Tag Archives: pop rock

Album review: LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS – How To Make Friends By Telephone

Posted on November 8, 2024 by jason

Big Stir Records/Bandcamp [Release date 08.11.24] Librarians With Hickeys are an indie pop rock duo consisting of Ray Carmen (vocals, guitars, drums) and Mike Crooker (vocals, bass, organ, piano, keys). They released their debut album in 2020 and this is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Byrds, How To Make Friends By Telephone, indie pop, Librarians With Hickeys, melodic, pop rock, power pop, REM | Leave a comment

Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – The Wilde Theatre, Bracknell, 16 October 2024

Posted on October 17, 2024 by jason

CATS IN SPACE- Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell, 20 July 2023

First time in the Wilde Theatre, part of the South Hill Park complex that includes a small cinema and cellar bar (where on my first visit to South Hill Park enjoyed a gig by folk duo Ninebarrow). Despite being all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 70's rock, Bracknell, Cats In Space, classic rock, gig, piano, pop rock, review, rock, the Wilde Theatre, Time Machine, Wednesday 16 October 2024, Willie Dowling | Leave a comment

EP review: CLUB PARADISE – Life On TV

Posted on October 6, 2024 by jason

Facebook [Release date 11.10.24] Club Paradise is made up of school friends Ryan Young (vocals/guitar), Jackson Vert (lead guitar), Harry Webb (bass) and Nathan Hogg (drums). They have been together for over a decade and it shows in that they have a tight sound/decent production values. The EP features … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Club Paradise, EP, indie, indie pop, indie rock, Life On TV, melodic, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE CORONAS – Thoughts & Observations

Posted on September 24, 2024 by jason

So Far So Good [Release date 27.09.24] The Coronas are a big deal in their native Ireland where their last three albums have gone straight to number 1 in the Irish charts. Although technically a three-piece, with Danny O’Reilly (vocals, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Gabrielle Alpin, indie, Jamie Duffy, melodic, pop rock, rock, the Coronas, Thoughts & Observations | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – Waterside, Sale, 7 September 2024

Posted on September 8, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Clark Datchler for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio following an earlier interview tracing his early career with Johnny Hates Jazz. He discusses the band, his solo career, and the 2024 tour dates. First broadcast 14 April … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 7 September 2024, Clark Datchler, gig, Johnny Hates Jazz, pop, pop rock, review, Sale, Waterside | Leave a comment

Quick plays: AUTUMN KILLERS, PETE LAMBERT, DELICATE STEVE

Posted on August 11, 2024 by jason

AUTUMN KILLERS Making Waves [Release date 12.09.24] Autumn Killers are Rob Reece (vocals, bass), Duncan Richardson (guitar, keys, synths & backing vocals) and Graeme Hoy (drums, percussion & backing vocals). They are a bit different as they mix dance beats with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Autumn Killers, Covers, Delicate Steve, electronic, guitarist, Peter Lambert, pop rock, Quick Play, reviews, rock, singer songwriter | 1 Comment

Album review: TUK SMITH & THE RESTLESS HEARTS – Rogue To Redemption

Posted on July 19, 2024 by jason

tuk smith and the restless hearts rogue to redemption

Gypsy Rose Records [Release date 30.08.24] Second album by Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts, who are fronted by ex-Biters frontman Tuk Smith. Produced by Tuk and mixed by Chris Dugan (Green Day, Iggy Pop, U2), the album was written over the last three years … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 70's rock, album, hard rock, melodic, pop rock, review, rock, Rogue To Redemption, The Restless Hearts, Thin Lizzy, Tuk Smith | Leave a comment

Gig review: TIM ARNOLD ‘Super Connected’ – The Cockpit Theatre, London, Tuesday 4 June 2024

Posted on June 13, 2024 by jason

Where do we start with effect of screen addiction and the role social media plays on one’s mental health? This is what singer/songwriter Tim Arnold has been researching for the past seven years culminating in the release of his latest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged gig, Kate Alderton, Lindsay Kemp, London, pop, pop rock, review, Sarah Kershaw, special live event, Stephen Fry, Super Connected, the The Cockpit Theatre, Tim Arnold, Tuesday 4th June 2024 | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…OASIS, NEIL YOUNG, AC/DC, PROCOL HARUM (every album, every song)

Posted on May 9, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing www.sonicbondpublishing.com [Publication dates 26.01.24*, 29.02.24**, 05.04.24***, 10.05.24****] The wide spread of the On Track… series is confirmed by Paul Tornbohm’s dissection of Carpenters*. Surveying the pop duo’s output from 1969, Tornbohm approaches his task from the viewpoint of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AC/DC, book, Brit Pop, Carpenters, classic rock, hard rock, INXS, Neil Young, Oasis, On Track, pop, pop rock, Procol Harum, review | Leave a comment

News: Albums Of The Month (January – March 2024)

Posted on May 8, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

MYRATH Karma (earMUSIC) They have big songs and even bigger ideas on how to present them live and are not short on confidence in their collective abilities, and rightly so. ‘Karma’ will only serve to further the Myrath cause … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged 2024, albums of the month, blues rock, February, heavy rock, Jack J. Hutchinson, January, Magnum, March, Medicine Head, melodic rock, Myrath, pop rock, progressive metal, rock, South Of Salem, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

EP review: BARBARA – Happy Days

Posted on April 28, 2024 by jason

Website [Release date 22.05.24] Barbara are Henry & John Tydeman, songwriting brothers from Brighton and have played music together since they were children. They started the band proper in 2020 and decided on the name ‘Barbara’ because they wanted a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged 70's pop, Barbara, baroque pop, chamber pop, disco, ELO, EP, Happy Days, melodic rock, Paul Weller, pop, pop rock, power pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL THORNALLEY – Holly Would

Posted on April 3, 2024 by jason

Lojinx [Release date 29.03.24] This reviewer enjoyed Phil Thornalley’s last album, 2022′s ‘Now That I Have Your Attention’, a veritable musical delight for fellow lovers of ELO, Tom Petty and all things Jeff Lynne related. On this album Phil Thornalley … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, ELO, Graham Gouldman, Holly Would, Jeff Lynne, Karl McComas-Reichl, MIRACLE MILE, Phil Thornalley, pop, pop rock, review, the Lickerish Quartet, Tom Petty, Travelling Wilburys | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MIDDLENIGHT MEN – Issue 2

Posted on March 30, 2024 by jason

Middlenight Records [Release date 05.04.24] Although The Middlenight Men first came to life in 2019, singer and guitarist Nick Hughes has a long and rich history in music – he’s been a member of Terrorvision for the last eight years. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Issue 2, Leon Cave, melodic, Nick Hughes, pop rock, punk pop, review, Status Quo, Terrorvision, the The Middlenight Men | Leave a comment

Gig review: 10cc – Bristol Beacon, 7 March 2024

Posted on March 8, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Graham Gouldman about his career. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 12 August 2018. I worked out it’s nearly fifty years since I last saw 10cc live, and this was at the height of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 10CC, 7 March 2024, Bristol Beacon, gig, Graham Gouldman, pop, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TALK – Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees

Posted on December 31, 2023 by jason

Capitol Records [Release date 20.10.23] Nicholas Durocher, known professionally as Talk, is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician from Ottawa, who recently released his debut album, ‘Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees’, which charted at number 33 in his native … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, Imagine Dragons, Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees, melodic, pop rock, review, rock, talk, theatrical rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: OCEAN COLOUR SCENE – Eventim Apollo, 16 December 2023

Posted on December 20, 2023 by jason

There’s always been a sense that, despite their success, Ocean Colour Scene have been one of the most under rated bands to emerge during those heady, somewhat hedonistic days of the Britpop era. Certainly, whilst the constant inclusion of one … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Eventim Apollo, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, pop, pop rock, PP Arnold, review, rock, Saturday 16 December 2023, Simon Fowler, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: SEMISONIC – Little Bit of Sun

Posted on November 14, 2023 by jason

Pleasuresonic [Release date 03.11.23] It’s only been twenty two years since Semisonic last released a full studio album (we had the EP ‘You’re Not Alone’ in 2020). Mind you, its not as if mainman Dan Wilson has been idle penning … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt pop, Dan Wilson, Jason Isbell, Little Bit of Sun, melodic, My Morning Jacket, pop, pop rock, review, rock, Semisonic, Tom Petty | Leave a comment

Gig review: KATRINA LESKANICH- Half Moon, Putney, London, 28 September 2023

Posted on October 4, 2023 by andynathan

Now only really remembered for two major singles, in the second half of the eighties Katrina and the Waves were one of my guilty pleasures. Their sixties inspired guitar based sound stood out among the then dominant synthesisers in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Darren Loveday, gig, Half Moo, Katrina and the Waves, Katrina Leskanich, Nicki French, pop rock, power pop | Leave a comment

Album review: UNCLE FRANK – Diablo

Posted on September 23, 2023 by jason

Last Man Media [Release date 06.10.23] Uncle Frank were formed in 2003 by Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ drummer (and vocalist with Uncle Frank) Frank Benbini and guitarist Naim Cortazzi and ‘Diablo’ is the band’s fourth album. They are joined by Darryl … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Diablo, Fun Lovin' Criminals, funk, pop rock, review, rock, soul, Uncle Frank | Leave a comment

Album review: PARDON THE INTERRUPTION – Hot N’ Fresh

Posted on September 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

ptimusic.com [Release date 14.04.23] It would be easier, some months following release, to pass over this album and regret a missed review opportunity. But not here at GRTR! The truth is that this album may have provided a soundtrack at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, funk, Hot N' Fresh, Pardon The Interruption, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SKINDRED – Smile

Posted on August 25, 2023 by jason

Earache Records [Release date 04.11.23] This reviewer knew Skindred by name but never really listened to them (more fool me!) until hearing ‘Gimme That Boom’ on a new arrivals playlist on a streaming service. Then off down to HMV to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Benji Webbe, melodic, metal, pop rock, punk, ragga metal, rap, review, Skindred, Smile | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – CATS IN SPACE (August 2023)

Posted on July 18, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Pop rock revivalists whose rise and rise has been almost purr-fect… damn that pandemic… Cats in Space are a unique proposition among the new generation of classic rock bands that have emerged in recent years (writes Andy Nathan). Acts that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Tagged August 2023, Cats In Space, classic rock, feature, Grotto, pop rock, retrospective | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

Posted on July 10, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

WINGER Seven (Frontiers) Winger are a great group of musicians and they write great songs. And ‘Seven’ matches up to their very best work. ***** Review by David Randall HOUSE OF SHAKIRA XIT (Frontiers) No question, XIT is a perfect pop … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, NEWS | Tagged albums, April 2023, classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock, instrumental, June 2023, May 2023, melodic rock, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TIZANE – Forever Is Nothing

Posted on July 3, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Burning Girl Records [Release date 23.06.23] This is the second album from Tizane following 2021′s ‘Cherry’ which I have to say completely escaped our attention. Described as dark pop-rock the album starts almost invisibly with ‘Off The Edge’ and it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Forever Is Nothing, pop rock, review, Tizane | Leave a comment

Album review: LUKE MORLEY – Songs From The Blue Room

Posted on June 26, 2023 by andynathan

Conquest Records [Release date 23.06.23] With new Thunder activity on hold for a while as Danny Bowes continues his long road to recovery, the time is right for the band’s lead guitarist and chief songwriter Luke Morley to release his … Continue reading →