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Tag Archives: pop
Album review: ALLAN CLARKE – Resurgence

BMG [Release date 20.09.19] Former Hollies singer Allan Clarke returns with his first new album in 29 years after he had seemingly retired from music back in 1990. However, his son Toby set him on the road to recording this … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Allan Clarke, country, GarageBand, Graham Nash, pop, Resurgence, review, rock, singer songwriter, The Hollies
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Quick plays: BRUCE COCKBURN, LOUIEN

BRUCE COCKBURN Crowing Ignites True North Records [Release date 20.09.19] ‘Crowing Ignites’ is Bruce Cockburn’s 34th and his second all instrumental album, which differs from his previous instrumental album in that the compositions on here are brand new. The music … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged acoustic, album, blues, Bruce Cockburn, Crowing Ignites, folk, instrumental, jazz, Joni Mitchell, Louien, None of My Words, pop, review
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Album review: SWIM DEEP – Emerald Classics

[Release date 04.10.19] Swim Deep formed in 2011 and their first two albums made the UK album charts. However, last year they were sat at a crossroads in their local pub – The Emerald, from which the album takes its … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, dream pop, electro pop, Emerald Classics, indie pop, melodic, OMD, Pet Shop Boys, pop, review, Ride, Swim Deep, synth pop
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Book review: ELTON JOHN – Every Album, Every Song 1969 to 1979 (On Track) by Peter Kearns

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date 16.08.19] This book is nicely timed what with ‘Rocket Man’ recently being shown in cinemas and the DVD release in August, plus of course Elton John is currently on his worldwide farewell tour. The book covers … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged Americana, Bernie Taupin, book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Elton John, Every Album, Every Song 1969 to 1979, On Track, Peter Kearns, pop, review
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Album review: MY LIFE STORY – World Citizen

Exilophone [Release date 06.09.19] To my musical shame My Life Story have completely passed me by until this album arrived for review, which means a lot of catching up for me as they are masters of lush pop and are … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, chamber pop, indie pop, Jake Shillingford, melodic, My Life Story, Nick Evans, pop, review, The Divine Comedy
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Album review: THE REMBRANDTS – Via Satellite

Blue Elan Records [Release date 23.08.19] The Rembrandts – Danny Wilde and Phil Solem – return with their first new album in eighteen years. Forever known to many for the hit ‘I’ll Be There For You’ from the US TV … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, melodic rock, pop, power pop, review, the Rembrandts, Tom Petty, Via Satellite
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Album review: LAURENCE JONES – Laurence Jones Band

Top Stop Music [Release date 27.09.19] ‘Laurence Jones Band’ is a career departure for the former rock-blues hero who makes a major pitch for the pop market. They say the most significant thing about the blues genre is that historically … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bennett Holland, blues, Di Reed, Elvis Costello, funk, Gary Clark Jr, Greg Smith, John Mayer, Laurence Jones, Laurence Jones band, Paul Simon, Phil Wilson, pop, review, rock, Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, The Faces
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Gig review: TREVOR HORN – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 31 July 2019

It may be somewhat exaggerated to say that Trevor Horn single-handedly created the soundtrack to the eighties. What is certain – as this concert demonstrated – he was associated with key artists and albums from that decade. This gig was … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 31 July 2019, Bridgewater Hall, eighties, gig, Lol Creme, Manchester, Matt Cardle, pop, review, rock, Steve Hogarth, Trevor Horn
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Gig review: MY LIFE STORY – The Lexington, London, 24 July

In this intimate little venue with its low stage, the My Life Story (MLS) fans are in their element, so close to the master! It’s a hideously hot night, and Jake is sporting a suit. 19 years on its not … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Britpop, gig, Jake Shillingford, Lexington, live music, London, My Life Story, pop, quirky pop, review
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Single review: THE RISING – Endless Summer

Facebook [Release date 02.08.19] The Rising – Chris Logan (guitars, banjo, mandolin), Chantelle McAteer (vocals) and Brian Mellors (bass) – have been gaining attention and interest in their mix of country, pop and rock. They have released two albums and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Chris Logan, country, Endless Summer, interview, melodic, pop, review, single, Summer, the Rising
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Gig review: CORNBURY FESTIVAL – Great Tew, Oxfordshire, 5-7 July 2019

Friday 5 July Arriving onsite just in time to catch the tail end of former Supergrass singer/songwriter Gaz Coombes set. Being a bit of a local musical hero his set was well received although he may have missed a trick … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS
Tagged 2 Tone, 80's music, Alfie Boe, Billy Lockett, blues, Chris Difford, Cornbury, Echo And The Bunnymen, Elkie Brooks, festival, folk, gig, Hothouse Flowers, indie, Keane, Paul Carrack, pop, Rainbreakers, review, rock, ska, Steeleye Span, The Beach Boys, The Specials, Trevor Horn
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Album review: FLIGHT BRIGADE – Chased By Wolves

Rebel Cinema Records [Release date 13.09.19] Labels are useful but can also be disingenuous, as is the case of the new album from “indie rock band” Flight Brigade. ‘Chased by Wolves’, the latest offering from the Hampshire-based seven-piece, creates a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Chased By Wolves, Flight Brigade, indie, pop, review, rock
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Single review: THE SPITFIRES – Enough Is Enough

Order link [Release date 19.07.19] Something a little different from the Spitfires, who have been gaining fans through their relentless touring and picking up a few plaudits from legends such as Paul Weller. ‘Enough Is Enough’ is a perfect summer … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Enough Is Enough, Hard Fi, indie, mod, Paul Weller, pop, review, rock, single, the Spitfires
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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: P!NK – Wembley Stadium, 30 June 2019

P!nk may not be a name you’d necessarily associate with rock, however the warm-up DJ KidCutUp mixed a fair few classic rock tunes into his set plus a nice touch to have Freddie Mercury’s ‘Ay oh’ in the mix, made … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Bishop Briggs, Cyndi Lauper, Freddie Mercury, gig, indie, P!nk, pop, review, rock, Wembley Stadium, Whitesnake, Wrabel
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Album review: INA FORSMAN – Been Meaning To Tell You

Ruf [Release date 25.01.19] ‘Been Meaning To Tell You’ is a challenging cross genre album that suggests Ina Forsman will be a musical force to be reckoned with. The low key vocal and piano intro to the opening ‘Be My … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Been Meaning To Tell You, blues, Chris Maresh, Eartha Kitt, Finnish, funk, Ina Forsman, Kaz kazanoff, Laura Chavez, pop, R&B, Red Young, Samantha Fish, soul, vocals
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Rising Stars – JETT REBEL

Pop rocker Jett Rebel has a new single out now, ‘Waiting For The Weekend’ and we asked him a few questions about his musical influences, the new single and more… You found you had musical ability at a young age, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars
Tagged interview, Jett Rebel, melodic, pop, pop rock, Rising Stars, rock, singer songwriter
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Album review: THE STEVE THOMPSON BAND – The Long Fade

www.steve-thompson.org.uk [Release date 31.05.19] Steve Thompson may not be a name you’re familiar with, but after 50 years in the business, his debut ‘solo’ album pays tribute to career served largely ‘behind the scenes’ as a songwriter, producer and session … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic rock, pop, review, singer, songwriter, The Long Fade, The Steve Thompson Band
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News: WIN weekend camping tickets to REWIND SCOTLAND,19-21 July 2019

This year’s Rewind Scotland festival takes place 19-21 July at Scone Palace, Perth. Headliners Bryan Ferry and Foreigner will be joined by Lulu, Paul Young, The Stranglers, Lisa Stansfield and many others. On the Comedy stage veteran stand-ups Phill Jupitus … Continue reading
Posted in Competitions, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS
Tagged 19-21 July 2019, Bryan Ferry, classic rock, comedy, competition, festival, Foreigner, pop, Rewind Scotland, The Stranglers
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News: CORNBURY returns with headliners THE SPECIALS, KEANE and THE BEACH BOYS (5-7 July 2019)

The sixteenth Cornbury Music Festival is held in The Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire 5-7 July. Joining headliners The Specials, Keane and The Beach Boys, artists include KT Tunstall, Elkie Brooks, Trevor Horn Band, Paul Cattack and Steeleye Span. Amongst the … Continue reading
Album review: PRINCE – Originals

Warner Brothers Records [Release date 07.06.19 exclusively on Tidal, 21.06.2019 CD, vinyl, streaming] In this multi-platform, content driven age it would be hard to imagine an artist ever producing too much material but such were his prolific studio habits, that … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, funk, Kenny Rogers, Originals, pop, pop rock, Prince, rarities, review, rock, Sinead O'Connor, synth pop, The Bangles, The Time
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Single review: TIGER & THE LIGHT SIDE – Somewhere Else

Website [Release date 24.06.19] A sparse ethereal atmosphere pervades the opening of ‘Somewhere Else’, a new single from barely a year old outfit, Tiger and The Light Side. Hailing from France, Tiger Finkel has assembled a distinctly international band coming … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Elbow, folk, indie, lo-fi, pop, review, singer songwriter, single, Somewhere Else, Tiger & the Light Side
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Album review: THE DIVINE COMEDY – Office Politics

DC Records [Release date 07.06.19] Never one to do things by halves, Neil Hannon and the Divine Comedy return with a double album, three years after their last album ‘Foreverland’. As the album’s title suggests it has a loose theme … Continue reading
Album review: STING – My Songs

A&M Island [Release date 24.05.19] Longevity can be both a blessing and a curse. Music industry economics are such that a tour is more successful with an album behind it and if that album isn’t of new material, a compilation … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andy Summers, classic rock, classic songs, My Songs, pop, reggae, review, rock, Solo, Stevie Wonder, Stewart Copeland, Sting, the Police
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