Back catalogue: Rock

Review: From the grave, Prince is serving up a banger just in time for Christmas fun this year in the form of a one-sided 12" on Warner. It found him working with his trusty New Power Generation and features the 'damn near 10 min' mix of the song 'Gett Off' which is sure to fire up any dancefloor. It was originally a single - also served up as a one-sider - to promote Prince's new band with a cover that boldly declared that "Nothing can stop Prince and the New Power Generation" and was only issued on 1500 copies, so this is a great treat for fans to own all these years later.

Review: This is the second volume of live recordings from UK supergroup The Firm's best ever live shows at the Oakland Coliseum on 15th March in 1986. It was a year after the group was formed by singer Paul Rodgers (formerly of the Bad Company) - who was responsible for enlisting Led Zep's Jimmy Page - released their self-titled debut, becoming one of the most successful rock outfits of their era and playing across the UK and US in the years after. This second album of live sounds captures their extraordinary energy in a show which was recorded for live FM Radio Broadcast.

Review: The Firm was a UK supergroup that formed in 1984. Singer Paul Rodgers was the man responsible for getting together with guitarist Jimmy Page and the group became one of the most successful rock outfits of their era. They released a brace of brilliant albums - the self-titled debut in 1985, then a year later Mean Business - and played across the UK and US in the years after. One of the best shows they did was at the Oakland Coliseum on 15th March. Their extraordinary energy and fine set list was recorded for live FM Radio Broadcast and now you can listen back to the whole thing on vinyl for the first time ever.

Review: Originally bestowed upon fans and newcomers alike in 2007, Riot! is Paramore's second album and represented a real evolution in sound for the band at the time. While never straying from the emo-punk-pop blueprint that first garnered them love and attention, this iteration saw the troupe explore more experimental and abstract ideas, while still giving us all plenty to pogo-on-about.

Hence the high chart ranking, in the US at least, and multiple gold records from sales in global territories. Music aside, it may or may not have been at this point when many ears began to realise that - even in the most angsty and immature moments - Paramore's lyrics are well and truly a cut above most of the rest. The combination being an irrepressible power that can't help but go straight for the emotional heartstrings, whether that means creating positive energy or inward reflection.

Review: As the title suggests, this Under The Covers album is a collection of tunes the legendary band played at their live gigs, but which they hadn't actually written themselves. There are many glorious overs here, all of which are very much done in true Pearl Jam fashion - with passion and energy. The collection also demonstrates quite how wild and eclectic the band's taste must have been. As such the collection tells you plenty about their enormous knowledge and love of music past and present. There is plenty to love here, so dig yourself in deep and lap it up.

Review: There's a clear statement of intent when a band puts out a retrospective compilation subtitled Volume 1. Pearl Jam are unarguably an outfit that can back up that hinted threat with genuine goods, too, ranking among the most influential US alternative rock bands of the 1990s. As such we're already chomping at the bit with anticipation for the sequel.

Sticking with this one, though, there's plenty here to introduce newcomers to exactly why the act that gave us landmark LPs like Ten warrant revisiting and celebrating. Tracks like 'Alive' and 'Even Flow', and 'Once' still sound as powerful and inimitable (no that many haven't tried) as they did when said album landed, with a slew of other material here proving just how many new ideas came from the team in their formative years.

Review: Surely everyone had at least some period in their younger years where they were fully signed up fans of Eddie Vedder and his Pearl Jam? Well, if that's you, relive your youth with this bumper collection of their great hist from arguably their best period - the early nineties on to the turn of the millennium. Rearviewmirror comes in two volumes which really speaks to the number of big tunes the American band put out in their time. This first one has the likes of 'I Am Mine,' 'Daughter' and personal favourite 'Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town.'

Review: RECOMMENDED
The story behind No Code is one of resilience, rights, and division. First released in 1996, it arrived at a point in time when the band were still reeling from their troubled Vitalogy tour, in which they took a stand against Ticketmaster by boycotting the company, giving a sneak preview of the problematic relationship between bands, fans and ticketing platforms that would grow more visible in the following decade.

Once again, Pearl Jam struck it big here, with the record landing at number one in the Billboard 200 charts, making for the group's third consecutive number one album. However, the success was short-lived. Combining the alternative and grunge rock they were known for with elements of garage, experimental balladry and worldbeat, it's easily their most diverse, but that didn't suit everyone back then. Hit play today, though, and we're not sure anyone could argue against the depth and innovation at play.

Review: The eleventh studio album by prolific American rock band Pearl Jam, Gigaton was originally released in March 2020 and sold out almost instantly. Now getting a re-run on US label Monkeywrench, fans have a second chance at adding this standout release to their collection. Typical of Pearl Jam this release features inventive instrumentation such as the 1850s-era pump organ originally played by Vedder on the 2015 demo of 'River Cross'. Featuring popular singles 'Dance of the Clairvoyants', 'Superblood Wolfmoon' and 'Quick Escape', Gigaton was undoubtedly well worth the six and half year wait. Definitely one you'll need to grab before it's gone.

Review: If you don't know the context in which this live album was recorded then let's just say there are some pretty important details. Nevertheless, that knowledge isn't essential to appreciating what's here - which, as Tom Petty himself puts it at one point, is a "damn good time". Rock 'n' roll music in arguably its most unapologetic form, it's rollocking rhythms, drums, and guitar hooks, snake charmer solos and tight to the point you almost wonder if it really was bottled in the moment.
It was, and this moment was one of 20 shows Petty and his Heartbreakers played at San Francisco's legendary concert hall, The Filmore, during January and February 1997. A residency that set a benchmark for band residencies, the fact none of those dates sounded the same, and instead the group used the platform for a live lab experiment, twisting, reworking, rethinking and, hell, having a damn good time, is testament to their pedigree.

Review: Hi-def mono reissue of Floyd's classic 1967 album, remastered in 2017 from the original analog tapes. Known for its rough, crunchy psych sound that predated the band's later, boundless space rock sensibilities, this is the wall-breakers at their most primordial, and their least beat-around-the-bush. This one's been given an anniversary reissue a whopping three times in a row; of course, we should endeavour not to overlook the more perfunctory, audiophiles' rarities such as this. Make sure you add it to your 'Gates Of Dawn' collection while you can.

Review: Whatever your views of what Sting may have become after he left his band, you can't argue that The Police was a superb outfit. They took a love of reggae and transformed it into funky, soul, pop leaning tunes with oodles of charm and plenty of big hooks and kooky lyrics. 1982's Around The World now gets a deluxe and extended reissue on vinyl and DVD with restored picture and remastered audio. It chronicles the band's first ever world tour and takes in some of their biggest hits such as 'Walking On The Moon', 'Message In A Bottle', 'Roxanne' and 'So Lonely.'

Review: You'd be hard pushed to find anyone with a set of ears who doesn't like at least one of The Police's many hits. Sure, Sting is a pretty divisive figure these days but back in his pomp with this crew he was untouchable. The band was known for bring their love of dub and reggae to their catchy indie-pop sounds and it resulted in global tours, a number of chart topping hits and adoration from fans across the planet. All the best tune are here from the squealing 'Roxanne' to the freaky 'Walking on the Moon' via the funky 'Message In A Bottle.' This 30th Anniversary edition is a real bumper across four sides of vinyl.

Review: Prince is a name that needs no introduction. The Vault ... Old Friends 4 Sale was originally released in 1999 , a full three years after being submitted to Warner Bros in 1996. Thus, it was recorded in 1994 and 1995 which in many fans' eyes, follows some of the best Prince work when he was known as the symbol. Stylistically, the album has Prince exploring more jazz elements while still remaining clearly a Prince album. Perhaps due to Prince not doing a world tour to support the album and lack of radio friendly singles, the album wasn't the chart success that the label hoped for but to fans it holds a special place in their Prince discography.

Review: A series of Prince albums are being reissued by Warner, including this one from 1994. By then the legendary funk artist's relationship with his label was hugely stringed and he had recently change his name, for the first of several times to [Love Symbol]. This album was one of a number that the Purple One wrote in a short space of time in order to free himself from his contract with the major label. Despite those circumstances, it is still a standout record that managed to get to Number One in the UK despite a lack of support from Prince himself upon release.

Review: Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs of Saint Etienne fame are the diggers behind this new rock assemblage which pays tribute to mid-afternoon set times at lesser-known festivals from years gone (well, the 70s) such as Deeply Vale, Bickershaw, Krumlin, Weeley, and Plumpton. They were just as important to those who attended as the more celebrated likes of Glasto' and this collection shows the sounds were just as good, too. The sounds - from big names liek Deep Purple, Hawkwind and Alan Parker & Alan Hawkshaw to lesser known acts like Jonesy, will appeal to hippies and bikers alike with big riffs, funky drumming and some psyched-out sounds.