Tag Archives: pop rock

Album review: CHIP Z’NUFF – Perfectly Imperfect

Posted on March 14, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 18.03.22] New solo album from Grammy nominated musician, Chip Z’Nuff. As much of today’s pop and rock degenerate into pro-tooled, prefabricated, flatpack blandness, Z’Nuff makes the case for home made, rough around the edges rock. He’s still … Continue reading →

Quick plays: TAYLOR YOUNG BAND, AUTUMN’S CHILD

Posted on December 14, 2021 by jason

TAYLOR YOUNG BAND Mercury Transit Handrawn Records [Release date 08.10.21] Taylor Young drummed for the likes of The O’s, Young Heart Attack and Polyphonic Spree. Now he takes on the role of band leader and is joined by guitarist, vocalist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Autumn’s Child, Deep Blue Something, melodic rock, Mercury Transit, Mikael Erlandsson, pop rock, power pop, review, Taylor Young Band | Leave a comment

Book review: On Track…ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA by Barry Delve

Posted on December 5, 2021 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 03.12.21] After a highly readable book on Queen a couple of years ago Sonicbond now publish a book based on my other all-time favourite band the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Wisely Barry Delve focusses solely on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Barry Dalve, Bev Bevan, book, classic rock, Electric Light Orchestra - Every Album, ELO, Every Song, Jeff Lynne, melodic, pop, pop rock, review, Roy Wood, Sonicbond Publishing | Leave a comment

Album review: PEPPERKID2 – Adventures In Pepperland

Posted on November 16, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 12.11.21] Pepperkid2 is the brainchild of FM’s keyboardist Jem Davis. Joining Jem is Mike Dyer (Grand Slam) as the main vocalist/co-writer. Also appearing on the album is Dyer’s fellow Grand Slam band member guitarist Laurence Archer, along … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adventures In Pepperland, album, Cats In Space, FM, Grand Slam, Jellyfish, Jem Davis, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: RADIO STARS – Broadcasting To The Nation

Posted on November 15, 2021 by jason

Easy Action [Release date 3.12.21] Cherry Red’s superb 2017 “Thinking Inside The Box” set appeared to be the final word on Radio Stars, compiling both albums, singles/rarities and BBC sessions. The emergence of an unreleased third album on Easy Action … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Ellison, Broadcasting To The Nation, Marc Bolan, pop rock, Radio Stars, review, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: Please Please Tell Me Now – The Duran Duran Story by Stephen Davis

Posted on October 12, 2021 by jason

Hachette Books [Publication date 15.07.21] Renowned American music biographer Stephen Davis is probably best known for the excellent “Hammer of The Gods” Led Zeppelin biography, but he has also written outstanding books on the likes of Aerosmith, Guns n Roses … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 80's pop, book. Please Please Tell Me Now, Hachette, Hammer of the Gods, New Wave, pop, pop rock, review, Stephen Davis, The Duran Duran Story | Leave a comment

Album review: THE VAPORS – Waiting For The Weekend (The United Artists & Liberty Records Recordings)

Posted on August 20, 2021 by jason

Cherry Red Records The original recordings by The Vapors have been largely unavailable on CD for many years. Cherry Red / RT Industries address this perfectly with a comprehensive 4CD set, which not only rounds up both albums and all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, Reissues | Tagged box set, Bruce Foxton, Cherry Red Records, Howard Smith, New Wave, pop, pop rock, review, The Jam, The United Artists & Liberty Records Recordings, The Vapors, Waiting For The Weekend | Leave a comment

EP review: ANDY PARTRIDGE – My Failed Songwriting Career Vol. 1

Posted on August 7, 2021 by jason

Ape House [Release date 23.7.21] When XTC was put on hiatus following 2000’s “Wasp Star”, Andy Partridge decided it was time to write for other artists. A number of successful co-writes came to fruition (Steven Wilson, Pugwash, Miles Kane), along … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Andy Partridge, Dukes of Stratosphear, EP, melodic, My Failed Songwriting Career Vol. 1, pop, pop rock, quirky pop, review, XTC | Leave a comment

EP review: COUNCIL – It Runs In The Blood

Posted on August 3, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 17.09.21] Council is made up of the 3 brothers Reeves (Andy, Doug and Pat) who traded in a life of farming to pursue their true dream: writing and performing music. Last year’s EP was highly impressive and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Council, electronica, EP, Imagine Dragons, It Runs In The Blood, melodic, pop, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Diamonds (The Best Of)

Posted on July 25, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Harmony Factory [Release date 10.09.21] The last time I saw CiS was in December 2019 – little did we know that a few months later the live music scene would change dramatically. A pre-Xmas gig it certainly emphasised just how … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Cats In Space, compilation, Diamonds, pop rock, review, The Best Of | Leave a comment

Album review: BARENAKED LADIES – Detour de Force

Posted on July 17, 2021 by jason

Raisin’ Records [Release date 16.07.21] It has been four years since Barenaked Ladies released their excellent ‘Fake Nudes’ and like many artists it was started before the outbreak of the pandemic, which delayed its completion and has played havoc with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Barenaked Ladies, BNL, Detour de Force, folk, pop, pop rock, quirky pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TRAGEDY – Disco Balls To The Wall

Posted on July 17, 2021 by jason

Napalm Records [Release date 30.07.21] It was a genius idea to take some classic disco and pop music hits from the 70’s and 80’s, add some very loud guitars into the mix and crank things up to the max. Fortunately, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abba, album, Bee Gees, disco, Disco Balls To The Wall, glam rock, pop rock, review, rock, Tragedy | Leave a comment

Album review: VARIOUS ARTISTS – Rockets Of Love! Power Pop Gems From The 70s, 80s & 90s

Posted on June 24, 2021 by jason

Big Beat / Ace [Release date 25.6.21] Power pop collections are never going to be top sellers, so it’s encouraging to find Ace’s Big Beat imprint following up 2019’s “Come On Let’s Go” and last year’s “Girls Go Power Pop” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Cheap Trick, compilation, Josh Rouse, pop, pop rock, power pop, review, Rockets Of Love!, the Knack | Leave a comment

Album review: ANDY McMASTER – Rays On The Water

Posted on May 13, 2021 by jason

Generally Speaking Records [Release date 09.04.21] Pianist, bassist, vocalist and songwriter Andy McMaster is a name best known as (alongside bassist, guitarist and vocalist Nick Garvey) a founder member of The Motors, a band who mixed pub rock and rock’n’roll … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy McMaster, melodic, pop rock, Rays On The Water, review, rock, Solo, The Motors | Leave a comment

Album review: RAY FENWICK – Playing Through The Changes Anthology 1964-2020

Posted on May 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

RAY FENWICK - Playling Through The Changes Anthology 1964-2020

Ray Fenwick chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio about his career and the anthology. Lemon Records/Cherry Red [Release date 30.04.21] Perhaps not the first name to be checked in a conversation about music front runners, British composer/guitarist Fenwick is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Radio interview | Tagged album, classic rock, Fancy, guitar, guitarist, Ian Gillan Band, interview, Playling Through The Changes Anthology 1964-2020, pop rock, Ray Fenwick, review, Spencer Davis Group | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BADFINGER, CACTUS

Posted on May 3, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

BADFINGER No Matter What Revisiting The Hits Cleopatra Records [Release date 02.04.21] Badfinger were one of our greatest pop rock bands with a criminally short life-span, not least due to the sad demise of the band’s two main movers and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged ALBERT LEE, album, Badfinger, blues rock, Cactus, Carmine Appice, hard rock, Ian Anderson, No Matter What Revisiting The Hits, pop rock, review, Rick Springfield, Rick Wakeman, Sonny Landreth, Terry Reid, Tightrope, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review: SERENADE THE STARS – Astronomy

Posted on April 4, 2021 by jason

Facebook Serenade the Stars are a Buckinghamshire based band consisting of vocalists Matthew Harman and Coral Smith, guitarist Damian Carruthers (who is also the band’s main songwriter), bassist James Wrigley and drummer James Burton. They formed back in 2017 and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Astronomy, Deacon Blue, Del Amitri, melodic, pop, pop rock, review, Serenade The Stars | Leave a comment

EP review: SINKA – Take Me To The Skies

Posted on April 1, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 16.04.21] Sinka are Shaun Sewell-Sears (vocals & guitar), Matt Smith (bass) and Jack Wright (drums), who released a self-produced debut EP, ‘F.W.Y.K’ in April 2020 (which is well worth a listen and owning). For their new EP … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alt pop, alt rock, EP, Muse, pop rock, review, Sinka, Take Me To The Skies | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAGUE OF LIGHTS – Dreamers Don’t Come Down

Posted on March 7, 2021 by jason

Eightspace Records [Release date 12.03.21] League Of Lights, the husband and wife duo of Richard (also a member of prog metal band Threshold) and Farrah West, return with their third album. As Farrah explains, “The album is about the past, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dreamers Don’t Come Down, electronic pop, League Of Lights, melodic, pop, pop rock, progressive pop, review, Threshold | Leave a comment

Album review: SOUNDS INCARCERATED – Unswitchable Hits Vol 1

Posted on February 22, 2021 by jason

Fool’s Paradise Records Hot on the heels of The Galileo 7’s “Decayed” release, Allan Crockford and Viv Bonsels (aka Sounds Incarcerated) from the band unleash a series of recordings originally created for Mister Unswitchable’s semi-regular online themed cover version events. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Allan Crockford, Covers, pop rock, quirky pop, review, Robyn Hitchcock, Sounds Incarerated, The Dukes Of Stratosphear, Unswitchable Hits Vol 1, Viv Bonsels | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GOLD NEEDLES – What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You?

Posted on January 30, 2021 by jason

Jem Records [Release date 19.02.21] The Gold Needles are onto album number three that features nine new original songs plus three covers including The Hollies ‘Have You Ever Loved Somebody’ and The Beatles ‘If I Needed Someone.’ Formed in 2015, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Larry Fast, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review, the Gold Needles, What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You? | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Halcyon Hymns

Posted on January 28, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 05.02.21] Fourth album from DBA, the fruitful poprock collaboration between Geoff (Asia/Yes) Downes and uber songwriter/producer, Chris (Guetta/Aguilera) Braide. Halcyon Hymns is their living-in-the-lockdown album, and as the title more than subtly suggests, it’s a recording … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Chris Braide, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Halcyon Hymns, melodic, pop rock, review, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: FANCY – The Complete Recordings

Posted on January 23, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio features a series of interview specials to tie in with the Fancy release and the forthcoming Ray Fenwick compilation. Mo Foster: Sunday 31 January 18:00 GMT Mo Foster Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists: Monday 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Annie Kavanagh, box set, compilation, Fancy, Les Binks, Mo Foster, pop rock, Ray Fenwick, The Complete Recordings | Leave a comment

Album review: WORLD GOES ROUND – S/T

Posted on January 23, 2021 by brianmc

Viper Records [Release date 22.01.21] It was 30 years ago today that World Goes Round recorded their one and only album (Ed: we might be a year or two out). This supremely talented array of artists, whose names (almost) always … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, album review, AOR, melodic, melodic pop rock, pop, pop rock, review, self-titled, World Goes Round | Leave a comment

Album review: BITE THE BULLET – Black & White

Posted on January 21, 2021 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 27.11.20] Bite The Bullet were originally formed in 1986 by singer songwriter Mick Benton and drummer Graham Cowling (who are also the only two musicians on this album) and they released their debut album in 1989. … Continue reading →