Americana

Alistair James Hits New Heights with the Anthemic “Queen of Big Livin” – Single Review

8th Dec 2024 — Leave a comment

Alistair James’ latest single sees him stretching his musical horizons with a hearty piece of country rock.

Drawing on influences such as Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and David Bowie, James combines beautifully woven lyrics with classic rock riffs on the Queen of Big Livin’.

The riffs, in particular, reminded me of The Rolling Stones, with their bluesy, in-your-face energy that strikes you from the very first notes.

This perfectly suits the lyrics, which James crafts around these riffs, using characters to build a compelling narrative that hooks into the momentum created by the excellent guitar and drum work.

Things switch up nicely when the bridge hits, bringing in a warmer melody that breaks from the punchy style of the verse and chorus.

Overall, the track comes together seamlessly, weaving the influences of The Stones and Ryan Adams to produce a wonderful track.

Alastair James’ “It’s Time To Move On”: A Defiant Foot-Stomping Anthem – SINGLE REVIEW

4th Jul 2024 — Leave a comment

The latest single from Alastair James combines the very best of Rock and Americana to produce a delightful foot stomping anthem.

Taking influence from the likes of Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen, the Middlesbrough singer-songwriter blends genres and ideas on the track to excellent effect as he continues his comeback after time away from music.

James addresses his personal struggles in the lyrics, singing about the vertigo he suffered as a result of surgery on his hand and leg, and the mental strength it took to get him back to doing what he loves.

Both musically and lyrically, the track is defiant, opening with a distorted guitar intro that is guaranteed to get your foot tapping. This driving guitar line perfectly complements the lyrics about moving on, triumphantly gliding through the track.

The influence of heroes such as Springsteen and the Kinks is evident by the time the song reaches the soaring anthemic chorus.

The overall effect makes you feel as though you could be on a road trip down Route 66, with a real uplifting heartlands feel.

A beautifully played guitar solo adds to the tracks positivity and builds anticipation for an amazing climax.

Overall, this song radiates positivity and heart, with James defiantly moving on from his struggles and, with music as good as this, into a bright future.