Tag Archives: pop

Album review: JULIANA HATFIELD – Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO

Posted on November 18, 2023 by jason

American Laundromat Records [Release date 17.11.23] Juliana Hatfield has been making music since 1986, which has included a stint in the Lemonheads, along with numerous solo albums since 1992 and this, her third album of cover songs, following on from … Continue reading →

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

Quick plays: HASSAN BIN RASHID, LOUIS DE BERNIERES, RYAN YOUNG

Posted on October 7, 2023 by jason

HASSAN BIN RASHID My 21 Grams [Release date 06.10.23] Not everyday you get offered to review an album by a proper prince, in this case Bahraini Prince, Hassan bin Rashid. ‘My 21 Grams’ is his fifth studio album as he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged alternative, folk, Hassan bin Rashid, Louis de Bernieres, melodic, My 21 Grams, Pearl Jam, pop, Quick Play, review, rock, Ryan Young | Leave a comment

EP review: TOM WEBBER – The RAK Tracks

Posted on September 29, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 29.09.23] Recorded at the legendary RAK Studios, Tom Webber takes another step up in his musical travels and more importantly, the musical depth and production that comes with recording at such a famous studio. If you though … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Didcot, EP, indie, Maya Lane, pop, RAK studios, RAK Tracks, review, rock 'n' roll, singer songwriter, The Korgis, Tom Webber | Leave a comment

Album review : DEACON BLUE – All The Old 45s, The Very Best Of Deacon Blue

Posted on August 28, 2023 by brianmc

Cooking Vinyl [Release date : 01.09.23] 1987, and the critics said they wouldn’t last, and here we are, 36 years later, and Deacon Blue are releasing… wait for it… a 41 track, double CD album titled All The Old 45s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 2CDs, album, blues, Dougie Vipond, Glasgow, Hits, James Prime, Lorraine McIntosh, pop, review, Ricky Ross, rock | Leave a comment

Album review : MR BIG – The Albums 1976-1978 (3 CD set)

Posted on August 21, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 18.08.23] This Mr. Big (the UK band) boxset is as close to a full blown “life and career” retrospective of the original iteration of the band as we’re likely to get. It comprises the 3 most … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AC/DC, Bob Hirschman, Dicken, Ian Hunter, Journey, Kansas, Mott the Hoople, pop, Queen, review, rock, Steve Gibbons, Sweet, The seventies, Tom Petty, Zulu | Leave a comment

Gig review: SIR TOM JONES – Heritage Live, Audley End House, Saffron Walden, 6 August 2023

Posted on August 8, 2023 by jason

SIR TOM JONES – Heritage Live, Audley End House, Saffron Walden, Sunday 6 August 2023

The scene is set for the third night of Heritage Live’s Audley End. The likes of Miss Disco, Boney M, The Real Thing and Bjorn Again were followed on Saturday by adverse weather but the Britpop movement was in full … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Audley End House, Classic Albums, gig, Heritage Live, pop, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Saffron Walden, Sir Tom Jones, Sunday 6 August 2023 | Leave a comment

Album review: JOSHUA BURNELL – Glass Knight

Posted on August 3, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 11.08.23] This reviewer enjoyed Joshua Burnell’s last album, 2020′s ‘Flowers Where The Horses Sleep’ and with an artist not limited by genre boundaries, expectations were raised for ‘Glass Knight’. With all music and lyrics written and arranged … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, Glass Knight, Joshua Burnell, melodic, pop, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – Short Stories

Posted on July 15, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 14.07.23] Sean Taylor returns with another album full of melody and thoughtful lyrics. Joining Sean are Ben Walker (guitars, electric piano), Mike Seal (double bass), Paulina Szczepaniak (percussion), Justin Carroll (Hammond organ), Joe Harvey Whyte (pedal steel) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, melodic, pop, review, Sean Taylor, Short Stories, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN REEL – Come A Long Way

Posted on July 10, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 30.06.23] ‘Come A Long Way’ is the 11th album from Ben Reel, with many of his previous releases given favourable reviews by GRTR! reviewer Pete Whalley (who has now, sadly, hung up his keyboard). This album features 11 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Ben Reel, Come A Long Way, country, folk, pop, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Rising Stars interview: JESSICA LYNN

Posted on June 29, 2023 by jason

Jessica Lynn has been described by American Songwriter as “country arena rock”, and her 7-show UK tour will take place this July. Stateside, Jessica Lynn is famed for the spectacle and quality of her live shows and stagecraft — not to mention her TV … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged country, country pop, gigs, interview, Jessica Lynn, pop, Richard Marx, Rising Stars, rock, soul, tour dates | Leave a comment

Singles review: JOSH TAERK, SUZI QUATRO, ALICE COOPER, DEGREED

Posted on June 16, 2023 by jason

JOSH TAERK Hold On Virginia AMG/Sony Music Josh is well known to readers of this site, and indeed listeners of GRTR! Radio, as his monthly live sessions with his family have been a treat since 2020. Now we have a new … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Alice Cooper, Coney Hatch, country, Degreed, Josh Taerk, KT Tunstall, new music, pop, pop rock, review, rock, singles, Suzi Quatro | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHN OTWAY & WILD WILLY BARRETT – West End Centre, Aldershot, Saturday 3 June 2023

Posted on June 4, 2023 by jason

Billed as the ‘Half A Sentry tour’, John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett team up again for an extensive UK tour, that as the press releases states – “celebrates 5 decades of music making animosity, splits and reunions.” First visit … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Aldershot, eccentric, folk, gig, interview, John Otway, pop, punk, radio, review, rock, rock n roll legends, Saturday 3 June 2023, singer songwriter, Top Of The Pops, West End Centre, Wild Willy Barrett | Leave a comment

Album review : V/A Let’s Stomp (Merseybeat 1962-1969) 3 CD set

Posted on May 14, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 26.05.23] Heavily influenced by US Blues and Rock, Merseybeat was a sixties pop music phenomenon, originating in Liverpool, that swept all before it. First the UK, then Europe, ultimately invading the USA and the ROTW. Across … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, Beatles, Billy J Kramer, Cilla Black, Doc Pomus, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Jackie DeShannon, Joe Meek, Lennon & McCartney, Let's Stomp (Merseybeat 1962-1969), Liverpool, Merseybeat, Mojos, Mort Shuman, pop, review, rock, Shel Talmy, Swinging Blue Jeans, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Searchers, The Sixties, US Blues | Leave a comment

Album review: REDBONE – A’s And B’s

Posted on May 4, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 17.03.23] For most readers of a certain age (i.e. ancient, this writer included) Redbone may be best known for their one big hit single ‘Witch Queen Of New Orleans’ which made No.2 in the UK … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1970-1977, A's and B's, album, compilation, funk, pop, Redbone, review, rock, singles, soul, swamp rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ANGEL – Once Upon A Time

Posted on April 29, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 21.04.23] Whilst it is good to see a seventies band re-appear (in white suits) to capture former glories ‘Once Upon A Time’ isn’t the album to achieve modern notoriety. The problem is the inconsistent production. Maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Angel, glam, metal, Once Upon A Time, pop | Leave a comment

Album review: L.A. EDWARDS – Out Of The Heart Of Darkness

Posted on April 28, 2023 by petefeenstra

Bitchin’ Music Group [Release date 06.01.23] Everything about L.A. (aka Luke Andrew) Edwards from his initials and his West Coast tinged Americana, to his use of jangly pop and the fact his PR references the cultural sway of Laurel Canyon, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Dawes, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Jerry Edwards, Jesse Daniel Edwards, L.A. Edwards, Laurel Canyon, Luke Andrew Edwards, Michael Stipe, New Wave, Out Of The Heart Of Darkness, pop, REM, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BALDASSARRE – Grand Boulevard

Posted on April 26, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Carl Baldassarre Music [Release date 28.04.23] The first thing this over-stressed reviewer thought when opening up the promo package was “what the hell will I play it on?” But it turns out that the album is on a USB stick … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Carl Baldassarre, classic rock, Grand Boulevard, pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TIM ARNOLD – Super Connected

Posted on April 16, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 05.05.23] Tim Arnold returns with a concept album about social media, big tech and mental health, which culminated in Arnold’s unexpected diagnosis of autism. Arnold wrote Super Connected ‘in character’, with each song sung from the perspective of different … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, electronic, Jethro Tull, Kevin Godley, Lindsay Kemp, melodic, pop, progressive, review, Stephen Fry, Super Connected, Tim Arnold | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE FOSTER BAND – Glimmer

Posted on April 9, 2023 by jason

English Electric Recording [Release date 21.04.23] Dave Foster Band features the aforementioned guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Foster (currently in Big, Big Train and a former member of Mr So & So) and vocalist Dinet Poortman. The other musicians involved are all top … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Big Big Train, Dave Foster, Dave Foster Band, Dinet Poortman, Glimmer, Marillion, melodic, pop, Queen, review, rock, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

News: RAVEN, THE FIERCE & THE DEAD, CRAZY LIXX (April 2023)

Posted on March 30, 2023 by jason

Aerosmith - DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, 11 June 2017

Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder release his second solo album, ’II, on June 9 via InsideOut Music. A 40th-anniversary super deluxe edition of Black Sabbath’s ‘Live Evil’ is released on June 2 through BMG. Bonfire have re-recorded their ‘Point Blank’, ‘Fireworks’ and … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged Americana, blues, classic rock, country, Crazy Lixx, folk, gigs, metal, New releases, news, pop, punk, RAVEN, rock, The Fierce & The Dead, tours | Leave a comment

Album review: NICK WATERHOUSE – The Fooler

Posted on March 22, 2023 by jason

Innovative Leisure/PRES [Release date 31.03.23] ‘The Fooler’ is the sixth album from Nick Waterhouse and his last album, 2021′s ‘Promenade Blue’ was a real find and musical highlight for this reviewer. Recorded in just a few days with Mark Neill … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, garage rock, Nick Waterhouse, pop, review, rhythm and blues, singer songwriter, soul, the Fooler | Leave a comment

Album review: FLOOR JANSEN – Paragon

Posted on March 21, 2023 by jason

Pias/Revamp Music [Release date: 24.03.23] Floor Jansen’s addition as a permanent member to the Nightwish family back in 2013 found most of the fans of the Finnish outfit in total agreement, as the three-octave ranged soprano was already a singer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged After Forever, album, Anneke van Giersbergen, Floor Jansen, melodic, Nighwish, Paragon, pop, pop rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: FLEETWOOD MAC IN THE 1980s by Don Klees

Posted on March 20, 2023 by jason

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date 27.01.23] During the 1980’s Fleetwood Mac only released two albums, 1982’s ‘Mirage’, which topped the US album charts, and 1987’s ‘Tango In The Night’, which saw the band top the UK album charts with sales to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 1980's, AOR, book, Christine McVie, Don Klees, Fleetwood Mac, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, melodic rock, Mick Fleetwood, pop, pop rock, review, Stevie Nicks | Leave a comment

Album review : TRANSWORLD IDENTITY – Seven Worlds

Posted on March 16, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 17.3.23] Transworld Identity is a breath of fresh air. Vocalist Mila Bosa previously fronted a hard rock covers band, inevitably moving onto original material with her own band, T-ID. Hard to tell just how long they’ve been … Continue reading →