Tag Archives: alternative

Feature: Baker’s Dozen – Librarians With Hickeys

Posted on December 7, 2024 by jason

LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS - How To Make Friends By Telephone

Librarians With Hickeys are an indie pop rock duo consisting of Ray Carmen and Mike Crooker. Here both of them choose an eclectic Baker’s Dozen… Ray Carmen (in more or less no particular order) 1. Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged alternative, Bakers Dozen, feature, indie, Librarians With Hickeys, Mike Crocker, Paul McArtney, playlist, pop, pop rock, power pop, Ray Carmen, Robyn Hitchcock, rock, XTC | Leave a comment

Rising Stars interview: TBH BIBI

Posted on July 25, 2024 by jason

New artist TBH BIBI is an eighteen-year-old British non-binary musician who draws inspiration from early 2000s pop-punk and alternative music genres. They bring these influences to life through their fresh and raw new songs. TBH BIBI’s debut single ‘I Don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged alternative, I Don’t Care, indie, interview, punk, Rising Stars, rock, single, TBH BIBI, TikTok | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…THE BEAT, DEPECHE MODE

Posted on December 10, 2023 by jason

On Track…The Beat, General Public & Fine Young Cannibals by Steve Parry Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 30.06.23] A fascinating read into how the Beat led to the creation of General Public (who many may ask and they once supported Queen!) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 80's pop, alternative, books, Depeche Mode, electronica, Fine Young Cannibals, General Public, On Track, pop, review, rock, synth pop, The Beat | Leave a comment

Album review: EMILY WOLFE – The Blowback

Posted on November 2, 2023 by jason

Crows Feet Records [Release date 20.10.23] Third album from Emily Wolfe, with her 2021 release ‘Outlier’ still getting regular plays by this reviewer. On this album Emily Wolfe wrote or co-wrote most of the tracks with bassist Evan Nicholson, as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Emily Wolfe, indie, punk, review, singer songwriter, The Blowback | Leave a comment

Quick plays: HASSAN BIN RASHID, LOUIS DE BERNIERES, RYAN YOUNG

Posted on October 7, 2023 by jason

HASSAN BIN RASHID My 21 Grams [Release date 06.10.23] Not everyday you get offered to review an album by a proper prince, in this case Bahraini Prince, Hassan bin Rashid. ‘My 21 Grams’ is his fifth studio album as he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged alternative, folk, Hassan bin Rashid, Louis de Bernieres, melodic, My 21 Grams, Pearl Jam, pop, Quick Play, review, rock, Ryan Young | Leave a comment

Album review: FELLOW ROBOT – Misanthropioid

Posted on June 5, 2023 by jason

ToneQuake Records [Release date 19.05.23] Fellow Robot originally started out as a concept piece in 2016, pulling lyrics from the sci-fi novel “The Robot’s Guide to Music” written by singer Anthony Pedroza. While deeply rooted to its origins, “Misanthropioid” is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Anthony Pedroza, Fellow Robot, indie, Misanthropiod, review, sci fi, theatrical | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE FOSTER BAND – Glimmer

Posted on April 9, 2023 by jason

English Electric Recording [Release date 21.04.23] Dave Foster Band features the aforementioned guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Foster (currently in Big, Big Train and a former member of Mr So & So) and vocalist Dinet Poortman. The other musicians involved are all top … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Big Big Train, Dave Foster, Dave Foster Band, Dinet Poortman, Glimmer, Marillion, melodic, pop, Queen, review, rock, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

EP review: THE BLOODY NERVE – Act II Reckoning

Posted on April 3, 2022 by jason

Website [Release date 25.03.22] Act II/episode 2 of the Bloody Nerve’s new album ‘All Blood, No Treasure’. Unlike most artists who release a new album whole, the Bloody Nerve are releasing their new album in instalments. The Bloody Nerve revolve … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Act II Reckoning, alt rock, alternative, EP, indie, review, rock, the Bloody Nerve | Leave a comment

News: ELLES BAILEY, STONEDEAD, URIAH HEEP (December 2021)

Posted on November 30, 2021 by jason

Michael Schenker, photo by Simon Dunkerley

Tim Arnold releases his new album, ‘Maybe Magic’, on January 7 via Bandcamp. Pretty Maids vocalist Ronnie Atkins releases his new solo album ‘Make It Count’ on march 18 via Frontiers. Elles Bailey has opened pre-orders for her next album, ‘Shining in … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged alternative, blues, blues rock, Elles Bailey, festivals, folk, gigs, indie, melodic rock, metal, news, pop, prog, rock, Stonedead, tours | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: WAX ON WATER

Posted on November 25, 2021 by jason

Maya Damaris from Wax on Water answers GRTR! Q&A… Wax on Water -The Sting in the Raw – YouTube 1. Your new EP ‘The Drip -Part 1′ is out now – what has the reception been so far ? What … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged alternative, classical, indie, interview, Maya Damaris, melodic, Rising Stars, Wax On Water | Leave a comment

News: POWER QUEST, BEARDED THEORY, GIANT (November 2021)

Posted on November 1, 2021 by jason

IAN ANDERSON (JETHRO TULL) - The Lowry, Salford, 14 September 2015

Annihilator release their latest album, ‘Metal II’, on 18 February via earMUSIC. Asia are to release a 10CD boxset The Official Live Bootlegs Volume 1 through BMG Records on 26 November. There will also be a digital album featuring a … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged alternative, Bearded Festival, blues, Buckcherry, Faster Pussycat, festivals, folk, Giant, gigs, indie, melodic rock, metal, news, pop, Power Quest, prog, rock, tours | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) October 2021 – December 2021

Posted on September 30, 2021 by jason

TONY MITCHELL – Hot Endless Summer Nights

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January-March 2021 April-June 2021 July-September 2021 January-June 2022 October 1st ASKING ALEXANDRIA ‘See What’s On The Inside’ Better Noise Music RONNIE ATKINS (PRETTY MAIDS) ’4 More Shots’ (EP) Frontiers BLACK SABBATH ‘Technical Ecstasy’ (4CD, 5LP) BMG … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, Upcoming (Tours & Releases) | Tagged alternative, AOR, blues, CD/DVD, folk, indie, melodic rock, metal, New releases, October 2021 – December 2021, pop, prog, rock, upcoming | Leave a comment

News: ANVIL, TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT, ALAN PARSONS (September 2021)

Posted on August 31, 2021 by jason

UFO – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 4 April 2019

Abba release a new album ‘Voyage’ – their first in 40 years – on November 5. They have also announced a new live show, ‘Abba Voyage’, will open at the new 3,000 capacity Abba Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Exhibitions, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged Alan Parsons, albums, alternative, Americana, anvil, blues, country, festivals, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, New releases, news, pop, prog rock, RIP, rock, singles, Temperance Movement, tours | Leave a comment

Singles: NIGHT RANGER, PATRICK HEMER, VOODOO BLUE,

Posted on May 25, 2021 by jason

NIGHT RANGER Breakout (Frontiers) A taster from the band’s 12th studio album, ‘ATBPO’ (And the Bands Played On), due out on August 6. It is a typical, upbeat rocker from Night Ranger with guitars to the fore and the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, Americana, country, folk, grunge, Hearts Apart, John Carroll Kirby, Just A Ride, melodic rock, metal, Night Ranger, Patrick Hemer, pop, review, rock, singles, Udo Dirkschneider, Voodoo Blue | Leave a comment

Book review: IGGY & THE STOOGES: On Stage 1967-1974 by Per Nilsen

Posted on May 25, 2021 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 14.05.21] Iggy Pop is almost a household name, here in the UK he has appeared in various television commercials over the last few years and none more than the last year or so. Whilst Iggy & … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged alternative, book, garage rock, Iggy & The Stooges On Stage 1967-1974, Iggy Pop, Per Nilsen, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: REACH – The Promise Of A Life

Posted on March 27, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 23.04.21] Reach was founded in 2012 and settled on a power trio consisting of Ludvig Turner (vocals, guitars), Marcus Johansson (drums) and Soufian Ma´Aoui (bass). Reach have released two albums prior to this one and have played … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, melodic, modern rock, Muse, pomp rock, Queen, quirky, Reach, review, rock, The Promise Of A Life | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CITIZEN, NAD SYLVAN, ESCAPE

Posted on March 24, 2021 by jason

CITIZEN Life In Your Glass World Run For Cover Records [Release date 26.03.21] Formed in 2009, Citizen – vocalist Mat Kerekes, guitarist Nick Hamm, and bassist Eric Hamm – return after almost 4 years away with their new album, ‘Life … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Citizen, Escape, Fire In The Sky, Genesis, hard rock, Life In Your Glass World, Nad Sylvan, prog, review, rock, Spiritus Mundi | Leave a comment

Album review: BIRDPEN – All Function One

Posted on February 27, 2021 by jason

JAR Records [Release date 05.03.21] BirdPen – Dave Pen (vocals, guitar) and Mike Bird (guitars, keyboards) – are back with their sixth album, recorded during the early part of 2020 as the duo watched the global pandemic unfold. This formed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All Function One, alt rock, alternative, Birdpen, electronica, review | Leave a comment

Interview: IZAKMAN

Posted on December 4, 2020 by jason

Israeli musician and award-winning animator Izakman (aka Itamar Isaak) released his second UK single ‘Real Boy’ recently, we caught up for a chat: Your music is eclectic, which artists (musical and otherwise) influence your sound? My sound is heavily influenced … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged alternative, art, Hanif Kureishi, interview, Izakman, Kutiman, musician, punk, Richard Elfman, rock | Leave a comment

Interview: TIM ARNOLD

Posted on November 26, 2020 by jason

Tim Arnold recently released his latest album ‘When Staying Alive Is The Latest Craze‘ – “An album of times, created in the current pandemic and although it may not have answers to end the virus, it does contain an underlying … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged alternative, experimental, interview, Kate Alderton, live music, melodic, pop, Tim Arnold, When Staying Alive’s The Latest Craze | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE OCTOBER – This Is What I Live For

Posted on November 7, 2020 by jason

Up/Down – Brando Records [Release date 23.10.20] The tenth studio album from Blue October recorded during the current pandemic. All bar two of the album’s thirteen songs were solely written by Justin Furstenfeld. Producer Eric Holtz is another key element … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, BLUE OCTOBER, indie, JUSTIN FURSTENFELD, pop, review, rock, This Is What I Live For | Leave a comment

Album review: TIM ARNOLD – When Staying Alive’s The Latest Craze

Posted on November 1, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 06.11.20] It cannot be denied that lockdown and the coronavirus has been a huge strain on all of us, especially as much of the world enters a second round of lockdowns. On 23 March 2020, the day … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Bandcamp, experimental, Jocasta, melodic, pop, review, Tim Arnold, When Staying Alive’s The Latest Craze | Leave a comment

Album review: DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DUNHAM – Mass Hysteria

Posted on October 22, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sky Rocket Records [Release date 01.09.20] A new Doris Brendel album is a bit like Christmas coming early. That moment when your Aunty Doris invites you to dip blindfold into a tub of Quality Street, only to discover she’s mixed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, art rock, blues, Doris Brendel, Lee Dunham, Mass Hysteria, pop rock, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA

Posted on October 14, 2020 by jason

Swiss band The Beauty Of Gemina have just released their second UK single ‘A Night Like This’ , taken from their forthcoming album ‘Skeleton Dreams’. Frontman Michael Sele tells us more about the band and their music… Can you describe … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged alternative, bluea, folk, gothic, interview, Michael Sele, Rising Stars, rock, the Beauty of Gemina | Leave a comment

Album review: MARILYN MANSON – We Are Chaos

Posted on October 13, 2020 by jason

Loma Vista Recordings [Release date 11.09.20] Marilyn Manson certainly doesn’t disappoint with album number eleven “We Are Chaos”, in fact, I would go so far as to say that this is currently my favourite Manson record to date. Produced by … Continue reading →