The Last Great Dreamers – 13th Floor Renegades

CD:
The Last Great Dreamers
Price:
19.74

Reviewed by:
Rating:
4
On 12 March 2018
Last modified:12 March 2018

Summary:

The Last Great Dreamers  are still confident,  full of prowess and are not letting up,  playing real rock n roll to the bone.  You must check them out live because that’s where the real magic happens, on stage!!

The Last Great Dreamers (LGD) are back with their fourth studio album,  a lot earlier than envisaged by guitarist Slyder who remarked in 2014 that the band would hope to have a further album out by 2034.  The remark was probably in reference to the gap in the bands back story.  Formed originally in 1990’s and going under the name ‘Silverheart’,  they hit the scene with their own brand of rock n roll swagger,  commonly referred to as power pop rock, think ‘Cheap Trick’ and ‘Bad Finger’.  After many gigging line-ups,  their hard work paid off and just before they secured a record deal ‘Silverheart’ decided upon a name change and so ‘The Last Great Dreamers’ were born.  Dressed to thrill in stack heels and 70’s flared bottom suits, and signed to Bleeding Hearts Records they went about to record their first album ‘Retrosexual’ but it wasn’t without its ups and downs and come the mid 90’s,  the band tensions, and further line up changes etc had taken its toll.  As an attempt to reinvent the band they briefly changed names to Jet/Jet City but now the music industry had taken a fall and  these power pop rockers decided to call it a day in 1997.

So what now?  After a long hiatus and playing in other bands, vocalist, Marc Valentine and Slyder reunited and reformed  ‘The Last Great Dreamers’ in 2014 along with original drummer Ginge and ex SH/LDG roadie, Ian Scruffkid on bass;  they released an album of rarities and hit the road opening up for acts like The Darkness, Terrorvision, Hey Hello & Cherie Currie (Runways ex singer),  they again, began to leave their mark on the scene,  promoting their aptly named 3rd album ‘Transmission from oblivion’.  They embarked on a 20 date tour Supporting ‘The Quireboys’ –  which is where I first saw this band and I couldn’t believe they had passed me by!

Now after a successful run of shows in the UK, LGD took to Europe playing a 10 date tour  in Spain. Now back in the UK they are due to promote ‘13th Floor Renegades’ with an official album launch show at the Asylum in Birmingham on 7th April, after which you can catch them on said tour and at numerous festivals!

I would expect to hear blinding tracks off their latest album like ‘New Situation’ a stand out rock n roll number, upbeat and full of energy.  ‘Speed of light’ with its electro synth rock pulse, sucks you in with its melodic cool drums beats.  ‘I think I like it’ is  very bouncy and a typical LGD pop rocky number, which reminds me a little of ‘the Ramones’.    LGD delve into some  hard rock  on ‘Primitive man’ and ‘Miles Away’ is reminiscent of ‘Boy Dylan’ meets ‘the Faces ‘.  These guys have definitely been there and have bought the tee-shirt but they are still here with their vivacious rock n roll sound.  I wouldn’t say this album has a sleazy reputation like it’s predecessors, but rather has a more accurate representation of where the band is now in life and despite the rigours of the music industry ‘The Last Great Dreamers’  are still confident,  full of prowess and are not letting up,  playing real rock n roll to the bone.  You must check them out live because that’s where the real magic happens, on stage!!

13th Floor Renegades  will be released on 13th April 2018

 

Track listing:

  • New Situation
  • 13th Floor Renegades
  • Speed of light
  • No Sunshine
  • I think I like it
  • For your information
  • Primitive Man
  • Who’s side are you on
  • Miles Away
  • Broken Things
  • Going Home

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If you like RIYL Cheap Trick, Bad Finger, Mott The Hoople, Red Kross, Hanoi Rocks, The Faces – you’ll  love The Last Great Dreamers.

 

The Last Great Dreamers  are still confident,  full of prowess and are not letting up,  playing real rock n roll to the bone.  You must check them out live because that’s where the real magic happens, on stage!!

About Alex English