National Album Day

The first National Album Day seems like an appropriate time to make my first post here in ages. see the official website for more details. Among other things, it says:

“...2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the album format, making it the perfect time to show our respect of truly iconic albums, as well as our personal favourites and looking to the future of the album and how it will evolve in response to changes in technology and music consumption.”

There are a host of events all round the country (although The website doesn’t make it easy to just see what’s happening near where you are) but I’ll be going for this suggested activity:

“Saturday 13th October is the first National Album Day! You're invited to take part in the nation's biggest album playback at 3.33pm by playing your all-time favourite album in full. Share with us what you have chosen at @AlbumDayUK / #NationalAlbumDay”

At 3:33pm; see what they did there?

Me, at 3:33pm, I'll be playing Rush - A Farewell To Kings and, much as I enjoy the recently remastered version, I'll be playing my original vinyl version that I bought when I was a teenager!

Free Download Friday: Steven Wilson

I wrote a review of Steven Wilson's new album, 4 1/2 for the Moshville Times. While I was researching it, I found a bucketload of free downloads on Steven Wilson's Soundcloud page. I've embedded two below. If you want more, go to his Soundcloud page.

Enjoy!

Free Download Friday: Rival Sons

I am hugely impressed with the Rival Sons so I don't know why I have never signed up to their mailing list before. When I finally did the other night, I was pleasantly surprised to find that as well as being added to their list, I was also offered a free download of a live track: "Get What's Coming".

Watch the official (non-live recording) video or go to their website, sign up in the sidebar where it says "Get Enlisted", download and enjoy.

Album Reviews

Another two album reviews posted on Moshville Times:

• Uriah Heep - Outsider
• Rush - Hemispheres

One I am utterly positive about and one that I have a reservation about but otherwise liked. Can you guess which one is which?

Free Download Friday: The Sun Explodes

I have not posted a Free Download Friday for ages. This is mainly because available downloads are now few and far between. I suspect this is in part due to the rise in streaming services which make it possible to get music out there without having to give it away. This makes me sad but I understand the commercial realities. But, it also makes it all the more pleasing when a good download becomes available.

You may have noticed my review of The Sun Explodes - The Calm, The Storm. Clearly, Last FM noted how often I was listening to this band so that, the last time I logged in, Last FM drew my attention to three free tracks:

• Weigh Your Sins
• The Game, and
• The Fake

Couldn't find any details of when this EP was released but it feels old. Much less polished than The Calm, The Storm, but still interesting.

As always, let me know what you think in a comment.

Free download: The Sun Explodes  - EP

Review: Rush - A Farewell To Kings

It took me a while but I finally managed to finish my review of A Farewell To Kings, the April re-issue from The Twelve Months Of Rush series. This was the first Rush album I heard and it was the one that got me hooked, not only to Rush, but to rock music in general. After all these years, it remains one of my favourite Rush albums.

I am enjoying listening to and reviewing stuff for the Moshville Times but the writing gets squished into what little free time I have, so it takes me a long time to finish things. Let me know what you think of the review either here or on Moshville Times. Is it worth the time it takes me?

Review: The Sun Explodes

I have managed to post another review to Moshville Times. The band is The Sun Explodes and the review is of their latest EP, The Calm, the Storm which will be released on 18 May.

Up until now, I have reviewed bands that I already knew but I had never heard of this band until I was offered the chance to review their work. After one listen, I knew I wanted to hear more. I had to arm wrestle one of the other Moshville crew members for the privilege of reviewing their EP but it was worth it. 

If you read what written, you'll see I am convinced that it is a Concept EP. I've had a bit of correspondence with the band who claim that it is not, but what do they know? They only wrote it. I'm the one who listened!

Comments and constructive criticism welcome either here on on the review at the Moshville site.