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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: FATAL VISION – Four Sides To Every Story
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Album review : PRIDE OF LIONS – Unbridled
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Album review : STATUS QUO – The Early Years Vol 2 (1970-72) 5 CD Boxset
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Quick plays: JUNIPER, ADY JOHNSON, ADAM BEATTIE
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Album review: ALBERT CASTIGLIA – Grits & Glory
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Album review : NINA ANTONIA AND THE LUNAR MOTHS – Dropping Like Butterflies
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Category Archives: ALL POSTS
Gig review: SPARKS – Union Chapel, London, 2 December 2013
“When the whole world is running headlong towards the precipice, one who walks in the opposite direction is looked on as being crazy.” T.S. Elliot could have been talking about Sparks. Their restless stop-start career has occasionally brushed the mainstream … Continue reading
Album review: CRYSTAL VIPER – Possession
AFM Records www.afmrecords.de With an album cover looking like a tacky horror movie or a bad King Diamond album from the 1980’s the preconceptions start before I’ve even listened to this new release from Polish metal band Crystal Viper. Crystal … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, CRYSTAL VIPER, metal, Poland, Possession, review, rock
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Album review: SUSAN CATTANEO – Haunted Heart
Jersey Girl Music [Release date 20.01.14] We’ve been impressed at GRTR! by Cattaneo’s previous releases, and her fourth album Haunted Heart continues the good work. The warm honeyed vocals of previous releases are still there, as is range of styles … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, country, folk, Haunted Heart, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Susan Cattaneo
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Album review: EILEEN ROSE – Be Many Gone
Rarely have I seen a PR sheet so devoid of information about an album. And the absence of sleeve and associated credits, lyrics etc doesn’t help either. But here goes. A few year’s back singer songwriter Eileen Rose’s album – … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, alt country, Be Many Gone, Eileen Rose, review, singer, songwriter
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Album review: THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Classic Album Selection 1977-1984
Universal [Release date 21.10.13] The latest record company wheeze to squeeze the last vestiges of profit out of dusty back catalogues seems to be the ‘reasonably priced’ box set. Which can be very good news for the discerning punter, but … Continue reading
Album Review: COSHISH – Firdous
Universal Music India [Release Date 11.09.13] One of the perks of being a reviewer is that, just occasionally, a little gem pops up out of the general slew of releases that, had you not been reviewing, would … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Coshish, Firdous, India, Progressive/Art Rock, review
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Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – Wintersmith
Park Records This is a departure for the revered folk rockers Steeleye Span, as the album is based on the novel ‘Wintersmith’ by Terry Pratchett, who also appears on the album and has a hand in writing the songs too. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Discworld, fantasy, folk, folk rock, Park Records, Peter Kinight, review, Steeleye Span, Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith
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Gig review: PALLAS – Classic Grand, Glasgow, 30 November 2013
A Pallas gig these days is a rare beast and the chance to catch the band live is an opportunity not to be missed. With only three dates scheduled this time around we headed to Glasgow as the band are … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 30 November 2013, Classic Grand, Comedy Of Errors, Euan Lowson, gig, Glasgow, Graeme Murray, live, Pallas, Paul Mackie, prog, rock
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Gig review: SIMPLE MINDS and ULTRAVOX, O2 Arena, London, 30 November 2013
It’s an 80’s revival tonight with one of the 80’s big stadium bands Simple Minds headlining, but first we had Ultravox who had their own series of hit singles in the early to mid-80’s. They reformed with their classic line-up … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 80's pop, Charlie Burchill, classic rock, eighties, gig, Jim Kerr, Midge Ure, O2 Arena, review, Simple Minds, stadium, synth pop, ULTRAVOX
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The Best Of 2013 – top albums, top live acts – the reviewers’ choice
Every year we ask the GRTR! Team to list their favourite albums and gigs of the year. As ever, it is a very eclectic mix and reflects the very broad and all-embracing tastes of our reviewers. How have we arrived … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, NEWS, The Best Of 2013
Tagged albums, artists, Best of 2013, Get Ready to ROCK!, live act, poll, vote
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Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Dark Wings Of Steel
AFM Records – [Release date 25.11.13] Keyboard wizard Alex Staropoli, founding member of the Symphonic Metal outfit Rhapsody (Rhapsody Of Fire since 2006), is a man who has suffered trials and tribulations and undoubtedly grown a second skin through relentless … Continue reading
Interview with ALEX STAROPOLI (Rhapsody Of Fire) – 7 November 2013
Name changes, line up changes, legal disputes: Rhapsody Of Fire have been through and survived all these last couple of years. What is quite surprising, though, is the fact that they have emerged looking stronger and with a top quality … Continue reading
Album review: ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD – Songs From The Road
Ruf [Release date 18.11.13] Royal Southern Brotherhood ‘Songs From the Road’ cements their place as one of the most essential live experiences in 2013. From their self titled debut album to their incendiary live shows, it’s been a long time … Continue reading
Album review: SPARKS – New Music For Amnesiacs – The Essential Collection
Lil Beethoven Records (2CD) This two CD, 40 song best of is a condensed version of the recent box set, which features 83 songs. Sparks may be masters of pop yet they have had an influence in the rock world … Continue reading
Single reviews: STEVE BLOOD, TESS CUNNINGHAM
STEVE BLOOD The Last Xmas [Release date 8.12.13] www.thelastxmas.com Christmas songs. Bah. Humbug. Who’d have ‘em? Frequently cheesy, easily forgotten. Here at GRTR! Towers we get our share. This offering is refreshingly different. Steve Blood has an interesting career plying … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Andrew Lee, Christmas, festive, remix, review, Scarey Men, single, Steve Blood, The Last Xmas, Wide Receiver, Woof Records
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Album review: ANGELICA – Thrive
Frontiers www.frontiers.it Murder of My Sweet front woman Angelica Rylin has moved away from their symphonic metal sound for her debut solo release – Thrive is another one of Frontier’s all-star melodic rock records. Angelica has brought fellow band members … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Anders Wigelius, ANGELICA, AOR, Harry Hess, melodic rock, review, Robert Sall, Thrive
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Interview with OLI BROWN – 25 November 2013
Having worked most of his career as part of his own band – including a UK tour with John Mayall and a recent high profile European tour with Joe Satriani – the multi-award winning guitarist and singer, Oli Brown takes … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Interviews/Rising Stars
Tagged Anders Osborne, Blinddog Smokin, blues, blues rock, Buddy Whittington, D’Angelo, guitar, guitarist, interview, James Brown, Joe Satriani, John Mayall, Kanye West, Led Zeppelin, Lyle Molzan, Mike Vernon, Nikka Costa, November 2013, Oli Brown, P-Funk, Ray Charles, Ron Sayer Jr., The Trews, Walter Trout, Wayne Proctor
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DVD review: JON ANDERSON – Tour Of The Universe
Store For Music www.thestoreformusic.com Although this is released this year by Store For Music, this DVD first saw the light of day back in 2005 when it was released by Classic Pictures. A word of caution for fans as the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged DVD, Jon Anderson, review, Tour Of The Universe, Washington, XM Satellite Radio, Yes
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Single review: JOSH TAERK – Casie
Josh Taerk, aircheck (Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 26 November 2013) Misty Creek Records [Release Date 9.12.13] We live in the age of the self expressive singer songwriter, whose hegemony of the air waves must make the more enduring folkies … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Blue Rodeo, Canadian, Casie, E Street Band, Jackson Brown, John Oates, Josh Taerk, Max Weinberg, review, Rush, Singer songwirter, Terry Brown
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Album review: BADHOVEN – Obsession
ATS Records (Release date – out now) The last group I can think of that broke out of Austria were the Von Trappe Family Singers who went on to find success in America. With the right … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Austria, Badhoven, CD, metal, Obsession, review, rock
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Quick plays: HANZEL UND GRETYL, SASQUATCH, HIDRIA SPACEFOLK, TOMAS BERGSTREN. JAMES McMORROW
HIDRIA SPACEFOLK Astronautica (Hidria Records) http://hidriaspacefolk.st/ This Finnish band formed in 1999 and their first album ‘Symbiosis’ came out in 2002. The band seem to have evolved organically, and slowly, as band members have come and gone sometimes to have … Continue reading
News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – December 2013 Highlights
December 2013 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, GMT Throughout December, a chance to hear again highlights from some of our 2013 shows. We’ll also be inviting listeners (and readers!) to vote for their favourite album and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS
Tagged Albany Down, Dani Wilde, David Coverdale, December 2013, Fay & Latta, features, Federal Charm, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, highlights, Ian Anderson, interviews, Jethro Tull, Joey Tempest, JUSTIN HAYWARD, Magenta, Martin Barre, Michael Schenker, radio, Rory Gallagher, Russ Ballard
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Album review: REO SPEEDWAGON – Live At Moondance Jam
CD/DVD – Frontiers Records [Release Date 29.11.13] It’s a strange feeling to be reviewing a CD of a gig I have fond memories of attending, especially as it was nearly four years ago and the band are scheduled to play … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, classic rock, Kevin Cronin, melodic rock, Moondance Jam, REO Speedwagon
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DVD Review: SPRINGSTEEN AND I
Eagle Vision [Release Date 28.10.2013] Bruce Springsteen is an artist who seems to inspire a unique awe and affection among his fans, so it somehow seems appropriate that he is the subject of a music film with a difference. Concert … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged 2012, Bruce Springsteen, documentary, DVD, Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park, London, Paul McCartney, review, Springsteen & I
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Album review: ZOE SCHWARZ BLUES COMMOTION – The Blues Don’t Scare Me
33 Jazz [Release date 04.11.13] Zoe Schwarz’s clarity of diction and unique phrasing mark her out as a special singer capable of making any song exclusively her own. She’s equally happy as a sultry, soulful blues singer or as a … Continue reading
