When Stardust released their debut album in 2020, it came as a pleasant surprise. ‘Highway To Heartbreak’ arrived amongst a glut of average melodic rock discs, and by comparison, Stardust sounded far more enthused. Their overall sound had a little more punch than most, and in the song writing department, their gifts for penning big, old school choruses in the AOR tradition were huge. It was the kind of album that suggested a bright future, even for a band trading in sounds from yesteryear.
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #3
Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the single MP3s that have landed in our inbox over the previous few weeks. There has been absolutely no shortage of singular tracks coming our way, and this time, our selection brings you a pleasing assortment of digital goodies. You’ll discover new rock sounds, a bit of indie, even a singer songwriter or two. As always, we hope that whatever catches your ear will lead to further exploration.
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THE CAROLYN – Harmful History EP
Pop punk/indie punk band The Carolyn have been likened to The Gaslight Anthem and The Lawrence Arms, and one listen to their 2023 EP ‘Harmful History’ will make it really obvious why. These guys truly wear their influences on their collective sleeve, but in terms of any recycling, it results in something that’s been made with love. More importantly, its familiarity makes it massively enjoyable with immediate effect.
PET TWIN – Cabrini-Green / Lonely Ghost
Helmed by Juniper Nights frontman James Gallagher, Pet Twin is the kind of side project that could eclipse the musician’s “main band”. On this 2023 release, Gallagher explores a sound that’s very retro and yet almost timeless.
PHIL LYNOTT’S GRAND SLAM – Slam Anthems
Thin Lizzy were an exceptional rock band. The classic mid 70s line up managed to capture lightning in a bottle with Phil Lynott’s charisma and the trademark twin guitar sounds of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson. Even when the band shifted line-ups to include Snowy White and, latterly, John Sykes for a heavier sound, they were still a top tier rock band. True legends.