Rambling Man's Reviews

Words by Anselm Anderson English singer/songwriter/guitarist Guy North is due to release his much-anticipated debut release Retreat  today (August 30th). The musician North, who originates from Wakefield in Northern England, incorporates a mix of blues and country music in his sound. He draws inspiration from a wide range of artists, including blues legend John Lee Hooke r and folk singer Cat Stevens.  Retreat, an album featuring several tracks from North's "One Song a Week" video blog, showcases his talent for acoustic instrumentation and poetic lyricism. North is also a member of The Thomas Wilby Band.  Throughout the album's 10 tracks, North weaves together beautiful and uplifting melodies. The alt-country ballad "A Night Out" sets the tone with its simple strumming and powerful vocals. This leads to the feel-good anthem "I Have a Friend," which features a catchy chorus and pop influences. This track is sure to resonate with listeners and evok...

Words by Anselm Anderson Tarja Turunen, also known as Tarja, gained popularity in the metal scene as the lead vocalist of Nightwish, a symphonic metal band, at the turn of the century. She captivated millions with her tenor vocals that included falsetto and octave-busting notes. Tarja pays tribute to her contemporaries and idols with a live album recorded at the Metal Church in Wacken, Germany. 300 fans watched her perform covers from bands like Linkin Park, Slipknot , Metallica, and Megadeth in a special one-time event that opened the Wacken Air Festival in 2016. EarMusic released Rocking Heels: Live at Metal Church last week. Tarja delivers powerful vocals and captivating melodies, accompanied by a string orchestra that breathes new life into these classics.  The LP opens with an emotional rendition of the Joe Satriani track "Always with You, Always with Me". Tarja's mesmerizing warm vocals are beautifully layered with the enchanting, melancholic violin and piano...

It is hard to believe NWOBHM Legends Girlschool is still going strong after forty-five years. An interesting point about that statement is that they recently released 'WTForty Five?', their fourteenth studio album, this past Friday via Silver Lining Music. The band is celebrating their forty-fifth anniversary with twelve tracks of energetic rock n' roll and punk attitude that fans have come to expect from them. The quartet was formed in 1978 and Lead singer Kim McAullife and drummer Denise Dufort are the only remaining original members. This upcoming release will be their first in ten years. I was excited about this release because I always have been a fan of NWOBHM, so this was an opportunity to listen to some fresh, new material from the all-female punk band. The sleazy track "It Is What It Is" provides a graphic depiction of the band's history. The addictive charge of fuzz-fueled guitar and the infectious screech of Mcauliffe create a sound that is reminisc...