Reviews roundup – Equator vs. Lynyrd Skynyrd vs. Miss Marina Mae

Reviews roundup – Equator vs. Lynyrd Skynyrd vs. Miss Marina Mae

EQUATOR
Fire
independent

Billed as “a sensational new AOR band from Norway”, there is nothing there that I can possibly disagree with.  They come from Norway, they play AOR, and they are sensational.

I’m an old bastard, so fondly remember the great days of AOR, as the seventies turned into the eighties, and this mini album can hold its head high.  For an independent release, it sounds great, but more important than that; they know how to write great songs.

The six piece band don’t put a foot wrong as they soar through the hit single that never was – ‘Set The Night On Fire’, the lighter in the air moment of the big ballad, ‘Does It Feel Like Love’ and the mid-tempo ‘Without You’.

The Scandinavians do love their AOR, and this is one of the best new entries I’ve heard in years!

BUY AT AMAZON

LYNYRD SKYNYRD
Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd & Second Helping Live
Eagle Records

Whisper it, but I probably listen to more regurgitated Skynyrd than I do original Skynyrd.  The Al Kooper albums have a dry feel to me, regardless of how great the songs were.  So when I heard that the new band were going to play the first two albums, in sequence, back to back, I was mighty excited.

Well, it’s here, and it’s great.  I’m listening to the audio first, ahead of the DVD, and it almost brought me to tears. In a good way.  Recorded at the Florida Theatre in their home town of Jacksonville, Florida, it sees the classics rubbing up against songs that were rarely played live, and it’s a sheer joy.

Everyone knows the big songs, but it’s when you hear ‘Mississippi Kid’, ‘I Need You’, the pisses all over ‘Free Bird’ that is ‘Tuesdays Gone’ and others, that you fully appreciate just how fantastic these songs were.  The latest incarnation of the band more than do them justice, and if you like your rock, southern, loud and proud, then there is no excuse for not buying this.

Roll on Saturday, when the DVD will be played to death.

BUY AT AMAZON

MISS MARINA MAE
From Racy…To Gracie
independent

I’m a sucker for this sort of thing.  See, I may be old, but my parents were even older.  And their parents were born when the years began with 18.  So I grew up in a world of old-time music, especially from the thirties and earl;y forties when my parents were teenagers, and my Dad was kicking Hitlers arse for six years in the RAF.

So, when a good heritage act comes along, I’m more than happy to have a wee sing song and choke back tears for my dearly departed.  And Miss Marina Rae is one of the good ones.  As you may have gathered from the title, this album is largely about Our Gracie Fields, and Miss Mae does a fine job of bringing the songs to life.

So whether it’s ‘Be Like the Kettle and Sing’, ‘Walter, Walter (Lead me to the Alter)’ or ‘There’ll Always Be an England’, you can guarantee a reet good listen.

http://www.missmarinamae40s.com