Ryan Hamilton and the Traitors - The Devil's in the Detail (2016/17)

Genre - Rock / Pop / Alternative

Label - Pledge Music

Track listing:

01 - Smarter

02 - We Should Never Have Moved To LA

03 - Anywhere

04 - Heavy Heart

05 - Scottish Mud

06 - Back In Time

07 - The Gulf Of Mexico

08 - Cheaters Never Change

09 - Drugs and Fashion

10 - Strength In Numbers

11 - Don't Say I Told You So

12 - It Ain't Easy

The Devil's In The Detail is the brand spanking new album from Ryan Hamilton and the Traitors, a trans Atlantic rock n roll band hailing from Texas and the UK. And what a bloody debut. Great bounce filled rock n roll, with a tremendous sense of melody. Incorporating so many musical elements its unbelievable, from country to blues to punk to out and out rock n roll. What a refreshing band. This, their debut album has been financed through a blinding pledge music campaign, hence the 2016/17 release dates (pledgers were lucky enough to get their hands on this brilliant album last year!).
The albums kicks off with the bouncy and rather excellent 'Smarter', which flows into the equally brilliant 'We Should Never Have Moved To LA', before the tempo slows a little for the rather laid back 'Anywhere', with its bluesy overtones. Next up comes the beautiful 'Heavy Heart'. A really beautiful ballad with some great harmonies and soul searching lyrics! Surely one of the albums many highlights. The rather fun 'Scottish Mud' is up next, picking up the pace a little. Yet another great song. Next up is the excellent acoustic driven 'Back In Time', a beautiful song that features Ryan taking a look back in time. 'The Gulf Of Mexico' follows, with its chugging main riff. possibly the heaviest song so far on the album, bloody brilliant non the less. Hot on its heels we have 'Cheaters Never Change', a real blues country mix. Yet another brilliant song! 'Drugs and Fashion' picks up the tempo and the mood once again, returning to the bouncy rock of the albums first couple of tracks.
'Strength In Numbers' is a great song about a defiant spirit, a great up-tempo song that has a brilliant energy to it. This could be killer live!
The albums penultimate track is 'Don't Say I Told You So', a beautiful duet. this song sends tingles down my spine. Beautiful and haunting!
'It Ain't Easy' closes the album out, a great fun song with a proper country feel to it, and a nice snarling surprise hidden inside if you are patient enough to wait for it!

This is one of the best and strongest debuts that I have heard in many a year, and very well worth checking out. Definitely one of the most complete and rounded releases that I have heard in quite a while, and possibly a contender for release of the year!

Rating: 10/10

The Main Grains - Don't Believe Everything You Think (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk / Rock N Roll

Label - TSB RECORDS

Track listing:

01 - Unscrewed
02 - We're Happy (Around Here)

03 - Spend Your Money

04 - Fine By You

05 - I'd Rather Be In California

06- Teenage Kicks

07 - She's A Catch

Former Wildhearts and Yo Yo's bassist Danny McCormack returns with his new project The Main Grains, accompanied by John JJ Watt on Rhythm Guitar/Vocals , Ben Marsden on Lead Guitar/Vocals  and  Ginna Rhodes on Drums/Vocals, with Danny obviously handling Bass Guitar and vocal duties. How to best describe how The Main Grains sound, well imagine if you will a slightly more polished Yo Yo's sound and you be far off.
Don't Believe Everything You think is the bands debut release, and its a pretty solid one at that. Opening with lead single, Unscrewed, the guys set their stall out from the off as they work their way through a small selection of punk tinged rock n roll tracks. Their cover of Teenage Kicks is simply brilliant! She's A Catch could easily be mistaken for a Ramones track, and well the rest of the Ep is just as good.
I don't think that The Main Grains are going to be setting the world on fire any time soon but they do deliver good solid punk flavoured rock n roll, in the way that it should be delivered!

Well Worth Checking Out

Rating: 9/10

Matty James - The Road To No Town (2015)

Genre - Rock / Rock N Roll

Label - Pledge Music / Pirate Heart Recordings

Track listing:

01 - The Road To No Town

02 - Sticks & Stones

03 - Heavy Heart

04 - Oh My Darlin'

05 - Win Or Lose

06 - Gunpowder

07 - Money & The Devil

08 - Hold On

09 - Dissatisfied

10 - Cut With Dust

In similar style that of a certain Dog's D' Amour front man Tyla J Pallas, Matty James delivers his sophomore album in the form of the rather excellent 'The Road To No Town'. With  'The Road To No Town,’ Matty James is building upon an acclaimed debut and showcases just how he is developing as both a performer and more importantly as a songwriter. The album opens with a the foot stomping title track, 'The Road To No Town' before launching into the albums lead single, the defiant 'Stick's & Stones'. Next we have the 50's rock n roll inspired 'Heavy Heart', one of the albums many highlights in my honest opinion. 'Oh My Darlin'' follows which is another beautiful acoustic driven track with an old time rock n' roll, even rockabilly feel to it. 'Win or Lose' come next and is another highlight of the album, purely because of its pure uncomplicated simplicity. 'Gunpowder' increases the tempo a little with its more Celtic folk feel, a really great song. 'Money & The Devil' follows, this time bringing a slightly more sinister if not over dark feel to it, like an old time Chicago gangsta soundtrack, another great song. 'Hold On' is up next, with its acoustic driven ballad feel to it. A really good song. 'Dissatisfied' is a nice up tempo track that leads nicely into what is most definitely the albums crowning glory, its closing track, 'Cut With Dust', which is just a brilliant song, as simple as that.

'The Road To No Town' is a terrific album from an uber talented singer songwriter in the shape of Matty James, perfect for those times when you just want to wind down a little and listen to some soothing music that you know comes straight from the soul!

Very Highly Recommended!

Rating - 10/10

Motorhead - Thunder & Lightning (Single) (2015)

Genre - Heavy Metal / Rock 'n' Roll

 

Track listing:

01 - Thunder & Lightning

 

Lemmy and Motorhead return with a brand spanking new single in the form of 'Thunder & Ligtning', a high octane tribute to his love of his rock n roll life style,

 

'Thunder & Lightning' see's Motorhead hitting a really good vein of form, a great song with all the motorhead trademarks. If this is anything to go by, things are looking good for a new album!

Now lets just hope Lemmy gets his health concerns under control!

 

Rating - 10/10

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 Peckham Cowboys - 10 Tales From The Gin Palace (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock / Rock N Roll

Label -

Track listing:

01 - Not Guilty!

02 - Bromley Girls

03 - The Debt Collector

04 - Don’t Damn The Hypnotist

05 - Quarantined

06 - Poor Boy Blues

07 - You’re Only In It For The Money

08 - She Was Sweet On Me

09 - Cut It Out

10 - Knocked Senseless

THE PECKHAM COWBOYS come from deepest South London, purveying the sort of whisky snorting, hipshaking, harmonica melting, sleazy, greasy, bluesy timeless rock 'n' roll on their second album "10 Tales From The Gin Palace".
Founded by ex- Quireboys Guy Bailey alongside fellow stalwarts of the British rawk n’ roll scene Marc Eden and Dale Hodgkinson, The ‘Cowboys already released one album entitled ‘Flog It’ in 2011. With Bailey no longer involved, the current line-up includes Timo Kaltio (Hanoi Rocks, Izzy Stradlin Band, Cheap & Nasty) on guitar, Duncan McKay (Primal Scream) on horns and keys, Ryan McCormick (Steven Adler Band) on drums, as well as another former Quireboys (and one of the best rock n’ roll bassists in the business) – Nigel Mogg.
If you enjoy listening the very early (London) Quireboys, the Small Faces at their most cockney, or Izzy Stradlin’s rocking stuff (not his reggae detours), then you’ll love The Peckham Cowboys.

But there’s more to this band of Gin Lane than their Quireboys connections both in attitude and music - the likes of "The Debt Collector" and "Don’t Damn The Hypnotist" give the album more depth than your usual whisky soaked rock n’ roll fare and there are some imaginative and interesting twists. 

The Peckham have a sound that immediately grabs me by the penny rounds as album opener "Not Guilty!" erupts from the speakers full of bohemian excess. Some might just say 'oh that’s The Quireboys', but I would counter that by saying The Quireboys haven’t sounded this dirty since they had Ginger in the band, and that was over a quarter of a century ago.

"Bromley Girls" continues the sleazy escapades of the band as Marc rasps his way through one of the funniest vocal stutters you’ll hear anywhere this year. This is filthy swagger stuff for sure and a full on tongue in cheek strut that really gets under the skin.

"Quarantined" adds fuzzed guitars in the company of fine horns which turns the song into a slice of quality pop music with just the merest hint of '90s indie ala Jesus Jones thrown in for good measure. "Poor Boy Blues" meanwhile continues the fuzzed out theme, with Eden and company paying potty mouthed tribute to the deep South… of London naturally.

In a parallel universe where "Debt Collector" was the huge hit single that saw The Peckham Cowboys on Top Of The Pops for several consecutive weeks, the equally huge follow up track would have been "You’re Only In It For The Money", a really, really strong song. 

Elsewhere the horn driven "She Was Sweet On Me" and "Cut It Out" once again doff their collective caps to ole bone crusher Jagger whilst also making me recall bands such as The Dirty Strangers and Broken English.

With "10 Tales From The Gin Palace" containing ten all killer and no filler pure rock 'n roll tracks, the dirty street vibe of album closer "Knocked Senseless" is not just the perfect way to wave goodbye to The Peckham Cowboys but also its title pretty much sums up how you will feel when you too hear this album, because you’ll be knocked bandy by this bastard.

This second album from The Peckham Cowboys really is a true melting pot of influences, and is everything great about music in 2014 combining as it does rock, blues and pop to make "10 Tales From The Gin Palace" not only the best record the band could have produced, but also perhaps one of the most true-blooded records by any UK band lately. 

Very Recommended.

(I am not the author of the above review, but agree with its sentiments whole hearted! All credit to the original author!)

Rating 9/10

TYLA J. PALLAS - Devil's Supper [Electric Sitting] (2013)

Genre - Hard Rock / Rock n Roll / Sleaze
Label - King Outlaw Records

Track listing:

01 - Love is
02 - Long Shadows
03 - It Ain't Over Yet
04 - Green Eyed Girl
05 - All Alone
06 - Judas Christ
07 - The Meaning Of Fortune And Fame
08 - Yeah (I Love You Baby)
09 - In Another Life
10 - That Someone
11 - Home
12 - Religion
13 - Ode To Jackie Leven
14 - Wisdom
15 - Judas Christ (Acoustic demo)

Tyla, (front man of UK sleazsters Dog's D'Amour) returns with his latest solo album, Devils Super (Electric Sitting), making it twenty plus solo albums now!
Devils Super continues Tyla's own brand of soulful Rolling Stones esque rock n roll, and I swear just like a fine wine, he and his songwriting are getting better and better with age!
The album kicks off with the superb "Love Is", a warm, honky tonk groove that staggers into the saloon on a woozy piano and Rolling Stones-ish guitar. But where it really shines is on the excellent verses to reach the bridge where some hearty horns are injected halfway through, and of course Tyla's characteristic drool. It's a great unassuming song of homely joy, and a track that immediately embeds itself into the brain, before we're treated to the boogie 'n' roll of "Long Shadows" with its pattering drum and gentle swagger.
Tyla often struggles with any hint of a high note, but that's the charm of that broken throat, especially with the smoky steps of "It Ain't Over Yet" and the shimmering wonder of "Green Eyed Girl", with its pleasant sways as Tyla croons 'Back in the summer of ’75 when I first saw you my heart came alive, standing there in the bright moonlight I got what they meant about love at first sight'. It’s another instant classic rocker that evokes images of rainy streets and old pubs filled with cigarette smoke as the horns drift in on that indolent chorus.
Tyla’s unique style is not merely the only quality that enables this album to roll. The moods are defined by simple yet provocative instruments such as a light keyboard, piano or a jangly guitar, making tracks such as "All Alone" or the twanging "Judas Christ" so sincere.But of all the heartfelt tracks on offer it's the tear-jerking ballad "Ode To Jackie Leven" that really tugs at the heart strings, as Tyla’s voice deepens over a swaying acoustic. Leven was a Scottish folk singer who died in 2011 and Tyla’s ode is majestic with its wheezing pipes.
Tyla clearly has no need to shake a bottle in your face, when it's far easier to sit down next to him and share his thoughts over a glass of warm red wine. The 14 tracks on offer here (15 if you count the demo of "Judas Christ") are so tall in stature and yet rarely do they breath beyond an acoustic ramble.
This is a record that ebbs and flows magnificently - it has drama and will also make you smile. It has lovable songs inspired in the past but will have old and young rock fans bowled over with quality of the songwriting. A lot of musicians spend a lifetime striving to write a decent song or two and Tyla J. Pallas seems to ooze great tunes with unnerving ease.
This is one hell of an album,
Stand out tracks include, "Love Is", " It Ain't Over Yet", "Wisdom", Judas Christ", Religion" and " Ode To Jackie Leven".

Highly reconmended

Rating - 10/10

The Dogs D'Amour - Cyber recordings EP (2013)

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

Track listing -

01 - Flameboy
02 - Hotel Daze
03 - Livin' On
04 - Walk Away

Tyla reunites a classic Dogs line featuring Jo Dawg on guitar and brings us a short and sweet four track Ep.
Flameboy opens up precedings with its mid to fast tempo classic rock vibe and quickly lets the listener know that The Dogs D'Mour are back and mean business. Hotel Daze slows things down a touch before Livin' On picks things up with a darker quicker tempo, some great lead guitar through out too. Walk Away closes the Ep out with its typical laid back Tyla / Dogs vibe. Tyla's voice sounds as good as ever, and the old line seems to just gell together almost as though they have never been apart.
Judging by the strenght of this short Ep I'm praying for an album of new material!

Rating - 10/10

The Loyalties - 'Til The Death Of Rock & Roll

Genre - Hard Rock / Punk Rock / Pop / Rock N Roll
Label - Independant Release

Track listing -

01 - Intro (Funeral March)
02 - 'Til The Death Of Rock And Roll
03 - Meat In The City
04 - The Will To Kill
05 - Death Girl
06 - I'm The Blues
07 - Whiskey Under The Bridge
08 - Killer Radio
09 - To The Flame
10 - Ashtrays Empty
11 - Pheremone Jones
12 - One Reason
13 - Whole Lotta Hate
14 - Carry Me Home
15 - Rock & Roll Over (And Die) Epilogue

The Loyalties return with their second full length album in the form of the mighty 'Til The Death Of Rock And Roll, and I have to say that we may be looking at a contender for album of the year here! The songs are sublime, the musicianship perfect, and the production spot on! This album has hardly been off of my MP3 player ever since I got it, I absolutley love it! Every song is full of energy and life, ballanced perfectly with a sense of melody that is rare these days.
If you are already a fan of the band then you wont be dissappointed!
Musically The Loyalties are in a similar vein to Sorry And The Sinatras, having a certain punky garage feel, combined with some great playing and terrific songs!
This album is a kind of concept album that goes together with the book that comes along with it, a kind of Rock N Roll who done it, but dont let that put you off as each of the songs easily stand up on thier own, and as I have already said, there are here such as title track, 'Til The Death Of Rock And  Roll, Ashtrays Empty, Whiskey Under The Bridge, death Girl and Whole Lotta Hate.

You owe it to yourself to check these guys out!

Rating - 10/10

My Dynamite - My Dynamite (2012)

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

Track listing:

01. Take It Or Leave It (4:08)
02. Inside Out (4:20)
03. If We’re Livin’ (3:16)
04. Dirty Game (3:17)
05. Watch Yourself Grow (4:36)
06. Raise Your Glasses (4:39)
07. Singing Stormy Weather (4:21)
08. Big Attraction (5:08)
09. All That She Brings (4:31)
10. Fork In Your Tongue (3:23)

Australian Rock n Rollers My Dynamite unleash their debut upon us. Its a great blend of classic hard rock and good old fashioned rock n roll. With their roots firmly in the seventies the band deliver a sound that is not too disimilar to bands like the Quireboys. the songs are all extremly well written, and pulled off perfectly.
Stand out tracks for me include, Take it Or Leave It, Raise Your Glasses, Fork In Your Tongue and Dirty Game.
If your fan of classic rock music performed the way that it os meant to be performed then you really should check this album out.
Rock N Roll as it should be, that all that I can say.

Rating - 10/10

Meat Loaf - Hell In A Handbasket

Genre - Hard Rock / Classic Rock / Pop
Label -

Track listing -

01. All of Me

02. Fall from Grace
03. The Giving Tree
04. Mad Mad World/The Good God is a Woman and She Don’t Like Ugly (Special appearance by Chuck D)
05. Party of One
06. Live or Die
07. California Dreamin‘ (Duet with Patti Russo)
08. Another Day
09. 40 Days”
10. Our Love and Our Souls (Duet with Patti Russo)
11. Stand in the Storm” (Special guest appearances from Lil Jon, John Rich and Mark McGrath)
12. Blue Sky

Meatloaf returns with his latest offering and the follow up to last years Hang Cool teddy Bear. Now I am a huge Meatloaf fan, I always have been but here we have the same old problem with Meat's new albu as we have with many of his non Bat Out Of Hell releases, that is the lack of one Mr Jim Steinmen. Once again it feels a little too much like Meatloaf by numbers, like he is just not being pushed and stretched enough in the studio. Dont get me wrong, Hell In A Handbasket is not a bad album, its full of more than competant songs, the musicianship is excellent and Meat is in fine voice, its just that it os a little too much by the numbers and therefore a little dissappointing.

The album has a few high points, Fall From Grace, The Giving Tree and closing track Blue Sky come to mind, but its not a touch on any of the three Bat Out Of Hell albums!

Rating 6/10

Speedjackers - Favourite Sons

Italian hard rock / punk / rock n rollers, Speedjackers return with their second official full album release in the form of Favourite Sons.

The bands sound has matured since the release of their debut album, moving more towards the classic rock end of the spectrum, as witnessed by the two strong opening tracks 'Shake' and 'A Little Boom'.
One of the few problems that I do have with Speedjackers unfortunately comes from lead vocalist Kekko. Now please don't get wrong, Kekko is a fine vocalist, but unfortunately his accent remains very very prominent and at times detracts from the over all feel of the songs, and also for the international market there are a two tracks that have been left in their native Italian language, but with that said, the album contains 10 very well written songs performed by a talented and obviously passionate group of musicians.

If you want to hear promising set of track then Favourite Sons is worth checking out!

website - http://www.myspace.com/speedjackers

rating 8/10

Gypsy Pistoleros - Hotel de la Muerte

The Gypsy Pistoleros return with their new mini album, Hotel de la Muerte, and what a blast it is! Gypsy Pistoleros manage to blend flamenco, glam, punk, rumba and rock n roll, and they get a wonderful sound out of the mix!


The album opens with 'Welcome To The Hotel de la Muerte', a great blast of energy and tempered fury, a really great song and excellent opener!

Next up is 'Living Down With Gyspsies', which has a beautiful flamenco / spanish guiatr opening before lurching into another great blast of Pistolero fun!

This is quickly followed by 'Sangre De Las Rosas, a beautiful ballad, which allows the band to showcase their more sensitive side. Next up is 'Walk Through The Shadows', which is a great moody melodic rocker with some great sneering vocals!.

' Son of Illussiones' closes off this mini album in pretty much the same manner as it started. A great blast of Pistolero fun!



Rating 10/10

Lance Skybaby and Friends - Kick In the Teeth Review

Lance Skybaby hails from Ol' Newbury town deep in the heart of west Bershire. After playing the scene fronting a variety of bands including his last venture with 'Skybabies', he has decided to go it alone.
The result is 'Kick In The Teeth' which mashes his influences up really well making it hard to pin him into a specific catagorie. Theres punk, rock, reggae, country and plain old retro rock n roll here, all mixed to perfection. The songsa are really strong and performed really well. The production is really stripped down, which although Im not a huge fan of that perticular style, works really well!
I cant really pick out any stand out tracks here because all five are all bloody excellent!

Check this guy out especially if your a fan of The Yo Yos and Chasers, as I think your love him!

Lance gives the best advice though, just sit back, grab a beer, turn it up and enjoy!!!

rating 9/10