Tag Archives: soft rock

Album review : JOHN MILES – The Albums 1983 – 1993 (3 CDs)

Posted on July 16, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 19.07.24] Behind the John Miles’ name and his launchpad hit single ‘Music (Was My First Love)’ in 1976, there lay a musician whose full-on career in music can barely be crammed into a Wikipedia page. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Parsons, AOR, Jimmy Page, JOE COCKER, John Miles, Night Of The Proms, Play On, review, soft rock, Tina Turner, Transition, Upfront | Leave a comment

Album review : PALACE – Reckless Heart

Posted on July 6, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 12.07.24] Michael Palace has long since proved that his classy debut, Master Of The Universe, was too good to be a fluke. On Reckless Heart, his fifth album, he continues to display his considerable gifts as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessi, Aztec Camera, Christopher Cross, Frontiers, Kenny Loggins, Michael Palace, review, Richard Marx, soft rock, Steely Dan | Leave a comment

Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell, 20 July 2023

Posted on July 25, 2023 by andynathan

Despite latest album ‘Kickstart the Sun’ being for me their finest achievement, Cats in Space’s autumn tour in 2022 was still bedevilled by audiences a fraction of what they deserved. It therefore represented a bold gamble when, post-tour, the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Damien Edwards, Dean Howard, gig, Greg Hart, Jeff Brown, melodic rock, pomp rock, soft rock, Steevi Bacon | Leave a comment

Album review: CERI JUSTICE – Walk In Shadow

Posted on February 4, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

www.cerijustice.rocks [Release date 15.04.22] Here at GRTR! it doesn’t really matter that we are reviewing an album nearly 12 months old. If it comes to our attention belatedly and is meritorious, we do it. It was Pete Feenstra playing a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ceri Justice, classic rock, Justified, pop, pop rock, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – Sub 89, Reading, 26 October 2022

Posted on November 7, 2022 by andynathan

2022 has seen the release of what for me is Cats in Space’s finest hour yet in their fifth studio release ‘Kickstart the Sun’. The double album fully justified their decision last year to curtail some tour dates to concentrate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Damien Edwards, Dean Howard, gig, Greg Hart, Jeff Brown, Matt Mitchell, Matt Mitchell and the Coldhearts, melodic rock, soft rock | Leave a comment

Album review: HYDRA – Point Break

Posted on August 8, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 12.08.22] Hydra is a project put together by rock’n’roll impresario, Daniel Flores, built around the songs of Swedish wunderkind, Henrik Hedstrom. Flores has brought in another highly talented musician, Andy Kravljaca, to sing and add lead and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Kravljaca, AOR, Christopher Cross, Daniel Flores, Henrik Hedstrom, Hydra, melodic rock, review, soft rock, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review : ZELBO – In My Dreams

Posted on December 22, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 10.12.21] Melodic Rock/AOR band, Zelbo is named for keyboard player and founding member, Dag Selboskar. This relatively unknown Norwegian musician in fact has quite a pedigree. He debuted with the legendary Da Vinci. His DV bandmate, Bjorn … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bjorn Boge, Da Vinci, Dag Selboskar, Frontiers Records, In My Dreams, Ken Ingwersen, melodic rock, review, soft rock, Street Legal | Leave a comment

Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – The Garage, Highbury, London, 2 October 2021

Posted on October 7, 2021 by andynathan

I will freely admit that Cats in Space are one of my very favourite bands to have emerged in the past few years. Their sound is unashamedly inspired by the second half of the seventies but the combination of lush … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Damien Edwards, Dean Howard, gig, Greg Hart, Jack Stiles, Jeff Brown, melodic rock, Pete Lance, soft rock, Vambo | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL ARMSTRONG – Ojai

Posted on June 13, 2021 by jason

www.michaelarmstrongmusic.co.uk [Release date 25.06.21] London-born, singer songwriter Michael Armstrong releases his third studio album, which going by the press releases is a modern take on the ‘Yacht Rock’ genre. As Michael explains – “In 2018 I was invited to join … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Ben Folds, melodic, Michael Armstrong, Ojai, pop, review, soft rock, Yacht rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN – The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest

Posted on February 13, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

InsideOut Music [Release date 26.02.21] There is no doubt that some of the best music is made as a result of emotional adversity. This explains why we cannot, perhaps, expect any great emotional pull from aged rockers who are more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Anneke van Giersbergen, review, rock, soft rock, The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest, The Gathering | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – NOTHING BY CHANCE – Ghosts Of Love

Posted on May 22, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Dover/Chrysalis/Starward [1991] Bob Harris has a lot to answer for. I am sure – like many other musical insomniacs – he influenced our choice of album purchase in the early 1990s. As mentioned in despatches elsewhere, his overnight show for … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged album, feature, Ghosts Of Love, Gilly darbey, John Acock, Kevin Donnelly, Nick Magnus, Nothing By Chance, pop, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – MAE McKENNA – Mirage And Reality

Posted on May 22, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Kadence [1991] In 1993 “old school” DJs at the BBC, such as Bob Harris and Alan Freeman, would be culled as part of a new regime at Radio 1 but that didn’t stop a “golden” period for a few years … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged 1991, album, Celtic, folk, fusion, Hugh Mckenna, John Hackett, Mae McKenna, Mirage And Reality, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: CHAMPLIN WILLIAMS FRIESTEDT – 2

Posted on May 5, 2020 by andynathan

Black Lodge [Release Date 15.05.20] In that genre of the softest and smoothest AOR given the shorthand ‘West coast’, CWF are something of a superstar collaboration. Former Chicago singer and keyboard player Bill Champlin and Joseph Williams, singer with Toto … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Champlin Williams Friestedt, Chicago, CWF, Michael McDonald, soft rock, Toto, West Coast | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – KEATS

Posted on May 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

EMI [1984] Released in 1984 the eponymous album by Keats might be considered as an Alan Parsons Project off-shoot. It was produced by Parsons and includes the core band members that feature on most of the Project albums, Ian Bairnson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged Alan Parsons, Alan Parsons Project, album, Colin Blunstone, David Paton, eighties, Ian Bairnson, interview, Keats, pop rock, review, soft rock, Stuart Elliott | Leave a comment

Album review: THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Aeromantic

Posted on March 26, 2020 by andynathan

Nuclear Blast [Release Date 28.02.20] One of the unlikeliest phenomena in the rock world in recent times have been the Night Flight Orchestra, their reputation and exposure growing over what is now a five album career. Many artists have drawn … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Aeromantic, album, AOR, Arch Enemy, Bjorn Strid, Night Flight Orchestra, soft rock, Soilwork | Leave a comment

Album review: HARRY CHAPIN – Live At The Bottom Line (The Bottom Line Archive)

Posted on February 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Store For Music [Release date 28.02.20] Harry Chapin was tragically killed some seven months after a series of gigs at New York’s legendary Bottom Line venue. In that sense, it marks a great songsmith and performer at the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 3-CD, album, expanded, folk, Harry Chapin, January 1981, Live At The Bottom Line, pop, reissue, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: STEELEYE SPAN, GALLAGHER & LYLE, HUMBLE PIE

Posted on October 13, 2019 by jason

GALLAGHER & LYLE - Live at De Montfort Hall Leicester 1977

STEELEYE SPAN Live at De Montfort Hall Leicester 1977 Store For Music/Angel Air [Release date 04.10.19] One glaring error on this CD is the concert was in fact recorded in 1978 on the band’s then farewell tour (although the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, blues rock, De Montfort Hall, folk, folk rock, Gallagher & Lyle, Humble Pie, Leicester, live recording, Maddy Prior, Martin Carthy, pop, review, soft rock, Steeleye Span, Steve Marriott | Leave a comment

Album review: AMERICA – Classic Album Collection

Posted on May 13, 2019 by jason

Caroline International [Release date 24.05.19] Formed in London, UK in 1970, this Anglo American group originally consisted of Deway Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley, who met as of US Air Force personnel stationed in London, where they began performing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged America, box set, Classic Album Collection, Classic Albums, classic rock, melodic, pop rock, review, soft rock, Steve Lukather | Leave a comment

Album review: GLENN SHORROCK – Glenn Shorrock Sings The Little River Band

Posted on January 31, 2019 by jason

Social Family Records [Release date 08.03.19] Although Little River Band (LRB) still exists, there are no original members in the band and the owner of the business name refuses to allow the founding members to perform with any sign of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, country, Glenn Shorrock, LITTLE RIVER BAND, melodic, pop rock, review, Sings The Little River Band, soft rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Camden Underworld, London, 30 November 2018

Posted on December 3, 2018 by andynathan

The Night Flight Orchestra are an intriguing proposition and proof that whatever their chosen musical field, musicians invariably draw on a love of other styles. In their case, singer Bjorn Strid and guitarist David Andersson of Swedish metallers Soilwork, discovered … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Bjorn Strid, gig, melodic rock, Night Flight Orchestra, review, soft rock, Soilwork, the Night Flight Orchestra | 1 Comment

Album review: RAINBREAKERS – Face To Face

Posted on October 16, 2018 by jason

www.therainbreakers.com [Release date 31.08.18] The Shrewsbury based Rainbreakers have now recorded their debut album, after releasing a couple of well received EPs and touring with the likes of Corky Laing (Mountain) and played a handful of festivals. Comprised of Ben Edwards … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, debut, Face To Face, Maroon 5, melodic, Rainbreakers, review, soft rock, soul, soulful | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BEN KUNDER, STONE THE CROWS (Best of)

Posted on August 8, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

BEN KUNDER Better Human Comino Music [Release date 28.08.18] Toronto singer songwriter’s Ben Kunder’s 2015 debut Golden might have been ‘critically acclaimed’ but that doesn’t appear to have translated to a great deal of public interest if the lack of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, All That's Left, Americana, Ben Kunder, best of, Better Human, blues rock, Jim Dewar, Maggie Bell, Michelle Lewis, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter, Stone The Crows | Leave a comment

Album review: ANN WILSON – Immortal

Posted on August 8, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

BMG [Release date 14.09.18] One of the most gifted female rock singers of her generation, Immortal sees Heart’s Ann Wilson continue her dalliance with cover versions – a journey she began on her last solo outing Hope & Glory (2007). … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ann Wilson, Covers, Heart, Immortal, pop, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: FAY & LATTA – Dust To Stars

Posted on June 28, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Release date [03.18] Ex-Exoterik hard rockers Tom and Anneka Fay (nee Latta) continue their one man, one woman, acoustic soft rock journey that they so successfully began in 2008 with The View From Here, and capped with the wonderfully chilled … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anneka Latta, Dust To Stars, Exoterik, Fay & Latta, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter, Tom Fay | Leave a comment

Album review: MY GLASS WORLD – Prisoner Of Gravity

Posted on April 23, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Luxury Noise [Release date 01.06.18] My Glass World is a vehicle for singer / songwriter Jamie Telford who’s ‘claim to fame’ is having played the driving piano that graces The Jam’s #1 single ‘Beat Surrender’ (1982). He’s also a trained … Continue reading →