ACCIDENTAL MUSIC REVIEWER | OCTOBER 2021 

Stan Kelly 

“MMXXI - THE STORY SO FAR” BY JAMIE PORTER BAND 

The Jamie Porter Band release a new album on 8th October. “MMXXI - The Story So Far” is a collection of recent singles and a number of new updated versions from their back catalogue to reflect the band’s current sound and musical direction. This mixture of newer and older material really works well as an album in it’s own right and could just turn out to be a stroke of genius for these talented rockers from the North West. 

This record has everything: Blood pumping rock anthems with plenty of classic, blues and country rock elements which produce a vintage rock vibe with modern elements to give it a great refreshing sound. For those of you already counting down to Christmas, this is a musical selection box to really gorge on as it has got the lot: Stadium rock worthy bangers, sweaty dark room sing along till you are hoarse choruses and a few mellower and thoughtful songs with touching lyrics and melodies. It has mosh pit rallying battle hymns and just good old foot tapping, singing your head off classic rock. 

JPB are another in a long line of uber-talented rock trios who make way too much noise and musicianship than only three people should be able to produce, but they sound like they do it all with ease. Yes, some of that is down to the production of the record, but any producer can only work with what is in front of them and with this record, it sounds like father and son Jamie and Danny Porter, along with long time friend Jason Edmunds on drums, know exactly what they are doing. 

This album is full of chunky, room shaking riffs, harmonies and captivating vocals. The superb production brings everything together to give the listener some truly memorable rock n’ roll. For those music fans out there who are not familiar with The Jamie Porter Band and need some other band names to be dropped in order for them to imagine what they sound like, then sorry because I am not going to do that. All I will say is that if you truly love all or just a few certain blends of heavy or classic rock, whatever turned you on to those styles of music in the first place, trust me you will find what you are looking for on this album. 

Halfway through listening to this album, I put this band on my “must see live” list. It is not hard to imagine how good these songs will sound in a live and appreciative environment. 

Jamie (Dad) obviously has a lifetime and a record collection to draw inspiration and influences from a vast spectrum of rock, blues and country elements. Son Danny brings a fresher, younger pair of ears and perspective to add some modern touches. 

“Ready For Action” and “Where We Belong” are just two which I can see being live crowd favourites. These songs bring back memories of back when all radio stations had large swathes of air time dedicated to rock music. There are nods to the golden age of hard rock, but there are still plenty of modern and updated sections to appeal to music fans of all ages. 

Stand out tracks for me personally are the aforementioned “Ready For Action” and “Where We Belong. My personal favourite has to be “Sound Of Summer” which has a glorious West Coast USA in the early eighties feel to it. This is a rocking outdoors in the sunshine with a beer in your hand kind of vibe. It will definitely take older fans back to different times when music had a communal effect on society, a lot more than it does nowadays. 

This is an extremely good rock album and will be well received by the loyal JPB fan base and will make fans of other rock bands sit up and take notice. I will be surprised if it will convert many “rock virgins”, but I hope to be proved wrong on that one. 

This band and this album sit well in their own territory within the musical landscape. They do not need to go and explore new regions, everyone should know where to find them, and I am sure quite a few will do given time. 

I defy any rock music fan regardless of their affiliations or taste not to love this album. It is absolutely chock full of all the good stuff we rock fans love to listen to. This is a very talented band and this is a very well-crafted Rock N’ Roll record which should be listened to, shared and enjoyed.

ACCIDENTLY INSPIRED PODCAST | OCTOBER 2021 

Craig Wilkinson 

                Out in early October, MMXXI (2021 for anyone not up to speed with their Roman numerals!) is a ten-song collection of songs from the Jamie Porter Band, capturing brand new material nestling alongside some reworked and reimagined songs from their back catalogue. 

                Kicking off with the appropriately titled Ready for Action, this mid-tempo number sets the scene for the rest of the album, Jamie telling us that “rock n roll, it never felt better”; a reaction to the frustrations and restrictions that everyone has felt in recent times? Maybe? But whatever the motivation this is a great opener, with a distinct late seventies/eighties’ vibe; you could just imagine this song soaring out of the radio as you cruised down the Pacific Coast Highway in your soft-top convertible… 

                Next up are the first two newly reworked songs – not knowing the original versions I had nothing to compare them with, however both tracks slot seamlessly into the overall scheme of the album sitting comfortably alongside the newer tracks. Particular mention goes to the gorgeous wah-wah guitar work on the intro and solo of Lay It On Me, which grabbed my attention immediately and didn’t let go till the final note. 

                The highlights of the album for me are the one-two-three combination of You Can’t Bring Me Down, Everything You Do and Sound of the Summer.  The first worships at the altar of all things rock n roll, a glorious singalong with a strong attack and attitude aplenty.  Everything You Do, is a dreamy, sunny song, the soundtrack to the best summer you never had (but always dreamed of) leaning more into the melodic side of life and complemented by some lovely keyboard flourishes.  Continuing the upbeat sunny motif, next up is Sound of the Summer, with more glorious melodies and harmonies to lift the spirit and put a smile on your face, reaching a peak with a superbly delivered solo. 

                One of the most intriguing things about this album are the wide range of influences and sounds contained across the track list.  From harder bluesy rockers and more Southern-drenched numbers, to (more surprisingly) tunes with an almost AOR edge, what could have been an unwieldy mish-mash of styles, somehow manages to effortlessly mesh together into a cohesive, satisfying whole.  

                MMXXI doesn’t give it all up straight away, no, this is an album that gets better with each subsequent listen revealing more subtleties and nuances in the playing; take, for example, the shimmering keys adding extra depth and colour to Where We Belong, whilst never overwhelming or dominating. 

                The penultimate track, The Last Train sashays in to the station with a Southern-vibe and country-style swagger.  A panoramic tune, building to a fast final section, apparently there “ain’t no fool like an old fool” but this old fool has a one-way ticket and is climbing aboard for the ride.  

                Touch the Sky brings the proceedings to an end on a suitably high note (no pun intended), with the band in a more reflective mood.  Great backing vocals (who doesn’t love a good wo-ah, wo-ah!?) and Jamie playing one last blistering solo like his life depends on it, the album closer does exactly what it should – leaves you wanting more. 

                MMXXI is a great collection of songs, excellently produced and played throughout with style, taste and aplomb.  This is a statement of where the band are now and is one in which they should be rightfully proud…right, I’m off to buy a convertible, with a very loud stereo…

No Link – A personal review.  Email Craig Wilkinson