Lawson - Perspective (2016)

Genre - Pop / Rock

Label - Polydor Group

Track listing:

01. Perspective (Intro)
02. We Are The Fire
03. Money
04. Where My Love Goes
05. Rio
06. When I’m Old
07. Only Water
08. Lion’s Den
09. Roads
10. I Look Anyway
11. Used To Be Us
12. Love & War

Lawson is an English pop rock band that originated in England, United Kingdom, consisting of Andy Brown (guitar, lead vocals), Ryan Fletcher (bass guitar, backing vocals), Joel Peat (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Adam Pitts (drums).
The band's debut album "Chapman Square", was released on 22 October 2012 and reached number three on the UK Albums Chart. To date, the band have achieved six UK top 20 hit singles. They are named after Liverpool-based surgeon Dr. David Lawson who performed life-saving surgery on Brown.
But how do they sound? Well to be fair not half bad if this new album is anything to go by. Think Thunder's popier moment's, Little Angels, Skin, Dan Reed Network, Kings Of Leon,  etc and get an idea.
Lawson produce a slick melodic pop/rock type of music, filled with texture and dynamics and never dull sterile or lifeless. Andy Brown's vocals are a perfect fit for the bands blend of pop rock managing to add that little something etc. to some very, very well written songs. "When I'm Old" is a lot more up-tempo than its title may suggest, whilst "Only Water" is a wonderful ballad with its piano lead and strings. "Lion's Den" is a great song, "I Look Away" is another well crafted ballad whilst "Love & War" is simply just a wonderful song.
Whilst Perspective may not be the type of music that I would usually listen too, a little more pop that rock for me, I have to say that every single track on offer here is very well crafted and executed perfectly.
Lawson ae a great band, and quite possibly the UK's answer / equivalent to The Kings Of Leon, plus Perspective is damn fine album ta boot!

Rating: 9/10

Bryan Adams - Get Up (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock / Melodic Rock / AOR

Label - Polydor

Track listing:

01 - You Belong To Me
02 - Go Down Rockin'
03 - We Did It All
04 - That's Rock And Roll
05 - Don't Even Try
06 - Do What Ya Gotta Do
07 - Thunderbolt
08 - Yesterday Was Just A Dream
09 - Brand New Day
10 - Don't Even Try (Acoustic)
11 - We Did It All (Acoustic)
12 - You Belong To Me (Acoustic)
13 - Brand New Day (Acoustic)

The following review is taken off line, but instead of repeating or trying to paraphrase it, I have chosen to reproduce it here as I agree whole heartedly with its sentiments. All credit to the original reviewer!

"Multi-platinum Canadian BRYAN ADAMS long-awaited upcoming 13th studio album, produced by Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra fame, will be titled "Get Up". Due on October 16 in some countries (and at the end of the month in North America), the project was co-written with Adams’ long-time collaborator Jim Vallance, co-maker of his biggest hits.
Of all the skills in his repertoire, perhaps the most effective is Bryan Adams’ ability to keep things similar while never allowing them to become samey. There is a distinctly unique element to his sound – one that is quintessentially Adams-esque – but he is unafraid to alter his sonic signature in increasingly inventive ways.
He is also very clever to permeate the producer's style (always chosen by Adams) on every album. It happened in the past with Bob Clearmountain or Mutt Lange when shaped the sound in a Def Leppard vein.
It's no different now with Jeff Lynne; "Get Up" must be Bryan Adams 'most classic rock' album from his career.
The new songs in "Get Up" have all the hallmarks of the Adams sound: relatable, down-to-earth lyrics, Adams’ whiskey-and-honey tones and some energetic, infectious guitar work. But despite these recognisable elements, it’s not Adams covering Adams, or trying to cash in on the hits of the past.
"Get Up" is a solid collection of well crafted Rock songs, from the uptempo tracks such as lead song "Brand New Day", "That's Rock And Roll", "You Belong To Me" and "Thunderbolt," to the gentler tracks such as "Don't Even Try" and "We Did It All," plus the 4 Adams-produced acoustic versions, highlighting his unique voice and depth.
There is something immediately forward-thinking about the release: it sees Adams combining rock and roll in its purest form with the updated pop conventions of the present, creating a hybrid of past, present and future that immediately gratifies, and even thrills. Fortunately, there's no electronics here or modern touches, everything in "Get Up" is about Rock.
Adams may well be one of the most underappreciated rock&pop stars we have at the moment. He is a consummate professional, a fearless risk-taker, and a distinctive voice in a sea of imitators.
He is resolutely his own artist, and as a timely reminder of his many skills "Get Up" is a triumph."

Well Worth Checking Out!

Rating - 8/10

The Almighty - Soul Destruction (Re-F#@kin' Issue) (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock

Label - Spinefarm Records

Track listing:

Disc 1 - Soul Destruction

01 - Crucify

02 - Free 'N' Easy

03 - Joy Bang One Time

04 - Love Religion

05 - Bandage Knees

06 - Praying To The Red Light

07 -Sin Against The Light

08 - Little Lost Sometimes

09 - Devil's Toy

10 - What More Do You Want

11 - Hell To Pay

12 - Loaded

Disc 2 - Bonus Tracks

01 - Free 'N' Easy (7" Edit)

02 - Bodies (Sex Pistols Cover) (B-side)

03 - Hell To Pay (Acoustic Version) (B-side)

04 - Devils Toy (7" Edit)

05 - Bad Temptation (B-side)

06 - Loaded (Live UK 1991)

07 - Little Lost Sometimes (Radio Edit)

08 - Wild Road To Satisfaction (B-side)

09 - Crucify (Live UK 1991)

10 - Detroit (Live UK 1991)

Here we have the re-fuckin' issued version of The Almighty's second album, Soul Destruction. This album saw the band heading in a slightly more polished commercial direction, thanks in part to the albums producer, Andy Taylor (Thunder, Duran Duran), which sounds even better with the excellent remastering treatment that it has received thanks to Spinefarm Records.
Coupled together with the original album, that contains many songs that would become firm fan favourites, such as Crucify, Free 'N' Easy, Devil's Toy, Sin Against The Light and Little Lost Sometimes, is yet again a bonus disc. This bonus disc contains all of the relevant B-sides etc that are appropriate to this album. These include 7" editions of Free 'N' Easy, Devil' Toy  Little Lost Sometimes and the bands bruising rendition of the Sex Pistols classic Bodies. We also get other b-sides such as  Bad Temptation and Wild road To Satisfaction together with the acoustic version of Hell To Pay and a few live tracks.
Again the packaging contains some excellent liner notes, once again written by Malcolm Dome, together with some great shots of period interviews and reviews.

Once again this is a great release, representing a great band in great form with an album that should have propelled them on to mega stardom.

Very Highly Recommended

Rating 10/10

The Almighty - Blood Fire & Love (Re-F##kin' Issue) 2015

 

Genre - Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

Label - Spinefarm Records

 

Disc 1 (Blood, Fire & Love)

01 - Resurrection Mutha

02 - Destroyed

03 - Wild & Wonderful

04 - Blood, Fire & Love

05 - Gift Horse

06 - You've Gone Wild

07 - Lay Down The Law

08 - Power

09 - Full Force Lovin' Machine

10 - Detroit

11 - New Love Sensation

 

Disc 2 (Blood, Fire & Live)

01 - Full Force Lovin' Machine

02 - You've Gone Wild

03 - Lay Down The Law

04 - Blood, Fire & Love

05 - Destroyed

06 - Wild & Wonderful

07 - Resurrection Mutha

08 - You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet

 

Disc 3 (Bonus Tracks)

01 - Destroyed (Demo B-side)

02 - Lay Down The Law (Demo B-side)

03 - Full Force Lovin' Machine (Demo B-side)

04 - Destroyed (Radio Version)

05 - Love Me To Death (B-side)

06 - Blood, Fire & Love (Metal Version)

07 - Wild & Wonderful (Live B-side)

08 - Lay Down The Law (Live B-side)

09 - Power (Killer Watt Mix)

10 - Power (Live B-side)

11 - Power (Dub Mix)

12 - Thunderbird (B-side)

13 - Good God Almighty (B-side)

14 - Power (Friday Rock Show Session)

15 - Wild & Wonderful (Friday Rock Show Session)

16 - Destroyed (Friday Rock Show Session)

17 - Thunderbird (Friday Rock Show Session)

Before his embarking upon a solo carear and fronting  bands such as Thin Lizzy and Black Star Rider's, Ricky Warwick was the lead vocalist and chief song writer of a little UK band, modestly calling themselves The Almighty, who are now reissuing their back catalogue through Spinefarm Records.
Now there are reissue's, and then there are Re-Fuckin' issues! Those great people at Spinefarm Records have just reissued the first two albums from 1990's legendary rocker's The Almighty. What can I say, This the lovingly remastered, (seriously this album sounds awesome!) and complete with great liner notes by Malcolm Dome!
As I have already said the remastering is excellent, really capturing the raw power and energy of the band, allowing us to re-live those moments of hearing the band in all of their glory as they burst onto the UK (and world wide) rock scene back in the late 80's / early 90's. Blood , Fire & Love was a stunning debut album, and hear we get to hear it in all of its glory, together with a remastered edition of the live EP, Blood, Fire & Live and a bonus disc that collects together the various single B-sides and Radio Sessions appropriate to this release. Although there does appear to be one emission, that being the track Wild Angel, that was released as a b-side to Wild & Wonderful together with Thunderbird and Good God Almighty.
Its great to see and hear songs like Thunderbird, Good God Almighty and the long sort after Love Me To Death on CD after all these years, without them being poor quality vinyl rips, and by God do they sound good!

This is a great place to start for anyone interested in checking out the early work of Mr Warwick, (why not as this is where it all began!) and a great opportunity for fans to update their collection.
This could very well prove to be my favourite release of the year!

Very, Very Highly recommended!

Rating - 10/10