PETE MACLEOD-ROLLING STONE.

dereksmusicblog ♦ October 6, 2013 ♦ Leave a comment

PETE MACLEOD-ROLLING STONE.

It was seventeen years ago, that Pete MacLeod made his professional debut. That night, in 1996, Pete walked on stage and sang two of his own songs. It gave Pete his first taste of the music industry. He was hooked, and wanted more of it. For the next eight years, Pete travelled up and down the country honing his sound. As thestar69 Pete paid his dues. This lead to Pete playing at Scotland’s biggest music festival T In The Park in 2004. Shortly after that, Pete enjoyed his first hit single. It was only a matter of time before Pete released his debut album. He released This Is Modern Soul in 2005. Critics predicted a successful future for Pete MacLeod. Surely, Pete would be signed by a record company and become Scotland’s latest successful musical export? 

Sadly, things didn’t quite pan out like that for Pete MacLeod. Despite a whole host of fans within the music industry, including Alan McGhee, Jim Kerr, Dave Grohl and Steve Cradock, that record contract eluded Pete MacLeod. That was until earlier this year.

Alan McGhee, the man behind the long, lamented Creation Records, had decided to make a comeback. So, he founded a new label 359 Music. Among the signings to his new label, was Pete MacLeod. This was no surprise, as Alan had long championed Pete’s music. Now that Alan was back in the music business, he was going to help spread the word about Pete McLeod. So, in July 2013, Pete MacLeod signed to Alan McGhee’s new label 359 Music. It’s on 359 Music that Pete MacLeod’s sophomore album Rolling Stone will be released. Before I tell you about Rolling Stone, I’ll tell about the eight year period between Pete’s debut and sophomore album.

Having released This Is Modern Soul in 2005, Pete spent much of 2006 touring the UK. His final show was at Glasgow’s ABC. This was something of a homecoming for Pete. 

The following year, 2007, Pete headed out on his first American tour. He was opening for Ocean Colour Scene. His first American concert, was in Los Angeles. In the audience was Alan McGhee, founder of Creation Records. From the moment he heard Pete’s music, he was a fan. Luckily, their paths would cross later in Pete’s career.

Three years after his debut album, This Is Modern Soul, Pete released a digital E.P. Acoustic. One of the songs on the Acoustic E.P, Panic, received plaudits from musical luminaries like lan McGhee, Jim Kerr, Dave Grohl and Steve Cradock. Ironically, it was recorded in cupboard of Pete’s Los Angeles flat. Later in 2008, Pete headed home to tour the UK. Accompanying him was former Oasis guitarist Bonehead. Still, there was no sign of a record contract. Pete was still one of music’s best kept secrets.

2009 saw Pete release another E.P. Lost and Found. It saw Pete collaborating with Nathan Hamill, whose father Mark, played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Despite the quality of music on Lost and Found, Pete still didn’t make a commercial breakthrough. So the following year, 2010, Pete decided to return home from Los Angeles.

Despite commercial success eluding him, Pete was a popular artist within the Los Angeles area. His acoustic shows were held in front of an appreciative audience. This was all well and good, but Pete wanted his music heard by a wider audience. So following a critically acclaimed performance at Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, Pete bid a fond farewell to Los Angeles.

This proved either by design or luck to be a good move. On his return home from Los Angeles, Pete’s digital single Rolling Stone was played on various Scottish radio stations during 2011. Soon, Rolling Stone is one of Q magazine’s top fifty downloads of the month. On the back of the success of Rolling Stone, Pete tours the UK and plays several successful shows in Los Angeles. 2011 had been a good year for Pete. 2012 would be even better.

During 2012, Pete played a homecoming show in his native Coatbridge, before heading to his adopted home of Los Angeles. Having played a successful show in Los Angeles, Pete releases the first of two singles, God Speed. It was followed by Let It Shine. Then for the last quarter of 2012, Pete headed out on tour, before heading to Berlin to record some new music. This would include the music on Rolling Stone.

2013 would prove to be one of the most important years of Pete’s career. Having toured the UK during March 2013, Pete plays dates in Hamburg and Los Angeles. Then in July 2013, Pete announces he’s signed to Alan McGhee’s new label 359 Music. It’ll be on 359 Music that Pete MacLeod will release his sophomore album Rolling Stone, which I’ll tell you about.

Let It Shine which opens Rolling Stone, literally bursts hopefully into life. There’s a real West Coast sound to the track. Pete’s following in the musical footsteps of Jackson Browne. Jangling guitars and the rhythm section drive the arrangement along. As for Pete’s vocal, it’s best described as Impassioned and heartfelt. It’s accompanied by honeyed harmonies as hooks and hope are ever-present.

Keep Your Dreams Alive could be autobiographical, as that’s what Pete’s been doing. Seventeen years after his professional debut, Pete’s just about to release his sophomore album. As drums provide a 4/4 beat, Pete confidently strums his guitar and goes on to deliver a soul-baring vocal. As crystalline guitars and cooing harmonies join Pete, whose vocal is full of hope and confidence, his advice is Keep Your Dreams Alive.

Straight away, it’s obvious that Rolling Stone is just a bit special. Good as the first two tracks were, this is much better. The same goes for the arrangement. From the opening bars, where the rhythm section and chiming guitars become one. They set the scene for Pete’s emotive vocal. When he sings: “I wish I was a Rolling Stone,” he’s speaking to and for, all the desk jockeys and pen pushers who dream of giving it all up, but never will. The open road and no responsibilities seem appealing, but the way Pete sings it, he knows, that’s never going to happen. It’s a nice thought and if it was to happen, Pete MacLeod’s Rolling Stone would provide the perfect soundtrack.

Briefly, the chord changes to Give A Little Love reminds me of the Glasgow band Del Amitri. Slowly, guitars glisten and chime while Pete’s vocal is impassioned and needy. Full of emotion, he pleas and hopes Give A Little Love.  

Hold Me Now has a melancholy, wistful sound as it unfolds. Pete strums his guitar, as his voice reverberates into the distance. There’s a sense of insecurity in his needy vocal. Again, he’s laying bare his soul for all to hear on this heartfelt paean.

God Speed sees a change of tact from Pete. He plugs back in and unleashes a blistering slice of rock-tinged music. Pounding drums, searing, screaming guitars and harmonies accompany Pete. He windmills his way through the track, his vocal a mixture of power and passion, as elements of rock, pop and folk unite seamlessly. Everything from Jackson Browne, Justin Currie, Bob Dylan and play their part in the track’s success.

On The Other Side (Part 1) is very different from the preceding tracks. Opening with a spoken word sample, which gives way to washes of synths and guitars, emotion fills Pete’s vocal as he sings about the loss of someone he loves. As part of the grieving process, he’s asking the big questions. Why did and happen, where do we go and what happens then. Searching for answers, sadness, loss, pain and anger are constant companions for Pete on what is, a deeply moving, thoughtful song.

Panic sees Pete return to the much more understated sound. It’s a guitar driven track, where Pete’s vocal is pensive and thoughtful. You listen intently to his cerebral, articulate lyrics. Pete as we’ve come to realize, is a talented songwriter. As for influences, there’s everything from indie, folk and pop. Sometimes, the track sounds not unlike some of Oasis’ more mellow songs. It certainly shows another side of Pete MacLeod, who hopefully after November 4th, won’t be one of Scotland’s best kept musical secrets.

Re:Ality reminds me of Hold Me Now. It’s just Pete and his trusty acoustic guitar, as he delivers a heartfelt, impassioned vocal. He sounds not unlike Neil Finn, of Crowded House. That’s how good his voice is. Equally good, are his lyrics. Describing them as full of emotion and ethereal beauty is an understatement. They’re much, much better than that. Quite simply, this is one of the highlights of Rolling Stone.

Today I Went Swimming, which closes Rolling Stone, sees Pete MacLeod bow out on a high. Sounding like a combination of Del Amitri, Crowded House and Jackson Browne, crystalline guitars chime, while drums provide the heartbeat. Pete for the last time, delivers a vocal that’s laden in emotion and happiness. Melodic and not short of subtle hooks, this is the perfect way to close Pete MacLeod’s comeback album Rolling Stone.

Rolling Stone describes the career of Pete MacLeod. Since making his professional debut, he’s seen the other side of the music business, the side most people forget about. Pete’s spent years traveling the length and breadth of Britain. Then there’s trips to Europe and to Pete’s adopted home of Los Angeles. All the time, Pete’s playing smaller venues, venues which are filled with a small, loyal and adoring fan-base. They attend every concert Pete plays, but sadly, word hasn’t spread about Glasgow troubadour Pete MacLeod. Instead, he’s remained one of music’s best kept secrets. Pete however, deserves a better fate than that.

For whatever the reason, Pete MacLead hasn’t had the breaks. Commercial success and critical acclaim have eluded Pete. Despite that, he’s certainly not short of talent. A talented singer-songwriter, Pete MacLeod should be filling larger venues and have a string of critically acclaimed albums to his name. Sadly, that’s not the case. Thankfully, time is still on his side. Maybe Rolling Stone, Pete MacLeod’s sophomore album, which will be released on Alan McGhee’s 359 Music, will mark a change in Pete’s fortunes. 

Given the quality of music on Rolling Stone, commercial success and critical acclaim might just be coming Pete MacLeod’s way. A fusion of folk, rock, country and pop, Rolling Stone showcases Pete MacLeod’s versatility and talent. Eight years after his debut album This Is Modern Soul, Scotland’s veteran Rolling Stone Pete MacLeod looks like making up for lost time with his hook-laden, heartfelt, soul-baring opus, Rolling Stone. Standout Tracks: Rolling Stone, Hold Me Now, Re:Ality and Today I Went Swimming.

PETE MACLEOD-ROLLING STONE.