THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #87

This week’s Singles Bar is a rock-centric affair, but we’ve attempted to pull together a selection of tracks that really capture a wealth of different moods. There’s a track with 90s dream rock/shoegaze flair, a slab of Finnish metal with thrash elements, a classic sounding and very 90s influenced tune, and something with light prog leanings. Those hoping for something highlighting other genres should also find pleasure within some great power pop and a timeless sounding country-pop number marking the return of a great singer-songwriter. January is often notoriously quiet for new releases, but there should be enough here to pique your interest as usual!

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SONS OF SILVER – Runaway Emotions

At the beginning of 2024, Sons of Silver released the excellent ‘Tell Me This’, a single which advertised the US rock band with a real sense of gusto. Powering the verse, the track’s stop start riff harked back to a world of classic influences, with its overdriven sounds paying homage in part to ‘Electric’ era Cult, but sharing a retro heart that didn’t feel too far removed from the underrated Izzy Stradlin and the Juju Hounds. With a wealth of musical grit augmented by a pleasingly ragged vocal, it stood proudly as one of the year’s best underground rock tracks. The fact that it could’ve been recorded at any point during the last thirty five years really worked in its favour, too, giving Sons of Silver a tune that – going forward – could help them stand alongside some of the better known names in classic rock.

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MAGNUM – Live At KK’s Steel Mill

In January 2024, much loved British rockers Magnum released their twenty third studio album ‘Here Comes The Rain’. The record captured a typical sound for the veteran band, but mixed the huge pomp sounds of later releases like ‘The Serpent Rings’ with more of the commercial AOR elements of their late 80s work, making it feel a little more well rounded than some of the latter day Magnum releases. The record, although hugely enjoyable, was surrounded by sadness: just a few days before release, founding guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin passed away, effectively making ‘Rain’ a poignant swansong.

The deluxe edition of the album was packaged with a full length live DVD – ‘Live At KK’s Steel Mill’ – featuring what was to be Clarkin’s final gig with the band. Fans, naturally, loved this show, but many hoped for an audio release to fill out their already extensive collections. In January 2025, they would get their wish.

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GRETCHEN SHAE & THE MIDDLE EIGHT – Inside A Dream EP

Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight’s ‘Exit Fire’ EP from 2022 introduced listeners to a band with an impressive amount of punch. That release’s best material mixed the slightly punkier aspects of Justine And The Unclean with a bass heavy undercurrent that drew more from a classic post-punk/retro alt-rock sound. What was abundantly clear, though, was that Gretchen knew her way around a catchy hook, with ‘Unnatural Love’ and ‘Red Light Green Light’ (in particular) flaunting choruses that were a match for any similar sounding acts from yesteryear.

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THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #85

For our first Singles Bar feature of 2025, we’ve brought together an interesting selection of tunes. You’ll find a “typical” Real Gone backbone of rock, but with the help of some great, spiky synth sounds, a couple of singer songwriters, and even a country infused bar room sneer from a familiar musical figure, there’s enough here to attract anyone with a curious ear. As we prepare to embark on another year of great musical discovery, we hope you find something of interest here!

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