THE Quireboys - Twisted Love (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock

Label - Off Yer Rocka Recordings

Track listing:

01 - Torn & Frayed
02 - Ghost Train
03 - Killing Time
04 - Twisted Love [Album Version]
05 - Breaking Rocks
06 - Gracie B (Part II)
07 - Life's a Bitch
08 - Stroll On
09 - Shotgun Way
10 - Midnight Collective

The Quireboys return with their tenth studio album in the form of Twisted Love, once again opting to record in the Swedish town of Klippan, where they recorded the previous CD and again  choosing to produce it themselves along with the aid of Martin Ekelund.
One of the first things that becomes evident upon listening to Twisted Love is that despite there only being two original members in the band,  front man Spike (Jonathan Gray) and guitarist Guy Griffin, there is a focus and chemistry that really brings the best out of the guys. Boasting a line-up which has been in place since 2013, there’s no denying that it’s benefiting them massively, you can see it in their live shows too. It’s strengthening them and allowing them to turn in some of their best songs of their career.
Songs like “Stroll On” and “Shotgun Way” sound like they could have come from their early '90s efforts. Meanwhile, tracks such as “Ghost Train” and “Breaking Rocks” sound much more akin to the more modern sensibilities of recent albums. But all of them are dripping in that classic Quireboys sound!
The dual guitars of Guy Griffin and Paul Guerin complete with their backing vocals tie in neatly with Keith Weir’s keyboard melodies, really outdoing himself this time around. Title track “Twisted Love” also features blues powerhouse Lynne Jackaman on backing vocals, trading barbs with Spike, the sultriness lingering in the background yet notably obvious. "Killing Time" is reminiscent of Aerosmith’s Eat The Rich only much more earthly. “Gracie B”, originally from the previous, acoustic-driven album St Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul. It was given a full electric outing on their tour this year and it sounded massive. Re-worked based on that and included here, the standout of its original album, it’s been transformed into a new beast, even more dangerous than its original form.
Meanwhile the engine room of Dave McCluskey on drums coupled with Nick Mailing’s bass has helped propel the band to a new level of quality, the years of playing and recording together is obvious, something you can only get with a regular line-up. There’s a deft hand involved for the pair of them, Dave’s drums especially featuring more prominently this time around due to the harder edge Spike had promised this time around.
As before, the band have produced the album with Martin Ekelund of Bonafide and once again, he’s managed to get the best out of them.
Promising “no ballads” this time around seemed like a weird prospect for a band like The Quireboys, especially when some of their best songs fall into that category but at no point do you wish they’d drop a gear and include a sequel to I Don’t Love You Anymore.
Their raucous singalong anthems are at the forefront in "Twisted Love" and it’s easy to pick out which will be the live favourites

Twisted Love is very highly recommended, and there has never been a band more deserving of their renaissance than The Quireboys. Constantly putting out brilliant albums, relentless touring and a band you can never accuse of turning in a bad performance, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a band to beat their consistency.

Rating: 10/10

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

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 - This Is Rock 'n' Roll II (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock / Rock N Roll

Label - Off Yer Rocka

 

Track listing:

01 - This is Rock 'n' Roll
02 - Show Me What You Got
03 - Searching
04 - Six Degrees
05 - C'mon
06 - Seven Days
07 - Taken for a Ride
08 - Coldharbour Lane
09 - Turn Away
10 - To Be
11 - Enough for one Lifetime
12 - It's Alright
13 - Never Let me go
14 - Hey You (2014 bonus track)
15 - Misled (2014 bonus track)
16 - 7 O'Clock (2014 bonus track)
17 - There She Goes Again (2014 bonus track)

Originally released in 2001, This Is Rock 'N' Roll was THE QUIREBOYS first album recorded after their untimely split back in 1993 (the band's third actual album). With the current run of fortune the boys are currently experiencing worldwide (and a tour starting in November), it has become quite clear that the album needed a reissue, as went out of print long time ago.
The result is the imminent release (next week) of "This is Rock 'N' Roll II", re-packaged, re-styled and with 4 bonus tracks recorded this year.
If you ask me, This Is Rock 'N' Roll was even better than their platinum first albums.
The material is more straight ahead, louder. In a word; more 'rocking' than before. There's very solid songwriting and well oiled playing. It's one of those albums that seems to be over all too soon, packed with good foot tapping sing along rock 'n' roll songs.
The focus is put in a traditional Bristish Rock sound on cuts like "It's Alright" and title track "This Is Rock 'n' Roll" which pretty much indicate what the up-tempo tracks are like, but the Quireboys always had an American influence as well, and the gypsy power-ballads "Searching" and "To Be" bring to mind Guns N' Roses / Cinderella / Aerosmith melodies.
The remaster of sounds million bucks, and I think they have been clever to re-name the reissue as "This is Rock 'N' Roll II", because the album really comes out sonically refreshed.
In addition you have newly recorded versions of their classics "7 O'Clock" or "Hey You" as bonuses.
The Quireboys "This is Rock 'N' Roll II" is a high value reissue for the fans of the band, but also for all rockers looking for something done in the traditional, classic way.
If you did not liked The Quireboys first era and never heard this album, I strongly recommend you to give it a chance with a proper listen, it's a very solid Classic Rock record.
Rating - 10/10

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

The Quireboys - Beautiful Curse (2013)

Genre - Classic Rock / Hard Rock / Rock 'n' Roll
Label -

Track listing -

01 - Too Much of a Good Thing
02 - Chain Smokin'
03 - Talk of the Town
04 - Mother Mary
05 - King of Fools
06 - Homewreckers and Heartbreakers
07 - Diamonds and Dirty Stones
08 - Beautiful Curse
09 - Don't Fight It
10 - For Crying Out Loud
11 - Twenty Seven Years
12 - I Died Laughing

The Quireboys return with new management, a new album (their 7th!), a major tour coming up and a brand new spin on things in general, Is all set to rocket sky-high for Spike & Co. (Paul Guerin, Guy Griffin, Keith Weir)?

Fans get a few surprises with the new album, but the biggest is perhaps the stunning artwork, something you'd not immediately associate with these much loved gypsy rock 'n' rollers. Themed around the Hispanic celebration 'Dia De Los Muertos' (Festival Of The Dead), the front sleeve, while it might looks a bit tad macabre, it makes perfect sense once you listen to some of the tracks.

It seemingly functions as a metaphor to connect with lost lovers, lost soul mates, and probably lamenting some lost years too, but although The Quireboys have taken five years to release new material, they sound better than ever.

Opener "Too Much Of A Good Thing" with its choppy intro and Spike's 'alright, c'mon on now' growl, straight away steers towards well-known Quireboys' territory - a bit of woo-hoo-hoo in the chorus, clean hooks and guitar solos, and an altogether rollicking vibe prove that one can never have enough of a good thing.
"Chain Smokin´" is bursting with full-on swagger and attitude sounding as if it was composed during a ride in the fast lane, then again, I can't imagine the band taking a different route anyway. Cool keyboards, cool riffs, and a revving classic Quireboys style.
The brittle charm and well-crafted tune of "Talk Of The Town" is polished with rough 'round the edges, while the swooning "Mother Mary" although not exactly a sonic step forward as far as rock ballads go, is beautifully delivered. Spike uses his cheese-grater voice to maximum effect here, and the all-hold-hands-and-sing-together feel make this number another winner.
We're transported to The Quireboys' irresistible trademark bar room sound on "King Of Fools", though the jauntiness of it all belies Spike's confession that he sees himself as the anti-hero of the title.
"Homewreckers and Heartbreakers" is bluesy and intense, with Hammond all over, raspy (even more) vocals and a solid chorus, and then we get a rough-cut diamond indeed with "Diamonds And Dirty Stones", stirring deep in classic roots but adding layers of hard rock driven guitar solos.
Every title track worth its salt should have an instantly memorable chorus and melody, and that's precisely what we find in "Beautiful Curse"; 'I've been blessed, I've been cursed, it's you that I love first / For better or for worse, I've been blessed with this beautiful curse / For rich or for poor, for less or for more, it's you that I adore'. Bless! Real catchy tune, and both frontman and fellow band members play out a musical romance of their own. A tune deserving plenty of airplay for sure.
We get another fine Quireboys-trademark ballad with "Don't Fight It", with Spike dreamily crooning away while the more quietly tinged instrumentation sits neat and tight.
"For Crying Out Loud" explodes with a honky-tonk infused struttitude, and you want to believe that all the dead come back to live, if only to shake and rattle along to this number before their bones give up again.
Upon first listening "Twenty Seven Years" surprises by taking a slight detour from your typical Quireboys sound. And I like the surprise; the track bounces back to finest American classic rock, bearing slight Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks influences, before some spine-tingling wah-wah keyboards temporarily take over. Inspired is what you call it, and one of my favorites of the CD.
Closing number "I Died Laughing" rolls along nice and smooth like matured whisky, but the rather abrupt finish leaves the listeners calling for more.

The Quireboys are back in full form with a quality disc, on par with the best they've released in their entire career (read debut A Bit Of What You Fancy).
"Beautiful Curse" captures all the Quireboys charm via the band's classic songwriting, whiskey-soaked vocals and melodic riffs... in short, their trademark Gypsy Styled Rock. The band have taken all their old school Rock 'n Roll values and evolved it into a more mature approach, helped by the pristine production by Chris Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore,) and with the legendary Simon Hanson (Squeeze) being added to the rhythm section.
To put it upfront, the sheer energy of (London) THE QUIREBOYS much anticipated 7th studio recording "Beautiful Curse" simply nails you to the wall. You won't remain nailed for long though, as the band's instantly recognisable fare begs you to cut footloose.

In fact, in many ways, "Beautiful Curse" takes the listener back to the glorious days of the band's beginnings, and believe me when I say some songs here easily sit alongside the classic debut, if indeed it doesn't surpass it.


This album has been a ,ong time comming and is well worth the wait!

Very Highly reconmended!
Rating 10/10





The Quireboys are -
Spike - Vocals
Guy Griffin - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Keith Weir - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Paul Guerin - Guitar
Simon Hanson - Drums

The Quireboys - Too Much Of A Good Thing (Single) 2013

Genre - Classic Rock
Label -

Track listing :

01 - Too Much Of A Good Thing

Taken from the forthcoming new album, Beautiful Curse, Too Much Of A Good Thing provides fans with a sample of the new modern Quireboys sound. Don't panic! They haven't abandoned their classic roots and gone all emo on us or anything like that, far from it. Judging by this excellent new single we are in for a real treat when Beautiful Curse is released, as the production is awesome! The song on offer here is destined to become a classic and is sure to please any existing fans, but with the new production giving the guys a slightly more modern sound they could very well be attracting a whole new generation to their wicked tales.


Rating 10/