-
-
-
If you can't find what you're looking for - or wish to refine your search to include only references to the key search term - try putting inverted commas around the search term e.g. "Steve Lukather" or "Black Star Riders"
For example if you enter Black Star Riders the results will include all instances of "Black" "Star" and "Riders". The search will also be slower.
Switch site
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
-
Our star rating
***** Out of this world
**** Pretty damn fine
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan of the artist or genre
** Instant bargain bin fodder
* Ugly, just ugly
Latest Album Reviews
-
Latest Gig Reviews
-
Gig review: KING KING, THESE WICKED RIVERS – Sub 89, Reading, 27 October 2024
-
Gig review: FM – The Carlisle, Hastings, 17 October 2024
-
Gig review: THE NEW ROSES- The Black Heart, Camden, London, 16 October 2024
-
Gig review: ALICE COOPER – Hydro, Glasgow, 14 October 2024
-
Gig review: FIREFEST – Manchester Academy, 11-13 October 2024
-
Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024
-
-
Featured Album Reviews
-
Features
-
Feature: Rock: Rewired – STEVE MARRIOTT Part 2 (Peter Frampton interview)
-
Feature: Rock: Rewired – STEVE MARRIOTT (Part 1)
-
Feature: DANNY VAUGHN at Fairycroft House, Saffron Walden, May 24 2024
-
Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – MAGNUM (December 2023)
-
Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – SAXON (November 2023)
-
Single & EP Reviews
-
DVD Reviews
-
Book Reviews
-
News
-
Features
-
Quick Categories
Categories (All)
Tag Archives: Ron Mael
Film review: SPARKS: Annette / Cannes Festival Opening – The Vox, Montignac-Lascaux, SW France 6 July 2021
It’s early evening in heart of Montignac-Lascaux, a small sleepy South West French town. And I’ve just discovered that the once thriving (pre-covid) art house cinema – which used to double as an outdoor gig – is showing a world … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FILM REVIEWS
Tagged Adam Driver, Annette, film, Leos Carax, Marion Cotillard, Montignac-Lascaux, Nick Cave, opera, operetta, rock, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, Simon Helberg, soundtrack, SPARKS, Spike Lee, The Vox, vocals
Leave a comment
Album review: SPARKS – A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
BMG [Release date digital 15.05.20; physical 03.07.20] There are not many artists that have been going for over fifty years and still regularly tour and release good new music, and Sparks are one of those few. Their last album, 2017’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, BMG, pop, quirky pop, review, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, snyth pop, SPARKS
Leave a comment
Album review: SPARKS – Past Tense: The Best Of Sparks
BMG [Release date 08.11.19] For many people of a certain age Sparks are famed for the high vocals and scary looking bloke on the keyboards, yet there is so much more to their music aside from the big hits ‘This … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, best of, classic rock, dance, Franz Ferdinand, pop, quirky, review, rock, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, synth pop
Leave a comment
Album review: SPARKS – Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
BMG [Release date 01.11.19] ‘Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins’ originally came out in 1994 and came after a six year gap by Sparks since 1988’s ‘Interior Design’ album. The band were said to be on hiatus, something Ron Mael takes … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Christo Haydon, dance, Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, pop, quirky, review, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, synth pop, Techno
Leave a comment
Album review: SPARKS – Hippopotamus
BMG [Release date 08.09.17] ‘Hippopotamus’ is a triumph of pop’s true potential over the usual clichéd familiar fare. It’s a cross genre album bursting with creativity, humour and stylistic diversity. The lyrical word plays, eclectic themes and nuanced melodies are … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, art rock, chamber pop, disco, glam, Hippopotamus, lounge, New Wave, pop, pop art, Rebecca Sjöwall, review, rock, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, spoken word
Leave a comment
Gig review: SPARKS – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 28 September 2017
Sparks breezed into an extra second night at a packed London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire to deliver a thematically driven show – right down to the band’s sailor tops – to promote the new ‘Hippopotamus’ chart album. The Mael brothers have … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged art rock, disco, Frank Zappa, gig, Hippopotamus, lounge, Mr. Goodnite, review, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS
Leave a comment
Gig review: SPARKS Album Launch Party – ICA, The Mall London, 7 Sept 2017
In many respects the ICA provides the perfect backdrop for the album launch party of ‘Hippopotamus’, Sparks’ 23rd album. The LA based brothers Ron and Russell Mael have long reached beyond the simple rock and roll format to realize their … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Album Launch, Bob Harris, electro, funk, Hippopotamus, ICA, Joseph Wallace, Matt Everritt, Muff Winwood, opera, review, rock, Ron Mael, Russell Mael, SPARKS, spoken word, Tony Visconti
Leave a comment
Gig review: SPARKS – Union Chapel, London, 2 December 2013
“When the whole world is running headlong towards the precipice, one who walks in the opposite direction is looked on as being crazy.” T.S. Elliot could have been talking about Sparks. Their restless stop-start career has occasionally brushed the mainstream … Continue reading
Album review: SPARKS – New Music For Amnesiacs – The Essential Collection
Lil Beethoven Records (2CD) This two CD, 40 song best of is a condensed version of the recent box set, which features 83 songs. Sparks may be masters of pop yet they have had an influence in the rock world … Continue reading