GRTR! Reviewers Best Of 2009 picks…

www.getreadytorock.com/best_of_2009.htm

Albums by Magnum, Saxon, House Of Lords and Europe are popular choices som far with more reviewers still to add in their selections.

The Faces touring next year & Dio UK tour cancelled

The Faces will tour next year according to Ian McLagan in a recent Billboard interview but without Rod Stewart.

Dio has been hospitalised and as result his upcoming UK tour has been cancelled.

Jeff Scott Soto appears the Camden Underworld, London on 20th January.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor releases a new single next week, ‘Everything Is Unbroken’. He has also revealed he wants to work with fellow drummer Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters.

Seems former TYKETTO/JOURNEY vocalist Steve Augeri could replace Hugo in Valentine.

BAD COMPANY + JOE PERRY

Thursday 1 April Birmingham LG Arena
Friday 2 April Manchester Arena
Sunday 4 April Sheffield City Hall
Monday 5 April Cardiff CIA
Wednesday April 7 Newcastle Arena
Thursday 8 April Glasgow Clyde
Saturday 10 April Brighton Centre
Sunday 11 April Wembley Arena

Bad Company & Kiss heading for the UK next year

Not on the same bill but Bad Company look set to announce an April tour whilst Kiss are due over in May.  Muse have just anounced two UK dates for next September as well.

Joe Bonamassa

HMV APOLLO HAMMERSMITH – LONDON – FRI 28TH MAY
MAGNA CENTRE – ROTHERHAM – SAT 29TH MAY
WINDSOR HALL – BOURNEMOUTH – SUN 30TH MAY
NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA – BIRMINGHAM – MON 31ST MAY

Finally vocalist Hugo has left melodic rockers Valentine. Not sure who they will get in as a replacement as Hugo’s voice is what makes the band!

My top 30 albums of the year…

1. Duckworth Lewis Method – superb cricket themed album that includes the Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon. Perfect quirky pop bliss.

2. Places Of Power ‘Now Is The Hour’ (Frontiers) – the best album Foreigner never made.

3. Jeff Scott Soto ‘Beautiful Mess’ (Frontiers) – an album that JSS shows his more funkier side. Worth it alone for the song ‘Gin & Tonic Sky’.

4. W.E.T. (Frontiers) – its that man Mr Soto again doing his melodic hard rock thing and sounding at times how you’d imagine Journey sounding had he been able to record with the band. Essential.

5. House Of Lords ‘Cartesian Dreams’ (Frontiers) – their best album since reforming and nearly as good as ‘Sahara’!

6. Dream Theater ‘Black Clouds And Silver Linings’ (Roadrunner) – made me fall in love again with the band as they focused again on melody.

7. Magnum ‘Into The Valley Of The Moonking’ (SPV) - they just keep getting better since they returned. Good to see a couple of straight ahead hard rockers on this album.

8. IQ ‘Frequency’ (GEP/SPV) – their best album to date and just marvel at the soundscapes they create.

9. The Jokers ‘The Great Rock ‘N’ Roll Show’ – amazing debut album that mixes 70’s Aerosmith/Stones with a more modern feel. No a single filler.

10. Cheap Trick ‘The Latest’ www.cheaptrick.com – they just keep getting better. The masters of pop rock.

11. On The Rise (Frontiers) – top notch AOR.

12. The Wildhearts ‘Chutzpah!’ after a couple of average release they are back on top form. They even mix pop with thrash metal on one song!

13. Astra ‘From Within’ (Lion Music) - the only band I know to successfully meld melodic metal with AOR/melodic rock. Includes a cracking tribute to Freddie Mercury.

14. Radio Silence  (Escape Music) – AOR/pop rock – damn fine tunes whatever you label it as.

15. Sacred Heart ‘Darkness Falls’ www.sacredheartband.com – UK based hard rockers who have pulled out the stops to produce their best album to date.

16. Saxon ‘Into The Labyrinth’ (SPV) – Biff & the boys come good again. They were frankly s*** in the 90’s but have found their muse again.

15. The Trews ‘No Time For Later’ – amazed this band never break in the UK as they have the songs to  appeal to a wide audience.

16. 101 South ‘No Un Turns’ (AOR Heaven) – perfect US AOR and not a duff song in sight.

17. Kiss ‘Sonic Boom’ (Roadrunner) – never though these guys would make one of my year end ‘best of’ lists but this is a damn fine album.

18. Firenote S/T – another top Finnish band and not unlike Brother Firetribe with their 80’s rock sound.

19. Danger Danger ‘Revolve’ (Frontiers) – not a band I have liked much before but this album is melodic hard rock with a smile

20. Kyle Vincent ‘Where You Are’ – laid back pop.

21. Steel Panther ‘Feel The Steel’ – definitely not PC and a 80’s hair metal tribute band meets a foul mouthed Spinal Tap.

22. Oliver Weeks ‘Get Ready’ – Swedish X Factor finalist unleashes a debut album chock full of catchy hard rock tunes.

23. Saga ‘The Human Condition’ (Inside Out) – new vocalist but still these Canadian prog rockers delight.

24. Queensryche ‘American Soldier’ (Rhino/Atlantic) - their best album in ages.

25. Mastedon ‘3′ (Frontiers) – not the US metal band but the long lost Christian hard rock band return. Pomp up the volume…

26. Aynsley Lister ‘Equilibrium’ - blues rock meets pop by a very talented UK bluesman.

27. Jon Amor – mixes blues, rock, acoustic and pop to make a satisfying listen.

28. Govt. Mule ‘By A Thread’ – if you like classic 70’s rock by bands like the Allman Brothers this album is a must.

29. Grand Design ‘Time Elevation’ (AOR Heaven) – the best album Def Leppard never made.

30. Masters Of Reality ‘Pine’/'Crossed Over’ – the musician’s band and sadly underrated. They mix stoner rock with Beatles harmonies and some frankly bizarre lyrics

Top 5 Reissue Albums

Twisted Sister ‘Stay Hungry’ – some of the unreleased tracks should have made the original release

Europe ‘Out Of This World’/'Prisoners In Paradise’

Uriah Heep ‘Celebration’ (yes they are re-recordings but the songs are old)

The Storys ‘Town Between The Trees’ Angel Air (great album and just catching up on an album raved about by fellow GRTR! reviewers)

The Babys re-issues on Rock Candy – they still sound great today.

Top 5 Gigs

Rick Wakeman @ Hampton Court OTT as you’d expect and a close call as to who stole the show, Rick Wakeman or the narrator, Brian Blessed

Chris Singleton @ Troubador – good to hear some new tunes which bode well for the new album

Ultravox @ Hammersmith Apollo waited years to see them live and they were superb

Power Quest @ Islington Academy – new line-up did extremely well and can’t wait for the new album

Europe @ Relentless Garage – a very hard rocking set and included a cracking UFO cover

Plus Guilfest which is always a pleasure to attend and this year enjoyed sets by the Lightning Seeds & Brian Wilson.

 

 

Signed Pendradon CD’s

Thanks to Nick Barrett and Pendragon for donating two signed CD’s to raise funds for the National Tremor Organisation -

Double live ‘Concerto Maximo’ -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300367150033&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

The excellent ‘Pure’ album -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300367150613&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Plus signed Gary Rhodes photo -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300367145668&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

The final signed Mammoth t-shirt signed by John McCoy -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300367146232&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

More items soon and as ever any contcats for sigend donations always welcome.

Steve Tyler denies leaving Aerosmith & ELP reform

Rumours that Steven Tyler had quit Aerosmith to concentrate on a solo album and autobiography both due sometime next year, have now been denied according to the band. This one could run and run like the on/off Faces reunion…

Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) will reform for a ‘Classic Rock’ magazine sponsored festival on 26th July in London at a venue TBC. More bands TBA and doubtless a few off the magazine’s own Powerage label.

The Kinks have started recording a new album although no news on whether Dave Davies will be joining his brother Ray on this album. To say the pair of them don’t get on is an understatement.

Another band hard at work in the studio are the Scorpions with a new album due in the first half of 2010.

Keel’s new album is out via Frontiers in January and Giant’s new album is due in Feb/Mar on the same label.

Robert Cray has announced a UK tour for next July…

PHILHARMONIC HALL – LIVERPOOL – FRI 2ND JULY
DE MONTFORT HALL – LEICESTER – SAT 3RD JULY
THEATRE ROYAL – NORWICH – SUN 4TH JULY
BRIGHTON DOME – BRIGHTON – MON 5TH JULY
THE BRIDGEWATER HALL – MANCHESTER – THU 8TH JULY
SYMPHONY HALL – BIRMINGHAM – MON 12TH JULY
ROYAL CONCERT HALL – GLASGOW – TUE 13TH JULY
THE SAGE – GATESHEAD – WED 14TH JULY

Tangerine Dream appear at the Royal Albert Hall on 1st April.

Albums of the Year Part One

2009 has been another great year for albums and comebacks. There will be albums released this year I haven’t heard yet (eg Foreigner) which could have made my list. Where to start?

Melodic rock wise Places Of Power (Frontiers) was a stunning start to the year – an album to keep Foreigner fans happy that’s for sure. Lovers of Def Leppard look no further than Grand Design (Metal Heaven) who set out to create an album paying homage to the Mutt Lange era Def Leppard and they did in in style.

House Of Lords ‘Cartesian Dreams’ (Frontiers) is their best album since they reformed and harks back to ‘Demon’s Down’, hardly surprising as the co-writer on that album features on this new one.

For pure AOR try 101 South’s ‘No U Turns’ (AOR Heaven), this shows how AOR should be done. Bad Habbit (AOR Heaven) also produced a highly polished and enjoyable set of AOR/melodic rock tunes with some stunning ballads.

Covered Call came from nowhere to produce an album that is not only melodic hard rock but managed to add a couple of  moments of classy pop rock. Speaking of pop rock the masters returned with their best album since the 80’s, yes Cheap Trick ‘The Latest’ (Indie) is a delight with never a dull moment. This leads nicely into one of Cheap Trick’s biggest fans, Ginger and his band the Wildhearts released a real return to form with ‘Chutzpah!’ This has the band really firing on all six with catchy choruses, massive riffs and err some thrash metal.

Of the debut albums the Jokers really hit a chord with me and if you like 70’s Aerosmith and the Stones, in fact classic 70’s rock, this band will appeal to you. Draven also made a splash with another album steeped in classic rock influnences although they do have some more modern rock songs in their armoury. In a more melodic vein, Firenote give bands like Brother Firetribe and the Poodles a run for their money. A very accomplished debut ad looking forward to the next one already.

I do like a varied listening base and thanks to Bill Leslie over at the excellent Rock Of Ages I discovered Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy’s latest work, the Duckworth Lewis Method. It is all based around cricket and is simply wonderful – ‘Jiggery Pokery’ and ‘Test Match Special’ should be on everyone’s IPod/MP3 player.

One band whose last couple of releases I have not been that taken with are Dream Theater but their new album ‘Black Clouds And Silver Linings’ (Roadrunner) is one of their best. The musicianship is top notch as you’d expect but now the band have found their melody again rather than drift off into endless solos.  Staying prog the Sine Star Project sounds like Muse but they add their own melodic and weird spin on the music. IQ’s ‘Frequency’ (GEP) is another band back on peak form and if you have never tried an album by this band this is a recommended starting point. Lots of big production and lush musical arrangements, sheer bliss. Roswell Six ropes in a whole host of musical stars including John Payne (Ex-Asia), Erik Norlander and James LaBrie (Dream Theater) amongst others. Based on a bestselling fantasy novel series and it is great fun to listen to!

Giant are back!

Medlodic rock legends Giant release a new album early next year and they have announced their line-up. Joining original members David Huff (drums) and Mike Brignardello (bass) are vocalist Terry Brock (Strangeways/The Sign/Seventh Key) and former Winger guitarist John Roth. Dan Huff is still involved in the writing and production side. With Terry Brock on vocals this could well be a monster album!

10Q’s with MARTY PARIS

Guitarist Marty Paris is one half Paris Keeling (that’s vocalist Kelly Keeling of Baton Rogue fame)  who have just released ‘End Of The Ride’. An album well worth a listen. 

1. What are you currently up to? (recording, gigs, plans)

Right now I am in the studio working on a new album with the band Permanent Reverse. The line up includes Corky McClellan (Baton Rouge) Maxx Mann (Trans Siberian Orchestra) Greg Cerenzia and Mike Arrington. The music is progressive – rock – soul. Really cool stuff. And of course I’m promoting the new Paris Keeling album!

2. Could you take us through the songs on ‘End Of Ride’ (e.g. ideas behind the songs, songwriting process etc)?

‘Life’ is a song I wrote about a time in my life where I was looking for something and I didn’t know just what. I had an affair on my wife and it’s kind of an apology to her. ‘Morning Song’ is a song that Kelly brought to the album. He told me he wrote it while spending time in a temple in San Diego. I wrote ‘Tears of Heaven’ on September 11th 2001 – I knew a lot of people that worked at the World Trade Center. I can’t understand the thought processes of terrorists – so it just kind of came out with a lot of emotion. When we got in the studio to record it Kelly and Don added the brilliant chorus that was missing.

‘Color Blind’ was written on the spot at 3:00 AM in the morning one night Kelly and I were hanging out in the studio – pure magic! ‘End of Ride’ is three songs. Kelly brought the intro that he recorded in his studio as well as the ending. We wrote and recorded ‘Middle of the Road’ and then stitched it all together with the help of Erik Norlander. We brought in Corky McClellan (from Kelly’s band Baton Rouge) on drums and finished the track shortly after. That song was A LOT of work, but came out miraculously. ‘These Days’ was a song that Kelly worked on with George Lynch while touring with George Lynch. We wrote the lyrics for that one on a Saturday afternoon while completely sober – pretty ironic huh? It’s a message about addiction and where addiction leads.

‘I Learned From The Inside’ is a song that I recorded a couple of years before we started working on the album. It took nine guitar tracks to accomplish that one and it is one of my best instrumentals. I ended up licensing that one to ESPN – but they haven’t used it yet. ‘Free’ is a song idea Kelly brought to the project. We decided that it needed strings so I got Matt Goeke (my cello guru) to score the string parts and we recorded it in New York City on May 5th 2006 – coincidently the same day Kelly auditioned for TSO. We dedicated that one to the troops, and it is probably KK’s best vocal performance on the album. ‘She Was’ is a song I wrote for a movie soundtrack completely on spec. ‘I’ve Found’ is a Kelly and Don Dokken collaboration.

‘Head Straight’ came straight from Kelly’s head – does that make sense?? ‘Feel’ was a song that we considered on the first release. It’s all Kelly – I just scored and produced the cello tracks – one of my KK faves. I wrote and recorded ‘Alive’ as a tribute to all of us who have been able to do what we love to do – at any price. Al Pitrelli played lead guitar on that one and it is a favorite of mine. It goes over really well live.
 
3. How did you first hook-up with Kelly Keeling? 

I met Kelly in 2005 shortly after he recorded Furious George with Lynch. I heard the album and reached out to his manager. It was my first exposure to his unbelievable pipes.
 
4. Who decided on the cover of ELO’s ‘Telephone Line’? Did the band record any other cover versions?

No that’s our only cover. Kelly and I were drinking Grand Marnier one night after a show and I told him that we should do a cover of an old song that we both loved. And I swear that we simultaneously said Telephone Line. We recorded the piano that night and Kelly actually played the drums that night too. I recorded the synth later and we started tracking vocals separately. That song almost killed me as a producer. It took so many tracks to get that song right. But I think it was worth it.

Full interview now online at Get Ready To Rock!

10 Q’s with CARMINE APPICE

Drumming legend Carmine Appice is currently touring with his own drum show Slamm! plus going on the road with Vanilla Fudge and Cactus. His Guitar Zeus Project albums have just been re-released as well.

1. What are you currently up to? (recording, gigs, plans)
I’ve been doing gigs with my drum show slamm! 
http://www.slammusa.com

  2. How did the whole Guitar Zeus idea come about? How did you decide which guitarists to approach and how much freedom were they allowed in the song for their own ideas/soloing?
I GOT THE IDEA BECAUSE DRUMMERS NEVER GOT TO DO SOLO ALBUMS ..ALWAYS THE GUITAR PLAYERS AND SINGERS…SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO DO A GUITAR ALBUM BY A DRUMMER…IT WORKED..ONLY THE GUITARISTS WERE USED TO BRING ATTENTION TO GREAT SONGS, PLAYING AND EAR CANDY AS WELL AS GREAT SOLOS.
I HAD GUITARISTS I LIKED AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD DO IT. THEN AS WORD GOT AROUND ABOUT THE ALBUM. IT GOT EASIER. SOME PEOPLE CALLED ME. EACH GUITARIST PLAYED WHAT THEY WANTED TO…
 
3. The compilation is out now but will there be any future Guitar Zeus albums at some stage in the future?
DON’T KNOW AS THESE ALBUMS BOTH COST OVER $100,000  DOLLARS EACH. I WOULD NEED A BIG BUDGET FOR IT. LABELS DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY ANYMORE UNLESS YOUR A POP IDOL OR RAPPER !!

You can read the full interview here… http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions/carmine_appice.htm

GMT live

GMT – Bernie Torme, John McCoy and Robin Guy:

FRI 6 NOV 2009: THE GAFF CLUB, Holloway, London
382 Holloway Rd London, N7 6PN, Venue 020 76071555, thegaffclub@hotmail.co.uk,
Support: ACHILLA, CATFIGHT, BANGTOY
Info and Tickets from Venue, (text 07869249706 for personal delivery)
Online Tickets www.ticketweb.co.uk

SAT 7 NOV 2009: MUSIC LIVE, NEC, Birmingham
National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, B40 Venue 0121 780 4141
GMT Onstage @ 2 pm.
Info and Tickets www.musiclive.co.uk

SAT 14 NOV 2009: YARDBIRDS Grimsby,
Yardbirds Rock Club, Church Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN32 7DD Venue: 07771520374
Support: The Virgin Marys,
Info and Tickets www.myspace.com/yardbirdsrockclub

SUN 15 NOV 2009: The Tut N Shive Yeadon, Leeds,
The Tut N Shive, 11 Kirk Lane Yeadon Leeds, LS19 7 EP
Venue: 0113 250116052
Info www.myspace.com/thetutnshive

SAT 28 NOV 2009: THE DIAMOND, Ballymena, N.I.
Diamond Rock Club, Ahoghill, Ballymena, Antrim, Northern Ireland BT42 1JZ Venue 07989588931
Info and Tickets www.myspace.com/thediamondbar

THURS 3 DEC 2009: HARD ROCK HELL III, Prestatyn, North Wales
HRH III, Pontins, Prestatyn, North Wales, LL19 7LA
GMT headline HRHIII VIP Party Thursday 3 Dec 2009
Info and Tickets www.hardrockhell.com

Eloy return and the Faces reunion rumours rumble on…

German prog rockers Eloy return with their first new album in ten years. ‘Visionary’ is released via Laser’s Edge Records on January 12th. A band worthy of a place in any prog rock fans collection.

Rod Stewart has said he wants to reunite with the Faces next year as this on/off reunion rumbles on…

Peter Gabriel finally releases a new album due early next year. Looking forward to this one!

Sacred Heart’s new album ‘Darkness Falls’

SACRED HEART’s new album/CD “Darkness Falls” will be available for pre-order from MONDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2009.

Prices start at (UK) £10, (Europe / Scandinavia) €13 & USA / Rest Of World $17 – with postage & packing/shipping & handling INCLUDED, and….. …to be shipped – with EXCLUSIVE FREE PRE-ORDER GIFT!!! (Other SPECIAL OFFERS & prices will also be available!)

Features 17 tracks:

1. DOWN 2. BEST IN ME 3. LAY IT ON THE LINE 4. NO-ONE KNOWS (WAR) 5. TV MOVIE 6. WHAT IT TAKES 7. TOP OF THE CLASS 8. FOREVER 9. EVERYBODY 10. ON MY WAY 11. MUSIC MAN 12. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 13. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL AWAY

bonus track (the original 2004 demos): 14. LAY IT ON THE LINE* 15. WHAT IT TAKES* 16. FOREVER (acoustic)* 17. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL AWAY* *only available on CD – not as part of digital downloads (iTunes, AmazonMP3, Spotify etc)

Release date for “Darkness Falls” is MONDAY 7th DECEMBER 2009 (just in time for Christmas!) – you will receive your copy on or before this date! You will be able to pay/pre-order the album at www.sacredheartband.com from MONDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2009.

Listen to samples at www.myspace.com/sacredheartshakes

John McCoy (GILLAN/MAMMOTH/GMT) charity auctions

Signed Mammoth t-shirt…

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300359304899&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

and a sigend copy of his anthology CD…

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300359228311&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Both kindly donated by John McCoy (GILLAN/MAMMOTH/GMT) and all funds raised go to the RNIB.

Kiss debut in the US at no.2

Kiss made their highest ever US album debut at no. 2 after selling 108,000 copies of their new album ‘Sonic Boom’. Canadian easy listening  star Micheal Buble took the no. 1 spot. Having heard the Kiss album it is as good as the reviews are saying and one of their best for me (mind you I am not a big fan).

Journey’s ‘Revelations’ re-enters the charts at no. 63 whilst Steel Panther break the top 100 moving up to no.98

The new Europe is also very good and continues their recent sound of mixing classic rock with some modern rock twists. Good to see the keyboards get a bit more prominence again. But the album I can’t stop playing of late is the new Mastedon. Yes it maybe only John Elefante handling lead vocals but the songs are as good as the previous two albums and many sound like Kansas when the Elefante brothers were in the band.

Signed Harry James (THUNDER/MAGNUM) drumsticks

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300357432705&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Raising funds for the children’s hospice in Stoke, the Donna Louise Trust. Plus the second signed David Readman (PINK CREAM 69) CD also now online raising funds for the Parkinsons Disease Society.

More soon and as ever any contacts for signed items for charity auctions please let me know.

Kiss make UK album charts top 30

Kiss debut at no. 24 in the UK album charts, a stunning result for the band. Chris Rea’s ‘Best Of’ comes in at no. 8.

Classic rock bands having a ball in the Billboard 200

Kiss are expected to debut at no. 1 in the US album charts next week and this week Lynyrd Skynyrd debut at no. 18 and Foreigner make no.29. Excellent news for Foreigner whose last studio album ‘Mr. Moonlight’ didn’t fare too well.

Paramore are no.2 (they are a very young but very good US emo/punk band who made their name on the ‘Twilight’ movie soundtrack); the reformed Alice In Chains also made the top 10 and Steel Panther make their debut slightly lower down the chart at no. 123.

Govt. Mule ‘By A Thread’

Warren Haynes (The Dead, Allman Brothers Band) Govt. Mule are now amazingly releasing this their eigth studio album. One  line-up change with a new bassist Jorgen Carlsson joining Haynes, drummer Matt Abts and Danny Louis on guitar/Hammond/keys. If you like jam bands mixed with southern rock, a hint of 60’s psychedelia and blues rock then this album will be right up your street.

The blues rock stomper ’Broke Down On The Brazos’ starts the album off in fine style with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons guesting. This is a tune I am sure ZZ Top would have loved to have doen themselves. ’Railroad Boy’ highlights the band’s good use of harmonies on the choruses (like Widespread Panic at times) and this blues rock wouldn’t look out of place on a Free album. There is a ballad on here, ‘Frozen Fear’ that allows Warren Haynes to shine vocally as his guitar playing gets a very good run out throughout the album. Ther shortest song on the album ‘Gordon Jones’ is the most instant driven by a lovely Hammon organ refrain. ‘Monday Mourning Meltdown’ allows the band throw in all sorts of musical wonders from a bit of jazz rock through to some psychedelia.

Great album and one that will keep the band’s existing fans happy and hopefully rope in a few more. Classy playing, good songs and emotive vocals – what more do you want?

****1/2

Lynyrd Skynyrd ‘God And Guns’

Lynyrd Skynyrd keep on rolling despite personal tradegies, the latest being the passing of  original member and keyboards player Billy Powell and bass player Ean Evans, both earlier this year. In their place come the aptly named Peter Keys and Cry Of Love founding member Robert Kearns. This leaves Gary Rossington as last man standing of the band’s original line-up although Ricky Medlocke was in an early incarnation of the band before going on to enjoy success with Blackfoot. They also have a new label in the shape of Roadrunner’s heritage offshoot Loud & Proud (who also feature fellow 70’s survivors Kiss on their roster). John 5 also contributes guitar on the album.

The album starts off with the best song ‘Still Unbroken’, written by another sadly late band member Outlaws founder Hughie Thomasson. This is classic Skynyrd as the lyrics deal with overcoming life’s setbacks and still carrying on. They certainly dig out their Republican views on  the title track, a dig at the President Obama and ‘This Ain’t My America’. The lyrics may not still well some but will certainly hit a chord with the band’s core US audience in the southern states.  The band’s knack for a good story continues on the tale of a moonshine smuggler on ‘Floyd’, which Rob Zombie guests on and shows all the good things in the band including some top draw guitar solos.

‘Southern Ways’ and ‘Unwrite That Song’ see the band dip their toes once again into a country sound, but thankfully more Charlie Daniels Band than Dolly Parton! For some no nonsense rock try ‘Skynyrd Nation’, the band’s tribute to their fans and the triple guitar assualt really comes into its own on this one. There are however a few duds as there have been on all their albums since reforming back in the 80’s and this time around ‘Storm’  and ‘Little Thing Called You’ keep the skip button busy.

A solid album from the band, certainly one of their best since coming back but not the classic return to form some reviews would have you believe. For me a little more rock ‘n’ roll and a little less country would have been good.

***1/2

Jason Ritchie

Rick Wakeman & ELP reviews

RICK WAKEMAN ‘The Six Wives Of Henry VII Live At Hampton Court’ Eagle Rock (DVD 2009)

The DVD companion to the already released CD from the concert held earlier this year at Hampton Court. The big bonus on the DVD version is you get narrator Brian Blessed in his full, booming glory including doing a brief ‘Gordon’s alive’ from the cult film ‘Flash Gordon’ he starred in. That and the lightshow which looks stunning set against Hampton Court as a backdrop. What would have been good would be the ability maybe to have different camera angles as part of the bonus features as sometimes the camera shots arte too far away from the action on the stage

The set list is the whole six wives suite plus the piece on Henry VIII ‘Defender Of The Faith’ which never made the original album and two newly composed pieces to bookend the concert.

Extras wise you get an interesting and humorous interview with Rick Wakeman, complete with backstage tour of the rehearsals. That aside there are no other extras which is a missed opportunity as they could have had a brief history on Hampton Court and Henry VIII to set the scene, interviews with some of the band and backstage crew, etc. Nicely packaged, complete with a facsimile of the programme from the concerts and a lasting reminder of a unique concert.

****1/2

ELP ‘Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends’ Universal (2009)

Of the big four 70’s prog rock bands – ELP, Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd – ELP along with Genesis never really gelled with my musical tastes being to self-indulgent even for a prog rock band. But upon hearing this remastered version of the band’s live album recorded on their 1973/74 world tour I am more of a fan. Time has obviously been a great healer in this case, although Genesis still remains off my musical menu.

The first disc has the band’s shorter pieces including wonderful versions of ‘Hoedown’ and ‘Toccata’. ‘Take A Pebble’ includes ‘Luky Man’ one of the band’s best songs for me and shows the band aren’t all about displaying their undoubted musicianship through a series of endless solos.

Keith Emerson takes centre stage for the ‘Piano Improvisations’ on disc two although don’t go expecting gentle music all the way through as after all this is the man who regularly stabbed his keyboards on stage with knives! ‘Karn Evil 9’ is the other highlight and contains the immortal lines captured in the album’s title (and also used on BBC TV’s ‘Generation Game’ when it was revamped by ELP fan Jim Davidson).

For the fan this is of course remastered along with added essay on the band but perhaps adding a DVD of some live highlights would have made it a real ‘must have’ for fans.

****

Jason Ritchie

Reviews

URIAH HEEP ‘Celebration’ Ear Music (2009) www.edel.com

Uriah Heep celebrate 40 years with this release of re-recorded 70’s era classics plus two new songs. This is not the first time the band have re-recorded their older classics with Bernie Shaw at the mic having done so a few years ago for a now defunct record label. Guitarist Mick Box is the only original member although vocalist Bernie Shaw, keyboards player Phil Lanzon and bass player Trevor Bolder have all clocked up over twenty years each in the band.

Turning to the new songs first both follow the sound of their last album having a distinct prog leaning and a definate hark back to the band’s 70’s sound. ‘Only Human’ is a very strong and fits nicely in with the 70’s songs. ‘Corridors Of Madness’ is not too bad but is not a patch on the classics. Bernie Shaw and Phil Lanzon on Hammond organ are the two real stars of the re-recorded songs as they are both very high in the mix with Lanzon’s pounding organ riffs driving along ‘Easy Livin’ and ‘Gypsy’. The version of ‘Stealin’ is stunning and the famous Heep choir really comes to life on this song, one of my personal favourates as it encompases everything the band are good at. Some fans may have wanted the originals in a compilation but to be honest this band like fellow 70’s rockers Nazareth have been done to death in the compilations sector.

The band’s idea to revisit the songs that made the band is a much more rewarding idea and listen. Shame they didn’t tackle a few 80’s songs from the Pete Goalby era though. Hopefully this will win them a few new fans.

****1/2

PUGWASH ‘Giddy’ Ape House Ltd (2009) www.pugwashtheband.com

Pugwash are the brainchild of Thomas Walsh who can be heard on the rather excellent Duckworth Lewis Method album that features Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy. This CD gathers together tracks from albums released in his native Ireland plus two new songs of the band’s new album due early next year.

The songs on here feature some lovely pop rock melodies that have hints of the Divine Comedy, Jackdaw 4, Lightning Seeds and XTC, the latter not so surprising as XTC’s Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory guest on a couple of tunes plus this is Andy Partridge’s label. ‘It’s Nice To Be Nice’ is a good a pop tune as you will hear with a Beachboys approved chorus. ‘Cluster Bomb’ wraps a serious lyric in a sweet pop tune and ‘1lb Chocs’ would be a hit if played on the radio. A couple of songs lack the classy touch of the rest of the album but even these are still easy on the ear.

What a great discovery this band is and along with the Duckworth Lewis Method album will satisfy lovers of high quality pop rock music.

****1/2

KYLE VINCENT ‘Where You Are’ Song Tree Records (2009)

Kyle Vincent may not be known to many music fans, which in itself is a damn shame but with his new album I am sure he will pick up many new listeners. If you have a liking for well crafted and produced soft rock/pop/AOR then this album will delight you from start to finish. Bar the bass and drums everything else on here is played by Kyle and you can but marvel at the arrangements on some of the songs like ‘Petals Of Peace’, which is so busy musically you’d swear a whole host of musicians were involved. ‘It’s Gonna Be A Great Day’ is a perfect pop song, breezy chorus and damn catchy, streets ahead of Ben Folds any day of the week. Given some airplay this would be a shoe in summer hit single. ‘Emily Standing’ is the only co-write on the album with Parthenon Huxley, an accomplished solo artist in his own right plus being a former member of ELO Part II/Orkestra (current ELO Part II/Orkestra drummer Gordon Townsend guests on this song). Again a lovely melody underpins a divine pop song. See you don’t need these manufactured boy bands or solo girl singers with attitude, that’s not pop or melody this is. ‘It’s A Lonely World’ reminded me of XTC around the time of their ‘Oranges and Lemons’ album, cracking stuff.

Kyle adds some very tasty sax playing on a few songs as well, making for a 70’s US AOR radio feel, which is reinforced by the CD having side one and side two listed just like the old records did. Hard to pick out good songs as to be honest they all are and if you enjoy artists like Ben Lee, Ben Folds and 70’s AOR/soft rock this album should be top of your shopping list.

****1/2

Mike Peters & the Alarm UK tour dates

A great live band well worth seeing if you get the chance…

Wed 25 Nov The Glee Club Cardiff
Thu 26 Nov The Plug Sheffield
Fri 27 Nov (The Alarm + The Beat) Manchester
Sat 28 Nov O2 Academy Newcastle
Sun 29 Nov ABC Glasgow
Tue 1 Dec The Duchess York
Wed 2 Dec JB’s Dudley
Thu 3 Dec The Junction Cambridge
Fri 4 Dec The Brook Southampton
Sun 6 Dec Leisure Centre Ebbw Vale

AC/DC box set ‘Backtracks’ out on Nov 10th

More at www.melodicrock.com

Deluxe Collector’s Limited Edition Features 3 CDs of Live & Studio Rarities, 2 DVDS Including the Long-Awaited “Family Jewels Disc 3,” A Vinyl LP of Studio Collectibles, A Coffee Table Book, Facsimiles of Authentic Memorabilia, Fine Art Lithographs & More Boxed In An AC/DC Working Guitar Amplifier – Available Exclusively Through Band’s Website.

Standard Edition Includes 2 CDs of Studio & Live Rarities & “Family Jewels 3″ DVD Plus Bonus Videos.

CD1 [Studio Rarities]
1. High Voltage (Original Australian Full Edit) 2. Stick Around 3. Love Song 4. It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll) (Original Australian Full Edit) 5. Rocker (Original Australian Full Edit) 6. Fling Thing 7. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Original Australian Full Edit) 8. Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Around To Be A Millionaire) (Original Australian Full Edit) 9. R.I.P. (Rock In Peace) 10. Carry Me Home 11. Crabsody In Blue 12. Cold Hearted Man 13. Who Made Who – 12” extended mix 14. Snake Eye 15. Borrowed Time 16. Down On The Borderline 17. Big Gun 18. Cyberspace.

CDs 2-3 [Live B-Sides]
CD 2: 1. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Sydney Festival 1/30/77) 2. Dog Eat Dog (Apollo 4/30/78) 3. Live Wire (Hammersmith Odeon 11/2/79) 4. Shot Down In Flames (Hammersmith Odeon 11/2/79) 5. Back In Black (Landover, MD 12/21/81) 6. T.N.T. (Landover, MD 12/21/81) 7. Let There Be Rock (Landover, MD 12/21/81) 8. Guns For Hire (Detroit, MI 11/18/83) 9. Sin City (Detroit, MI 11/18/83) 10. Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (Detroit, MI 11/18/83) 11. This House Is On Fire (Detroit, MI 11/18/83) 12. You Shook Me All Night Long (Detroit, MI 11/18/83) 13. Jailbreak (Dallas, TX 10/12/85) 14. Shoot To Thrill (Donington Park, 8/17/91) 15. Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be (Donington Park 8/17/91).
CD 3: 1. High Voltage (Donington Park 8/17/91) 2. Hells Bells (Donington Park 8/17/91) 3. Whole Lotta Rosie (Donington Park 8/17/91) 4. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Donington Park 8/17/91) 5. Highway To Hell (Moscow 9/28/91) 6. Back In Black (Moscow 9/28/91) 7. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (Moscow 9/28/91) 8. Ballbreaker (Madrid 7/10/96) 9. Hard As A Rock (Madrid 7/10/96) 10. Dog Eat Dog (Madrid 7/10/96) 11. Hail Caesar (Madrid 7/10/96) 12. Whole Lotta Rosie (Madrid 7/10/96) 13. You Shook Me All Night Long (Madrid 7/10/96) 14. Safe In New York City (Phoenix, AZ 9/13/2000)
LP -
Side A: Stick Around, Love Song, Fling Thing, R.I.P. (Rock In Peace), Carry Me Home, Crabsody In Blue. Side B: Cold Hearted Man, Snake Eye, Borrowed Time, Down On The Borderline, Big Gun, Cyberspace
DVD 1 “Family Jewels Disc Three” Videos: Big Gun, Hard As A Rock, Hail Caesar, Cover You In Oil, Stiff Upper Lip, Satellite Blues, Safe In New York City, Rock N Roll Train, Anything Goes
Bonus Videos: Jailbreak, It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll), Highway To Hell, You Shook Me All Night Long, Guns For Hire, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (LIVE Album Promo), Highway To Hell (LIVE Album Promo), Bonus Features: The Making Of Hard As A Rock / The Making Of Rock N Roll Train
DVD 2 “Live At The Circus Krone” Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be, Back In Black, Stiff Upper Lip, Shoot to Thrill, Thunderstruck, Rock N Roll Damnation, What’s Next To The Moon, Hard As A Rock, Bad Boy Boogie, The Jack, If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It), Hells Bells, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Rock N Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution, T.N.T., Let There Be Rock, Highway To Hell, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You), Whole Lotta Rosie

 

The Faces return for one night only and more from Dev…

The Faces are reforming for a charity event but without Rod Stewart. Guitarist Ronnie Wood, drummer Kenney Jones and keyboard player Ian McLagan will be joined by former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman (replacing the late Ronnie Lane) for a charity show at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 25. This is for the charity event PRS For Music Members Benevolent Fund. A host of special guests will help out on vocals.

The Devin Townsend Project releases a new album ‘Addicted’ through Inside Out in mid-November. Townsend shares the vocals with former Gathering singer Anneke van Giersbergen. This is the second part of a trilogy and promises to be more up-tempo than the first release which was almost a chill out album!

GMT tour dates and a REO Christmas album…

GMT alias Bernie Torme, Robin Guy and John McCoy play a few dates in Nov & Dec. Great band and I heartily recommend their two albums to any fan of hard rock with a punk edge.
November
6th London Holloway Gaff
7th Birmingham NEC Music Live
14th Grimsby Yardbirds
28th Ballymena Diamond Rock Club
December
3rd Prestatyn Hard Rock Hell III VIP Party

REO Speedwagon release a Christmas album on 27th Oct entitled ‘Not So Silent Night’. Rob Halford of Judas Priest fame releases a seasonal album as well under his Halford banner. Blimey, first it was cover albums being all the rage now its Christmas albums! I will doubtless get both although I fear the REO one could drown in a sea of ballads…hopefully I am wrong though.

But the band for seasonal rock has to be the Trans-Siberian Orchestra who finally release their third studio album ‘Night Castle’ on Oct 27th. This band are massive in the US, so much so they have two verisons of the band touring the west and east coasts at the same time. I really would love them to come and play a few European shows.

Keyboard player to the stars, Eric Ragno, will be joining White Sister for their appearance at this year’s Firefest in Nottingham. White Sister’s ‘Fashion By Passion’ is a ‘must have’ for lovers of 80’s pomp/melodic rock.

Cack band name but great line-up W.E.T. release their debut album via Frontiers on 6th Nov. It features singer/songwriter Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman); guitarist/songwriter Erik Martensson (Eclipse) and keyboardist Robert Sall (Work Of Art) . And of this man likes it…

“W.E.T. might just be the perfect balance of power and melody, emotion and attitude. A dream line-up that really delivers their very best. This is a stunner!” – Andrew McNeice (melodicrock.com)

…then I am pretty sure I will

EDEN’S CURSE support ALESTORM in December

Melodic metal band Eden’s Curse support Alestorm. Not sure about Alestorm but Eden’s Curse are well worth catching live!

6/12/09 Moho Live Manchester
7/12/09 The Corporation Sheffield
8/12/09 The Cathouse Glasgow
9/12/09 JB’s Dudley Englnd Alestorm TBA
10/12/09 Rock City Nottingham
11/12/09 Central Station Wrexham

Steve Williams last man standing with PowerQuest

Blimey my fave power metal band Power Quest are now down to keyboards wizard/songwriter Steve Williams but he has a new line-up ready to be announced next Monday (28th Sep) and it will be a UK based one. That must have been a nightmare for live gigs previously the fact that most of your band are Italian and have to fly in for gigs. Still the Quest must go on and I am even more eagerly awaiting the new line-up and fifth album…

Oh, oh Paul Rodgers plays a one off London gig at the Hammersmith Apollo on Nov 6th – definately one to try and get along to. That man has such a great voice he could sing his weekly shopping list and I’d be happy

Sadly though Dan Reed has had to postpone his planned London gig on Nov 5th to Mar 5th due to band logistics and the sad passing of his mother.

Finally one album that’s been getting a few spins is the upcoming one from Grand Design. They feature members of Wolf (won’t hold that against them!) but the music is pure Mutt Lange era Def Leppard. Great stuff! Its out in October through Metal Heaven.

New albums worth a listen…

Been awhile since I did one of these round-ups and there are some cracking new albums out there…

First up Cheap Trick whose latest album, ‘The Latest’ is a real return to their pop rock genius. Their last album ‘Rockford’ was good after a few lacklustre releases but this new one is even better.

Willie Nile may not be a household name but his new album is one for lovers of singer/songwriters who pen a decent tune and lyric. The Wildhearts are definately back on form with ‘Chutzpah!’ which sees Ginger & co. veer from pop rock bliss through to almost thrash/extreme metal in some parts.

Uriah Heep have re-recorded some Byron era classics along with two new songs to mark the band’s 40th anniversary. They have re-recorded their 70’s output before for a now defunct label as the band didn’t own their songs and hence the only way to get any royalties was to re-record their classics. This new set is good, very much led by the Hammond organ playing of Phil Lanzon and vocalist Bernie Shaw, the longest serving vocalist in the band.

Looking forward to hearing the new ones from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner and Europe. I might even be tempted to grab the new Kiss album ‘Sonic Boom’ after all the rave reviews it has been getting and that’s saying something as the last Kiss album I liked was ‘Music From The Elder’

Two new albums to look forward to…

Keel return in early 2010 with ‘Streets Of Rock ‘N’ Roll’ released via Frontiers. They were maybe lost in the 80’s hair metal storm but their albums have stood the test of time more so than similar bands of that era. Check out Ron Keel’s more country rock band Iron Horse as well.

Next up Serpentine who feature the awesome vocal talents of Tony Mills (Shy/TNT) and they have a new album ready to go once they get a label. Check them out at www.myspace.com/planetserpentine