THE QUIREBOYS - Twisted Love EP (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock

Label - Off Yer Rocka Recordings

Track listing:

01 - Twisted Love (Radio Edit)*
02 - Win Some, Lose Some *
03 - Mayfair (Live) *
04 - I Love This Dirty Town (Live) *
05 - Twisted Love (Full Length Bonus Version)
* non album tracks

The Quireboys are back stronger than ever, as judging the quality of this advanced EP the band feels energetic 'n rockin'.
Title track 'Twisted Love' released as the lead single from the forthcoming new album, Twistid Love (due sept 10th) sees guitar players Paul Guerin, Guy Griffin and frontman Spike joining forces to deliver one of the darkest Quireboys anthems to date. Featuring the sultry backing vocals of blues rock chanteuse Lynne Jackaman it's a song that shimmers from start to finish.  'Win Some, Lose Some' is a swaggering rocker reminiscent of early Aerosmith at times. This EP also gives us live renditions of 'Mayfair' and 'I Love This Dirty Town' which are dominated by the driving guitars of Guerin/Griffin. Full of energy and attitude.

The last track is a full length version of 'Twisted Love', which gives a real indication of what to expect from the forthcoming album.

Great to see the guys really hitting top form!

Rating: 10/10

MASSIVE WAGONS - Welcome To The World (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock

Label - Off Yer Rocka Recordings

Track listing:

01 - Nails
02 - Tokyo
03 - Welcome To The World
04 - Ratio
05 - Shit, Sweat Death,
06 - The Day We Fell
07 - Fighting Jack
08 - Jodie
09 - Aeroplane
10 - Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum

Ok so this one has been out a little while now, but hey better late than never hey? British rockers Massive Wagons return with their third album in the form of Welcome to the World, and what an album it is!

The album opens with the blistering  'Nails', which throws the listener straight into the deep end of full steam ahead fast-paced Rock ‘n’ Roll, sometimes bringing to mind Rob Zombie (vocally at least!). It’s an awesome track which doesn’t wait around for you to get comfortable, and instead demonstrates pure unadulterated attitude. Next up is the albums lead single, 'Tokyo', which has a more commercial edge to it, yet still rocks like a mutha fucker.Title track 'Welcome To The World 'is a really intriguing song, and really well-written,  with a mix of up-beat verses alongside bludgeoning riffs and mixed signal lyrics. Next up is 'Ratio', which sounds very similar to the intro to Primal Scream by Motley Crue, with its echoing drum beat and bass line opening. We then have 'Shit, Sweat, Death', which is laced with different stylings, from the Bluesy slide guitar intro that stride's into what I’d describe an adrenalin fuelled fast-paced hard rocker!

'The Day We Fell' was a really unexpected addition to the album, simply based on its incorporation of Pirate Metal (not too heavy, mind you) into their already unique style. A really great song, especially after the acoustic intro fools you into thinking that you have stumbled upon a ballad!

'Fighting Jack' follows with its squealing guitar intro, progressive guitar sequences, and finally the vocals, which follow the same arrangement as Still Of The Night by Whitesnake,

'Jodie' is up next, a great melodic rocker / ballad that really slows the albums tempo down a little allowing the listener to catch their breath a little. 'Aeroplane' follows, which really is the albums big ballad, with its great singalong chorus, a great song. the album closes out with 'Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum' which is a great fun rocking track!

Welcome to the World is a great rock album from a very promising British rock band

Very, very Highly Recommended!!!

Rating: 10/10

The Quireboys - St Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock

Label - Off Yer Rocka

 

Track listing:

CD1 - St. Cecilia And The Gypsy Soul: 01. Gracie B
02. Land Of My Father
03. St Cecilia
04. The Promise
05. Can’t Hide It Anymore
06. Out Of Your Mind
07. The Hurting Kind
08. Adaline
09. The Best Are Not Forgotten
10. Why Did It Take So Long

CD2 - Halfpenny Dancer (Acoustic):
01. There She Goes Again
02. Devil Of A Man
03. Love To Love
04. Mona Lisa Smiled
05. I Can’t Stop Loving You
06. Roses & Rings
07. Baby It’s You
08. Hello
09. Pretty Girls
10. He’ll Have To Go
11. Long Time Comin’
12. Hates To Please
13. King Of New York

CD3 - Halfpenny Live (Part I):
01. There She Goes Again
02. Devil Of A Man
03. Mona Lisa Smiled
04. Love To Love
05. Roses & Rings
06. Pretty Girls
07. Can’t Stop Loving You
08. One For The Road
09. Hello

CD4 - Halfpenny Live (Part II):
01. Hates To Please
02. Long Time Comin’
03. Have A Drink With Me
04. Late Night Saturday Call
05. Misled
06. I Love This Dirty Town
07. 7 O clock
08. I Don t Love You Anymore
 

The Quireboys are back with the release of their ninth album todate in the form of St Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul. Inspired by the success of 2009's critically acclaimed acoustic album "Halfpenny Dancer" (out of print), the band entered Swedish Lemon Studios fully intending to create something with that atmosphere. However, an Aladdin's Cave of intriguing instruments and eerie samples inspired The Quireboys to push the boundaries and shift the focus.
"The plan was always to record some new acoustic songs and rework some originals," says Spike. "But the plan changed. There was something about that place — the vibe got better and better and we just went with the flow."
The Quireboys flew home with 10 new songs and a brand new sound. "St. Cecilia And The Gypsy Soul" the result, packaged alongside "Halfpenny Dancer" — finally available again — and two discs covering the previously unreleased 2010 "Halfpenny Dancer" live show featuring fiddles, pedal steel, mandolin, banjo and more.
"This side of the band needs to heard," added Spike. "And we'll be taking the new music out on the road with our most intimate tour yet."
Well let's start with CD 1, the main "St. Cecilia And The Gypsy Soul". It's exactly how a Quireboys album should be. It’s succinct. No song and indeed, the album as a whole, outstays its welcome.
The Quireboys are one of the few bands who don't need to deviate from their blueprint of constructing a song and every time produces something that’s fresh and unmistakeably theirs.
Album opener “Gracie B” is hauntingly dark with the inimitable swagger which infuses many of their previous songs. There’s a hint of venom and anger punctuating the lyrics. However, it is the band dropped a couple of gears as opposed to their raucous selves.

Meanwhile with songs like “Land of my Father” and “St. Cecilia”, it’s the Quireboys doing what no other band quite manages: good time rock and roll. Just the introduction to the former will produce a manic grin and you’ll be moving to the melody before you realise it.
However, much of the album has a laid-back attitude with only a few upbeat numbers. While the band does stick to their rootsy, self-styled gypsy rock and roll, this brings something fresh to the table and is a welcome change. Ballads or heavier songs, the band have always flourished in both areas.
Spike’s voice, as always, is on top form. Potentially better than it was thirty years ago and aging far better than others. Growling and yelping, you can’t help but picture his infectious grin. It speaks volumes to the infectious nature of these songs and how well they’re written that just after a couple of listens, you’ll be singing with Spike, word for word.

 

"Halfpenny Dancer" is a very nice addition to this release, a warm acoustic studio recording with lots of feeling.
Much of it will be familiar to fans, with some of their better known songs given a fresh interpretation. If you’re a fan, you may already have Halfpenny Dancer but if not, it’s a welcome addition to your collection, breathing new life into old favourites.
Also in the package is "Halfpenny Live, containing many of the songs from Halfpenny Dancer whilst adding in some of their best-known songs and deep cuts such as “Hates to Please” and performed to an audience.
"St. Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul" is The Quireboys on unmistakeable fine form.
Listening the new record, the previous acoustic CD, and the live show, you got the feeling that the band, like a fine wine - and a literary cliché - is getting better with age. Like so much on the previous album, many of these tracks are good enough to be radio hits if someone would only give them airplay.

 

Rating - 9/10

 

 

The Quireboys - Black Eyed Son (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock

Label - Off Yer Rocka

Track listing:

01 - Troublemaker (Black Eyed Son)

02 - What Do You Want From Me?

03 - Julieanne

04 - Double Dealin'

05 - Stubborn Kinda Heart

06 - Lullaby of London Town

07 - The Messenger

08 - You Never Can Tell

09 - Mothers Ruin

10 - Monte Cassino (Lady Lane)

THE QUIREBOYS are celebrating their three decades as band with a brand new record. Following hot on the heels of last year's critically acclaimed 'Beautiful Curse' - the band's biggest-selling record since their early '90s heyday - comes "Black Eyed Sons", an album produced by the legendary Chris Tsangarides that represents yet another career high for the British act.
Now, many an album rushed out quickly after a successful record's release smacks of lesser quality product, almost as if the new material has been resurrected from the studio floor, polished, and passed off as the next big thing. Think Alice Cooper's 'Dragontown' flop after the might of 'Brutal Planet'.
Not so The Quireboys, though: no, this new album staggers to its own two feet and proudly holds its own.
"Troublemaker (Black Eyed Son)" is a very promising start, the band at their feistiest, all needling guitars and crashing beats – the usual bonhomie swapped for something a little more malicious. A surefire future live favourite.
Quality control remains high over the next two tracks, both "What Do You Want From Me" (with fabulous work from Keith Weir on keys) and "Julianne" full of the sort of bittersweet bar room lamentations this band can do so well.
There's a bluesier feel to some of the material too: "Double Dealin", for example, ditching the Roll and simply revelling in seventies Classic Rock. That's not to say that the staples of the band's sound have shifted beyond recognition - this is a swerve, a side-step towards, you'd hope, longevity.
The slower tunes, just made for Spike's voice, and the frontman sounds great here; "Stubborn Kinda Heart", "The Messenger" and "Mothers Ruin", and they come accompanied by ballsier, foot-stomping tunes that you just can't keep still to when listening.
"Lullaby of London Town" is, again, a bluesy workout, but this time with some funky rhythms over the tale of metropolitan glamour and squalor, and is probably the soundtrack to the band's life.
Then "You Never Can Tell", with its recycled riff par excellence, is sure to join the opening cut in the live set.
Messrs Gray and Griffin have penned an impressive set of tunes once again, guitarist Guerin afforded the solitary co-writing credit for closing track, the subtle "Monte Cassino (Lady Lane)".
"Black Eyed Sons" is another strong Classic Rock record from The Quireboys.
Spike's voice will always lend itself to a young Rod Stewart / Faces comparisons, and songs like "Julieanne" are hardly going to be your best defence in any argument against, but there's a subtle shift that, if anything, simply exaggerates the feeling that the band, like a fine wine and a literary cliché, is getting better with age.
Like so much on the previous album, many of these tracks are good enough to be radio hits if someone would only give them airplay. These guys should be huge, simplez!

Highly Recommended.

Rating 9/10