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Latest Album Reviews
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Album review : KEITH WEST – Cross That Bridge, The Anthology 1965-99 (2 CDs)
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Album review : COUSINS & WILLOUGHBY – The Bridge
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Album review : WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS – Covers of The Beatles 1967-70
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Feature: All Boxed Up for Christmas (December 2025)
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Album review : LYNCH MOB – Dancing With The Devil
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Album review: CYTRUS – Duality
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Tag Archives: pop
Album review: ANTHONY PHILLIPS – Private Parts & Pieces I-IV, Wise After The Event, Sides (reissues)

This complete programme was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in March 2015. Anthony Phillips chats to David Randall about his career, with tracks from his solo albums including “The Missing Links” series and his more recent collaboration … Continue reading
Gig review: 80’s INVASION TOUR – Edinburgh Playhouse, 20 March 2016 (Big Country, Midge Ure)

The 80’s are rapidly becoming the new 60’s in terms of misty eyed nostalgia. The teenagers of the 80’s are now in the 40 to 50 ish bracket with the disposable income (allegedly!) to indulge themselves and relive their teen … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 20 March 2016, 80s Invasion Tour, Big Country, Curiosity Killed The Cat, David Bowie, Edinburgh Playhouse, gig, Haircut One Hundred, live, Midge Ure, Nick Hayward, pop, review, rock, ULTRAVOX, Vienna, Visage
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Album review: SONIFICADE – Despite All The Noise

Circular Records [Release date 20.05.16] A four piece alternative indie rock band from the Midlands, who won an international unsigned band completion, Sonificade have signed to Scottish label Circular Records for the release their debut album. Recorded at Kasabian’s studio … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Despite All The Noise, electro, pop, review, rock, Sonificade
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Quick plays: HORSE PARTY, ELIZA NEALS, CHRISTA COUTURE

HORSE PARTY Horizons REPEAT Records [Release date 01.04.16] Bury St Edmunds three-piece rockers, fronted by guitarist/singer Ellie Langley have been getting plenty of plaudits over the past 12 months from the likes of 6music, Radio One, and Radio X. Formed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged acoustic, album, blues, blues rock, Breaking And Entering, Christa Couture, Eliza Neals, Horizons, Horse Party, indie, Long Time Leaving, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter
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Album review: IN ISOLATION – A Certain Fractal Light

Nottingham based three piece In Isolation – vocalist/guitarist Ryan Swift, guitarist/bassist John Berry, and drummer Tony Ghost – wear their New Romantics influences very openly on their sleeves, but at the same time manage to create a vibrant and current … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged A Certain Fractal Light, album, electro, In Isolation, pop, review, rock
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Album review: THE INTERNATIONAL SWINGERS – s/t

In this hour special, Pete Feenstra chats to James Stevenson about his music (58:39) More at Mixcloud All The Cats Recordings [Release date 06.05.16] The main selling point, I guess, of The International Swingers (putting the Benidorm ‘swingers’ association to … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Blondie, Chelsea, Clem Burke, Generation X, Glen Matlock, James Stevenson, pop, post-punk, punk, review, rock, Sex Pistols, THE INTERNATIONAL SWINGERS
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Album review: EMMA KING s/t

[Release date 27.05.16] The PR blurb accompanying this eponymous solo release would lead you to believe that the Hull-born singer songwriter has arrived at this point through gigging and experience in Nashville. But there’s a little more depth to the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, country, Emma King, pop, review, rock
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Album review: JUDITH OWEN – Somebody’s Child

Twanky Records [Release date 06.05.16] Pianist-singer-songwriter Judith Owen has come up with just about the perfect ‘easy listening’ album. Genre hopping, from the influences of the very best from Laurel Canyon to Stevie Wonder and everything in between, she puts … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, jazz, Judith Owen, MOR, pop, review, rock, singer, Somebody's Child, songwriter
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Album review: BRUCE FOXTON – Smash The Clock

Pledge Music [20.05.16] I have to admit to not being a Jam aficionado, or of Paul Weller for that matter. Like everyone I’m familiar with the Jam hits, and have dabbled in some of Weller’s solo releases, and while there’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bruce Foxton, From The Jam, Paul Jones, Paul Weller, pop, review, rhythm and blues, rock, Smash The Clock, The Jam, Wilko Johnson
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News: COLIN BLUNSTONE UK Tour Dates April 2016 and Interview

On Sunday 3 April (Part 1) and Sunday 10 April (Part 2) at 18:00 GMT Colin Blunstone chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! about his career, with tracks from The Zombies and his solo albums. This interview edit discusses recent … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, Radio interview
Tagged Alan Parsons Project, April 2016, Colin Blunstone, gigs, interview, pop, radio, rock, Rod Argent, singer, songwriter, The Zombies, Tour, uk
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Album review: THE DOWLING POOLE – One Hyde Park

369 Music www.thedowlingpoole.com [Released 08.04.16] The Dowling Poole’s 2014 debut album ‘Bleak Strategies’ easily made my year end top 10, so this new album has a lot to live up to. Based around the duo of Willie Dowling (Jackdaw4/the Grip/the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 10CC, album, Beatles, Jon Poole, One Hyde Park, pop, pop rock, power pop, review, THE DOWLING POOLE, Willie Dowling, XTC
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Album review: THE DUNWELLS – Light Up The Sky

Concord Records [Release date 26.02.16] The Dunwells debut album ‘Blind Sighted Faith’ is a firm favourite in my collection and there has been high anticipation for this follow-up. It has been a few years in the making, with the band … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, electro, folk, harmonies, indie, Light Up The Sky, pop, review, rock, The Dunwells, vocals
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Quick plays: THE STRUTS, CORINNE WEST, PETE LASHLEY

THE STRUTS Everybody Wants I’ve always had a weakness for camp, bubblegum rock. It’s a long line that stretches back to the Sweet, through Queen, and perhaps most recently evident in The Darkness. Derby four-piece, The Struts are the latest … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, At The Station, Corinne West, Daze Of Grace, Everybody Wants, Grandma Strange, Magic Corner, Nightingale, Pete Lashley, pop, psychedelic, review, rock, Rumours Of Glory, singer, songwriter, Starlight Highway, The Struts, Wildflower
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Gig review: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – Darwen Library Theatre, Lancs, 4 March 2016

In this hour long special, first broadcast as part of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in February 2016, David Randall chatted to Clark Datchler with tracks from Johnny Hates Jazz past and present, plus a special … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged 4 March 2016, Blackburn, Clark Datchler, Darwen, Darwen Library Theatre, electronica, gig, Johnny Hates Jazz, Lancs, Marcus Bonfanti, Mike Nocito, pop, review, rock
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Album review: LEFT WITH PICTURES – Afterlife

Organ Grinder Records [Release date 29.04.16] Left With Pictures describe their music as an orchestral pop ensemble. They have been around since 2005 and consist of Tom Walker, Toby Knowles and Stuart Barter. They have released a series of EP’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Afterlife, album, atmospheric, classical, Left With Pictures, Organ Grinder Records, pop, review, synth pop, synths
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Album review: THE WONDER STUFF – 30 Goes Around The Sun

IRL records [Release date 19.03.16] This is the Wonder Stuff’s eighth studio album and the album’s title refers to the bands thirtieth year. Vocalist/guitarist Miles Hunt is the sole original member (and his uncle Bill was a member of both … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 30 Goes Around The Sun, album, alternative, classic, indie, Miles Hunt, pop, review, The Wonder Stuff
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News: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ Interview Feature and UK Tour (28 February – 25 March 2016)

A special feature is broadcast in the first hour of ‘Assume The Position’, presented by David Randall on Sunday 28 February on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. The sequence is repeated on Friday 4 March at 22:00 or you can … Continue reading
News: DONOVAN announces 70th Birthday Show

DONOVAN’S 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY CONCERT IN ‘BEAT CAFÉ’ AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM ON 6th MAY 2016 Donovan, ‘60s legend, icon, poet and one of our most enduring singer-songwriters, celebrates his 70th birthday with a special concert at The London Palladium … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
Tagged 70th birthday, Donovan, folk, legend, London Palladium, May 6 2016, pop, singer
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Album review: JENNIFER WARNES – The Well

BMG [Release date 04.03.16] It comes to something when it takes a fifteen year old album – getting its first UK release – to highlight just how sterile and bland the singer songwriter scene has become. Warnes’ eighth studio album, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Jennifer Warnes, pop, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Well
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Quick plays: BEN ABRAHAM, DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA, TALISCO

BEN ABRAHAM – Sirens Secretly Canadian [Release date 04.03.16] Despite the record label name, Ben Abraham hails from Australia where this, his debut album, was released last year. It is now getting a full UK release and I can see … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Ben Abraham, Death By Unga Bunga, folk, Pineapple Pizza, pop, punk, review, Run, singer songwriter, Talisco
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Quick plays: JULIA FORDHAM (1988 reissue), UNDERHILL ROSE

Cherry Pop [Release date 29.01.16] Julia Fordham is one of those artists who could only really flourish in the 1980s when there were expansive label budgets, solid production values, and exposure on national radio. Her exquisite blend of self-penned pop … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues
Tagged album, Americana, bonus tracks, folk, Julia Fordham, live, pop, reissue, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Great Tomorrow, Underhill Rose
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Album review: CUTTING CREW – Add To Favourites

www.cuttingcrew.biz Everyone will know Cutting Crew for their big 80′s hit ‘(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight’ and they had a decent level of success until they split-up in 1993. The band returned in 2005 with frontman and sole … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Add To Favorites, album, AOR, country, Cutting Crew, Nick Van Eede, pop, review, rock, soul
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Album review: GLITCH CODE – Gifted_Damaged

Basilica Music [Release date 12.02.16] Glitch Code is a collaboration between songwriter/producer/sound designer Paul Kirkpatrick and vocalist Rachel Harvey. And a lot of attention to detail has gone into the creation of their debut – even the packaging for the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Basilica, electronica, Gifted_Damaged, Glitch Code, Paul Kirkpatrick, pop, Rachel Harvey, review, rock
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Album review: LEAPFROGTOWN – Dreaming In Public

Coffee Jingle Records [Release date 25.01.16] Leapfrogtown – a vehicle for London duo Chris Guard and Stuart Walton – is proof, if it were ever needed, that you’re never old to [start to] rock ‘n’ roll, with their debut a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Chris Guard, Dreaming In Public, glam, Leapfrogtown, pop, review, rock, Stuart Walton
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