Ode & Epic Recordings 1968-1972)
Esoteric [Release date: 16.03.18] Life is not fair. Were it to be, this 60′s US outfit would be up there along with the much-feted likes of fellow West Coast time-liners, Love. Yes, ‘Forever Changes’ is a wonderful album; in this … Continue reading
Album review: ATOMIC ROOSTER – Sleeping For Years (The Studio Recordings 1970-1974)
Esoteric [Release date: 01.12.17] Now that pretty much every noteworthy heritage release has been reissued individually on CD, labels have turned to a secondary repackaging concept: the box set (or clamshell), that conventionally takes in a selection of albums from … Continue reading
Album review: SAXON – 10 Years Of Denim And Leather Live 1990/The CD Hoard (reissues)
Edsel [Release date 27.10.17*, 16.03.18**] Saxon seem to be enjoying a resurgence even more impressive than their 2007-2010 revival. With a remarkably relevant new album ‘Thunderbolt’ and a raft of reissues and box sets, we can at least luxuriate in … Continue reading
Album review: MARILLION – Unplugged At The Walls/Tumbling Down The Years
earMUSIC [Release date 23.03.18] Live albums three and four in this set of bi-monthly releases find our intrepid heroes in a restaurant in Oswestry in 1988, and once again at the 2009 Marillion Weekend convention in Port Zelande, Holland. Unplugged … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 1988, 2009, album, Holland, live, Marillion, Netherlands, Oswestry, Port Zelande, review, rock, Tumbling Down The Years, Unplugged At The Walls
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Album review: SAXON – Reissues (Saxon, Wheels Of Steel, Strong Arm Of The Law)
BMG [Release date 30.03.18] Bastions of British Heavy Metal, Saxon formed in the late 70s and were at the forefront of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, alongside Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Samson and Girlschool et al. And while … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, classic rock, metal, NWOBHM, reissue, review, rock. Biff Byford, Saxon, Strong Arm Of The Law, Wheels Of Steel
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Album review: RUPERT HOLMES – Songs That Sound Like Movies – The Complete Epic Recordings
This is a non-broadcast preamble and exclusive edit from a two hour special on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio featuring the music of Rupert Holmes and a recent interview (6:17) Part 1 is broadcast on Sunday 1 April at 18:00 … Continue reading
Album review: CURVED AIR – Air Cut (reissue)
Esoteric [Release date: 26.01.18] Interviewed in the booklet notes for Esoteric’s contemporaneous reissue of the bands’ 1970 debut ‘Air Conditioning’, chanteuse linchpin Sonja Kristina opined it – and this later release – to be her faves, and it’s clear why. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Air Cut, album, Curved Air, prog, Progressive Rock, reissue, review, Sonja Kristina
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Album review: CURVED AIR – Air Conditioning (reissue)
Esoteric [Release date: 26.01.18] Whether by design or default, Warner Bros hit something of a mother lode when they launched their UK music arm back in 1970 with the much trumpeted signing of this then-unknown talent. It was a leap … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Air Conditioning, album, Curved Air, Daryl Way, Francis Monkman, prog, progressive, reissue, review, Sonja Kristina
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Quick plays: THE ZIPPERS, MATTHEW FISHER, CHRISTINA MARTIN, DARLING WEST
THE ZIPPERS Angel Air [Release date 09.03.18] Back in the late 80′s it seemed the major record companies signed up any band with long hair and guitars, only for them to record an album and then never get it released. The … Continue reading
Album review: PARADISE LOST – Host
Nuclear Blast [Release date 16.03.18] ‘Host’ was Paradise Lost’s seventh album and was originally released in 1999 on major label EMI. It certainly caused a major stir amongst their fans at the time with its electro/synth led sound, a far cry … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Depeche Mode, electronic, Gregor Macintosh, Host, Nick Holmes, Paradise Lost, re-issue, review, rock
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Album review: STYX – Caught In The Act
BGO Records [Release date 09.02.18] BGO Records are re-issuing ‘Caught In The Act’, Styx’s live album originally released in 1984, as a double CD in a slip case, remastered and with sleeve notes from Neil Daniels. ‘Caught In The Act’ … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, BGO Records, Caught In The Act, classic rock, concert, Dennis De Young, James Young, Kilry Was Here, live, melodic, melodic rock, review, rock, Styx, Tommy Shaw
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Album review: RICHIE KOTZEN, IAN GILLAN (reissues)
The Store For Music [Release date 17.11.17/23.02.18] A welcome outing for three late-1990s solo albums from the underrated Richie Kotzen, repackaged as Telecasters & Stratocasters: Klassic Kotzen. Kotzen might be best known for his stints in Poison and Mr.Big and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues
Tagged Accidentally On Purpose, album, Break It All Down, compilation, Deep Purple, funk, Gillan, Ian Gillan, Ian Gillan Band, Naked Thunder, R&B, reissue, review, Richie Kotzen, rock, Roger Glover, Something To Say, soul, Telecasters & Stratocasters: Klassic Kotzen, What Is
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Album review: JON BUTCHER AXIS
Escape Music [Release date 19.01.18] If like me you were one of those who spent every fortnight reading Kerrang! and the Wimpwire column by Derek Oliver, Jon Butcher’s name came up quite often and indeed he got a feature in the AOR/melodic … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 80s, album, Escape Music, JK Northrup, Jon Butcher, Jon Butcher Axis, melodic, re-issue, review, rock
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Album review: DRIVE, SHE SAID – Real Life
Escape Music [Release date 23.03.18] ‘Real Life’ was originally released back in 2003 by Drive, She Said the band who featured vocalist/guitarist/bassist Al Fritsch and keyboards wizard Mark Mangold. This album has been re-mixed in 2017 by Brian Anthony and Mark … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Al Fritsch, album, Drive, Escape Music, Mark Mangold, melodic, pomp, re-mastered, Real Life, remixed, review, rock, She Said
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Album review: CHRIS HILLMAN – The Asylum Years
Omnivore Recordings [Release date 09.02.18] This new CD brings together Chris Hillman’s first two solo albums, from 1976 and 1977 respectively. Hillman had a fine pedigree as a member of The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Manassas. Immediately prior … Continue reading
Album review: MARILLION – Holidays In Eden Live/Size Matters (reissues)
earMUSIC [Release date 19.01.18] Curious ‘mainstream’ releases for these two double CD sets, that fans will know were originally released on the band’s own Racket Records label (in fact, Size Matters is still currently available, albeit with a different sleeve), … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Holidays In Eden Live, live, Marillion, progressive, review, rock, Size Matters, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery, weekend
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Album review: OSMOSIS (reissue)
Esoteric [Release date: 24.11.17] If the ‘assimilation of ideas’ inherent in the meaning of the term osmosis is also a process of ‘almost unconscious gradualism’, it is not reflected in the 1970 debut (and only) release by this US Bostonian … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, jazz, Osmosis, progressive, reissue, review
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Album review: STRAY – Fire & Glass (The Pye Recordings 1975-1976)
Esoteric [Release date: 24.11.17] Regulars on the 70s’ gigging circuit in the UK, Stray harnessed consistently strong and varied repertoire with colourful performances supporting the likes of Black Sabbath and Ten Years After. But they were also signed to indie … Continue reading
Album review: W.A.S.P. – Re-idolized
Napalm Records [Release date 02.02.18] Moving away from the trashy, good-time, OTT lyrics of earlier albums, The Crimson Idol (released in 1993) saw Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P. move into the territory of the concept album. The Crimson Idol tells the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Blackie Lawless, metal, Naplam Records, Re-idolized, review, rock, The Crimson Idol, W.A.S.P
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Album review: DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ – My ReGeneration/The Further Adventures Of
Frontiers [Release date 01.12.17] The Down ‘N’ Outz were formed by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, when he was asked to be involved in the Mott The Hoople reunion shows in 2009. For this he was backed by Quireboys’ members Paul Guerin … Continue reading
Album review: MAGMA – Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh
Seventh Records [Release date: 25.11.17] When the album ‘Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh’ hit the racks in UK and US record stores in 1973, it was assumed to be a debut because nobody had heard of the band, and – judging by … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Christian Vander, Krautrock, Magma, Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh, prog, progressive, reissue, review, rock
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