What song are you listening to right now? (Page 388 of 389)

His Lordship - His Lordship  (2024)

After a seeming slow start to the year for new music, all those pre-orders and crowd-funds from last year are coming through the door, like buses.

None more welcome than this debut album from His Lordship, aka James Walbourne & Kristoffer Sonne (+ Dave Page on Bass), on temporary leave from the day job as The Pretenders, sans Chrissie Hynde.

So, hitting like Link Wray has joined The Ramones, and with the near brutal freshness and uncomplicated air of early Motorhead (some say Motorhead meets Stray Cats, but Lemmy & Slim Jim did a "retro" project years ago, HeadCat, and worthy as it was, it was a house cat compared to these alley cats...).

Usually I'd be first to moan about any album coming in at a hair (10 seconds) over 30 minutes, but that's part of the charm to this. It's just long enough to kick in the door, raid the fridge, annoy the neighbours and goose your granny: anymore and the cops would arrive.

Now, anyone familiar already will be saying "But we've already got half the tracks.." Well, if you have the All Cranked UP EP or the CD that came out early last year, then that's fair comment. What's not there are the covers from the Rock & Roll Vol 1 EP, instead, there's 6 newer tracks, Buzzkill; Joyboy; Rock Fall Echo Dust; Cat Call; Jackie Works For The NHS & Pixelated Polly; and these tracks really rattle. In fact, the only pause for breath is The Repenter. So, if like me, you have that earlier CD of the 2 EPs, you've got a bit of a rarity as it's no longer on the guy's store.

So, if you're in the mood for stampeding drums and tortured SG, these are for you...

Joyboy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-o0VAhurM0
Buzzkill - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFm-3aivwUI&t=1s
Jackie Works For The NHS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxVtESW236s
I Live In The City - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxhZ3gbgJ8s&t=2s

Jon Amor Trio - The Turnaround (2024)

Another class release from former Hoax man Jon; now in "trio" setting. mainly self-penned numbers, with a couple of covers, including a slowed-down revisit of his earlier She Thought I Was An Eagle. There's a sort of chilled, New Orleans vibe to the album, but there are times he hits a sort of early 1970s groove that ZZ Top built a foundation on.

A guy who doesn't get shouted from the roof-tops enough, yet consistently turns out quality.

After reading your review this afternoon I promised myself I'd give this latest JJH album a good listen.  I think your take on it is pretty spot on, especially using the word anthemic.  To me this is more a rock album with a touch of Blues.  For sure, "Days Are Gone" is a standout track.  I also like "Road To Hell", pretty catchy.  I think though my fave on this is the rock ballad "Stay With Me".  Jack has put out a number of memorable albums, but this may be the best.  Thanks for the shout, Mike.

“Some Assembly Required”, by Jason Becker & Friends  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iU_Oq-DM-0

The Steve Howe trio - New Frontier  (2019)

Can't believe that I spotted this album in a "bargain bin" for the princely sum of £2; that's cheaper than a coffee... Yes legend Steve Howe with son Dylan on drums (on break from Wilko Johnson band) & keyboard/organist Ross Stanley.

It's not quite Prog & not quite Jazz, but definitely Steve Howe, with co-writes with Bill Bruford.

Showdown - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mo954O2dBs
Outer terrain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lZt_Mjevuw

You're welcome

Apocalyptica - The Four Horsemen  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcbW7kVAfH4 - lol

Philip Sayce - The Wolves Are Coming (2024)

So, waiting behind the door when came in today was the new album from Philip Sayce. Seems to have been a while since any new product from him, but then the last album Spirit Rising I missed as there was no physical copy, but 14 million streams can’t be wrong.

Anyway, much anticipation, especially after the long-awaited tour last November whetted the appetite, and it’s well deserved, quite probably one of his strongest albums to date. There’s the usual power and brashness, balanced with intimacy and delicacy; check out Intuition.  Of the eleven tracks, 9 are originals, including a co-write with Richard Marx while keeping one foot in the Blues with a John lee Hooker cover; This Is Hip and an Albert Collins; The Moon Is Full.

When he rocks, there’s no doubting, Sayce rocks, no more so than on Backstabber, a dig at the music industry… I’ve seen it said, the riff is reminiscent of old Spooky Tooth, but to my ear, I get nods of Virgil & The Accelerators, which makes me smile as back in the day, Virgil McMahon, no slouch on the six-string himself, was a big admirer. Elsewhere on the album, Fred Mandel provides some keyboard jousting but the piano boogie on This Is Hip, on which they pause, mid-song then hook back together, unexpected but masterful.

There has been no shortage of praise; Guitar World declared, "Philip Sayce stands on the edge of hard rock and psychedelia, slinging guitar riffs past your ears at warped speed." Billboard Magazine has raved about Philip’s “outstanding songwriting” and “stylish rock guitar”, and Rock & Blues Muse effused, "With powerful vocals close to the edge, Sayce uses his classic Strat sound and overdriven amps to unwind a powerful tale. His guitar riffs are fastballs", and Music News stated, "This is an all-out blast from the opening notes, massive riffs and pounding drums with Sayce's vocals getting the full treatment." And I’m adding my two-pennyworth; can’t wait until the next tour this coming November.