• From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,731

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Toby and the Whole Truth - Look Out (Vol 1) 2024

Former lead singer with hard rockers Little Angels (1984 - 1994); GUN (2008 - 2015) and Wasted Sons (2018 onwards), Toby Jepson has amassed quite the career CV as well as peer respect.

Of late, he's been releasing rare live and acoustic tracks from his time with Little Angels as well as his on/off solo project, The Whole Truth.

This is the 2nd release under the Toby & The Whole Truth banner and is promised to be the 1st volume comprising 6 tracks with a further 2 volumes (7 song each) to follow. Well, bring them on, because this fairly crackles with energy and brisk catchy tunes. Unlike the previous album (1995's Ignorance Is Bliss), Toby has stepped back from being "Jack of all trades", so the album has less of a kitchen-sink feel: it's great to hear The Brew's Jason Barwick on lead guitar among the other musicians.

Sweet Smell of Success - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHWBGNDM0Gw
Throw It Away - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z92XDVBh0z8

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,731

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Bernie Marsden - Icons  (2025)

If you buy one, full-on Blues album this year, then this is it. When he started his "Inspirations" series of albums, I don't know how many Bernie Marsden had in mind before his untimely death a couple of years ago, but this is a very welcome addition to the series. This album has been put together from previous recording sessions, with the approval of Bernie's widow, Fran and aside from showcasing the music and musicians that shaped Bernie's style, it also shows what an immense talent we lost back in 2023.

There are covers of Hendrix and Clapton, Elmore James, Booker T; and acoustic take on Allman Brother's evergreen Jessica that has a bluegrass vibe to it. As well as a couple of self-penned originals, there are a brace of Rory Gallagher tracks that would suggest that a Rory "Inspirations" was on the cards, had bernie not already done a couple of Rory-based albums. here though, Wheels Within Wheels gives one of Bernie's finest vocals and Calling Card highlights his fiery, but emotive playing. And finally, another possible would have been one to friend & mentor Peter Green with Oh Well and Man of The World featured here, as well as Danny Kirwan's I Like It This Way, embracing more of Fleetwood Mac's influence.

Calling Card - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWiZjz0ClSs

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

7,077 Reply by BansheeUK

  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,731

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Chantel McGregor - The Healing  (2025)

Was it really 2015 when her last studio album Lose Control was released? To be fair though, in-between times, we had the live, Bury'd Alive and the 2 lockdown, Shed Sessions albums.

So, 10 years on from the Southern Gothic influenced Lose Control, The Healing is Chantel's first album of new originals, and how she has changed in that time. The Healing is very much a more "mature" and emotionally open album, no more of the "froth" of old. This is more raw and honest, like you're reading her private diary. Yes, the guitar-work still sears and soars with hints more of Joe Satriani than Joe Bonamassa and elements of Robin Trower.

The vocals still retain that cut-glass Christine McVie quality, but there's more age & knowing adding a bit more edge where the themes require. The musicians Colin Sutton and Thom Gardner have been around long enough to know that good playing doesn’t mean all the notes all the time: they lay back, give space, and let Chantel work through whatever existential laundry she’s airing out. The key ingredients though are The Dead Collective's Oli Brown and Wayne Proctor. They don’t wreck the place: they understand atmosphere, giving the album just the right amount of gravitas. It's certainly a departure for Chantel to work so hand-in-glove with other artists, usually keeping tight control of her music, but this brings other elements (such as Oli using keyboards and programming) that makes you drool for a further, more collaborative effort between the two.

This is Chantel's most personal and introspective album, and she's digging deep, yet not once does it become maudlin. The Healing, track is an emotional coda to the record, but Tears is a bonafide rocker and Stand On My Own is reminiscent of Marillion's style of Prog Rock/Metal so stylistically, we have a real smorgasbord to savour. Album of the Year? Well, it's about time a real contender came along, and this could well be it. "Slight" grumble, it doesn't quite reach 37 minutes playing time. However, this is overcome by hitting the "Repeat" button, over and over....

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...