Steve Swift’s Rambling Reviews

Wildhearts New Album Is A Beautiful Blast From The Past!

It has a sweet saccharine middle and a dense Haeqvy Metal feel in the verse. That's what Ginger Wildheart does so well, with a smile and a nod of enjoyment. Is it like 'Earth v The Wildhearts'? Nope, but it has the same love of music...

Jethro Tull New Album Is Sweet And Sun Dappled! But Is that enough?..

I love Jethro Tull albums, particularly in the middle 70's to mid 80's - yes, I'm the one that likes 'Under Wraps' - and I love the recent dramatic albums too. This one is calmer, sweeter and very easy to like, plus a little too smooth at times, but I reckon it's a grower...

Lady Gaga New Album! ’Mayhem’ Struggles To Stay Ahead Of The Pop Curve...

It's difficult to remain on tip in the Pop world. what you really want is to produce albums the public love because it's you, not the music - the Elton John factor, you might call it - Lady Gaga isn't there yet and when she tries something different, this album works, when she does Pop, we'll...

RIP Brian James, I’ve Revisited Lords Of The New Church Debut And What A Treat!

No Lords of the New Chuch, No Hanoi Rocks? Or the other way round? This debut is cool, sleazy Rock with a tough of Goth Lite, somr 80's Art Pop and attitood aplenty...

The Damned Is A Folk Horror Movie That Ruins All Its Good Work!

Great tense work done with no sense of Hollywood tropes. Rather scary even though we don't see much, it then makes a decision which rather messes things up...

NWOBHM Stalwarts Raven Keep The Metal Magnificent!

What a brilliant EP this is, tougher than they've been recently, but with that trademark wonderful melody. And three live tracks which turn back the years too; a band who just don't give up, who deliver, who accept no doubters...

City championship Wrestling Makes Me Happy I Watched Again!

City Championship Wrestling Doesn't Half Fill That 90 minutes, some rwalky fine matches, great Wrestling entertainment, a very fine main event; so well done...

’Rippy’ Is Too Serious! Surely this sort of ’Skippy The Bush Kangaroo’ Horror Should Be Ironic...

It's too downbeat TV movie, it's too tropey and Rippy? He's far too poor. This doesn't quite work, despite Hollywood hitter Michael Biehn being involved...

Crymwav Produce Simple, Effective Rock; Very Nicely Delivered!

Pronounced 'Crimewave', this has a whiff of the wonderful now defunct Smash Fashion but has a directness that Band never had - the music jabs at you, the video is a glut of excellent images; have a go on this...

Mid South From 21.4.1984! How do we get the tag titles on the Rock N’ Roll Express?

How do you do it? With a really Convoluted angle which makes me wonder if it actually follows the rules at all. Fun and Frenetic but also foolish....