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Tag Archives: AOR
Album review: UNRULY CHILD – Big Blue World
Frontiers [Release date 09.08.19] The reunion of Unruly Child’s classic line up with original singer Marcie Free, which began with 2010’s excellent ‘Worlds Collide’, has stood the test of time with its fourth album since then. Two years ago, try … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bruce Gowdy, Guy Allison, Marcie Free, melodic rock, review, Unruly Child
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Quick plays: ROBERT TEPPER, JEREMY IVEY, INTO THE UNKNOWN
ROBERT TEPPER Better Than The Rest AOR Heaven [Release date 27.09.19] Robert Tepper is best known for his song ‘No Easy Way Out’, which was the theme to ‘Rocky IV’ and has been subsequently released in various dance remix guises, … Continue reading
Album review: SOLEIL MOON – Warrior
Frontiers [Release date 09.08.19] Soleil Moon formed as a collaboration between singer Larry King (Michael Thompson Band) and keyboardist John Blasucci (Dennis De Young) back in 1999 and have released two albums to date, both of which any self-respecting AOR … Continue reading
Album review: PHIL LANZON – 48 Seconds
Phil Lanzon Ditties/Cargo Records UK [Release date 02.08.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s ‘If You Think I’m Crazy’ Uriah Heep’s keyboards player Phil Lanzon is back with another solo album, which again sees him working with producer Simon … Continue reading
Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Mote Park, Maidstone – Day 1 – 19 July 2019
Once again the rock hordes decended on Mote Park in Maidstone for another weekend of rock, blues, good beer and good company. GRTR! despatched Andy Nathan and Dave Atkinson to cover all the action, come rain or shine… Andy Nathan … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 19th July 2019, AC/DC, AOR, blues, FM, Ginger Wildheart, Justin Hawkins, Kris Barras Band, live, Maidstone, metal, Mote Park, Ramblin' Man, Ramblin' Man Fair, rock, Steve Overland, The Darkness, The Lazys, the Wildhearts
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Quick plays: JIMI ANDERSON GROUP, HOLLOW HAZE, HUMBLE PIE
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
Album review: STRANDED – New Dawn
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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Escape Music, melodic rock, Michael Bolton, New Dawn, reviews, Stranded, West Coast AOR
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Album review: FIRST SIGNAL- Line of Fire
Release Date 17.05.19 First Signal was conceived some years back as a vehicle to reunite Harem Scarem singer Harry Hess with the pure melodic rock style that arguably began and ended with the Canadians’ debut album, before they diversified into … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Daniel Flores, First Signal, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, melodic rock, Michael Palace, Stan Meissner
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Album review: MARK BAKER – The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be
MelodicRock Records [Release date 26.07.19] The name Mark Baker may not be immediately recognizable to many, but he is the man behind the classic Signal ‘Loud & Clear’ album as well as many other songs for the likes of .38 … Continue reading
Gig review: RICHARD MARX – British Summer Time, Hyde Park, London, 7 July 2019
It’s been eight years by my reckoning since Richard Marx last played the UK, and he ended this famine in unusual circumstances, added to the bill of the British Summer Time show headlined by Barbra Streisand just a couple of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, British Summer Time, gig, Hyde Park, review, Richard Marx, singer songwriter
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Book review: GENESIS – Every Album, Every Song (On Track) by Stuart Macfarlane
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 5.07.19] For those wishing to find out more about the prog rockers who went pop, this is a useful summary following the band’s progress from shaky beginnings in 1969 to their final studio album ‘Calling All … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, book, Every Album Every Song, Genesis, melodic rock, Mike Rutherford, On Track, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, pop, pop rock, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Hackett, Stuart Macfarlane, Tony Banks
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Gig review: TOTO – Royal Chelsea Hospital, London, 13 June 2019
In the ever more crowded gigging season, a fresh trend over the last few years has been for London’s finest historic settings to be used for concerts. Following in the footsteps of Hampton Court and Greenwich is now a short … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, gig, Joseph Williams, Justin Hawkins, live at Chelsea, melodic rock, review, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, The Darkness, Toto, Warren Ham
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Gig review: STYX – London Palladium, 4 June 2019
It’s been eight long years since Styx last crossed the pond and on that occasion they opened a three way battle of the AOR behemoths with Foreigner and Journey, and for many observers stole the show. This belated return was … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, gig, James Young, Lawrence Gowan, melodic rock, pomp rock, review, Styx, Tommy Shaw
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Quick plays: ROYAL REPUBLIC, ROB MORATTI, FINE SOFT DAY, TRAGIK
ROYAL REPUBLIC Club Majesty Nuclear Blast [Release date 31.05.19] Royal Republic are on the up and up with their mix of rock, dance, disco, funk, rock n roll – heck they will put in any style of music into their … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, AOR, Club Majesty, dance, disco, Fine Soft Day, folk, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, Pink Floyd, pop rock, progressive, Quick Plays, review, Rob Moratti, rock, rock 'n' roll, Royal Republic, Saga, Survival Code, Tragik
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Gig review: SWEDISH AOR CONVENTION – Malmo, Sweden, 30 May-2 June 2019
Melodic rock and AOR is an unlikely addition to the list of things- ergonomic design, environmental awareness, and dark crime dramas- where Scandinavia leads the world. The scene is particularly strong in Sweden, home of many of my favourite bands … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Age of Reflection, Anette Olzon, AOR, Bad Habit, Care of Night, Coastland Ride, Creye, festival, gig, Hank Erix, melodic rock, Osukaru, Philip Lindstrand, Pretty Wild, Sapphire Eyes, Shape of the New Sun, State of Salazar, Swedish AOR convention
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Album review: MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – Love & Beyond
Frontiers [Release Date 26.04.19] Michael Thompson is one of the most respected session guitarists in rock – alongside Steve Lukather and Bruce Gaitsch he is probably the go-to man, particularly for the so-called West Coast sound where soft rock and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Guy Allison, Larry Antonino, Larry King, Mark Spiro, melodic rock, Michael Thompson, West Coast
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Album review: FORTUNE – II
Frontiers [Release Date 26.04.19] Fortune’s 1985 self-titled albums is one that always featured highly in the list of obscure but brilliant melodic/AOR classics. While singer Larry (LA) Greene and keyboard player Roger Scott Craig went on to another cult AOR … Continue reading
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Tagged album, AOR, Fortune, Larry Greene, melodic rock, Mick Fortune, Richard Fortune
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Album review: ALLIANCE – Fire and Grace
Escape Music [Release date 24.05.19] Robert Berry (vocals, bass, keyboards), Boston guitarist Gary Pihl and drummer David Lauser (Sammy Hagar), are back with a new Alliance album – their first in ten years. Only missing from the previous albums is … Continue reading
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Tagged 3, album, Alliance, AOR, Boston, Escape Music, hard rock, melodic rock, review, Robert Berry, rock, Sammy Hagar
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Album review: JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE – Winds of Change
Frontiers [Release date 10.04.19] The first World Stage came out way back in 2001, so it is well overdue a follow-up from Jim Peterik, although he has of course been playing live shows under the World Stage banner. The backing … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged .38 Special, album, AOR, classic rock, Danny Vaughn, Dennis De Young, Don Barnes, Jim Peterik, Kevin Cronin, Loverboy, melodic rock, REO Speedwagon, review, rock, Styx, Survivor, World Stage
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Gig review: AIRRACE – London Borderline, 19 April 2019
Airrace’s stop-start career seems to have been characterised by support slots, whether with Queen back in 1984, or since they reformed a decade ago, a periodic set of shows consisting mainly of high profile support slots to the likes of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 19 April 2019, Adam Payne, Airrace, AOR, Borderline, Dhani Mansworth, gig, Laurie Mansworth, Linda Kelsey Foster, London, melodic rock, review, Rocky Newton
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Album review: FM – The Italian Job (CD/DVD)
Frontiers [Release Date 22.02.19] FM have delivered consistently excellent live performances since the second phase of the band effectively kicked off a decade ago with guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick’s arrival. However this era of their history has gone undocumented so far, … Continue reading
Album review: FIND ME- Angels In Blue
Release Date 22.02.19 For those in the know, Find Me has been one of the best melodic rock projects in recent years. A partnership between producer and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Flores and Blanc Faces singer Robbie Le Blanc, a stunning performance … Continue reading
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Tagged album, AOR, Daniel Flores, Find Me, melodic rock, review, Robbie Le Blanc, Survivor
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Album review: CANNONBALLZ – 8Ballz2Many
MelodicRock Records [Release date 10.05.19] Andrew McNeice and his MelodicRock Records label have released some top quality AOR releases in recent years including Don Barnes and the excellent comeback album from Boulevard, now you can add to this Cannonballz. Who … Continue reading
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Tagged 8Ballz2Many, album, AOR, Cannonballz, Jazz rock, melodic, melodic rock, MelodicRock Records, review, Robbie LaBlanc, Toto
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April 2019 – June 2019
Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – March 2019 July – September 2019 April 5th ANIMAL DRIVE ‘Back To The Roots’ (covers EP) Frontiers BAD NEWS ’32nd Anniversary Box Set’ BRANT BJORK ‘Jacoozzi’ Heavy Psych Sounds Records DAVID BOWIE ‘Spying Through … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2019, album, AOR, April, Bluray, CD, DVD, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, metal, New releases, progressive, rock
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Album review: BATTLE BEAST – No More Hollywood Endings
Nuclear Blast [Release date 22.03.19] Battle Beast are back with their second album since founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter Anton Kabanen left in 2016 to form Beast In Black (who released their latest album earlier this year on the … Continue reading
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Tagged album, AOR, Battle Beast, melodic, melodic metal, No More Hollywood Endings, Nuclear Blast, pop metal, power metal, review
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