Reviews - critics
To this day, the 3AM record (Long Time Coming) that I had the chance to review has been one of my favorites. Great band and a great record!!
Nik Rodewald of Blues Rock Review
“Any band that can make a classic like “I’d Rather Go Blind” sound fresh and new has got to be special!”
Philippa at The White Lion, St Albans
I loved the band! So professional and involving, and Laura is just brilliant! I'd forgotten how much I like certain types of blues/rock/jazz. Must try harder and take some more risks with live music!
You and your band oozed quality and imparted an often-missing sense of enjoyment and fun where live music is concerned. The sound levels were perfect for the venue.
Someone once tried to explain to me the difference between a singer and a vocalist; I think I see now what they meant... your expressiveness shines.
MacMaclaren of Lemonrock
3AM combine the talents of singer Laura Long, guitarist Tim Renton, drummer Andy Renton, bass player Fussi Andersen and keyboard player Chris Parren. There is also a guest appearance by saxophonist Oti Arlotto. The album comprises nine tracks, which include six original compositions.
“Sweet Loving Woman” provides a lively opening, which is built on by the bouncing rocker “For The First Time”, which has more than a suggestion of Canned Heat about it. The bluesy ballad, “Someone To Love”, features a lovely guitar solo before an excellent version of Percy Mayfield’s “Early Monday Morning” is embellished by a tasty sax solo and some fine keyboard tinkling. “Tomorrow” is a gentle, Petula Clark-like ballad while the upbeat “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is driven by a predominant drum beat. “Know Your Man” provides three minutes of very pleasant, easy syncopation, in direct contrast to the slow, Muddy Waters-style shuffle “Insatiable”, that follows it. The album is concluded with the upbeat blues rocker, “Highway”, which sees all band members at their best, including the delivery of a couple of impressive guitar solos and some nifty keyboard playing.
The tightly-assembled, highly-skilled musicianship complements the Dani Wilde-like vocals of Laura Long, which are particularly effective on the bouncier, full-blown numbers. The album also demonstrates the band’s considerable versatility in the range of musical styles presented.
LIONEL ROSS
Review: 3AM – Long Time Coming - (Self-produced album: 3AM4)
3AM combine the talents of singer Laura Long, guitarist Tim Renton, drummer Andy Renton, bass player Fussi Andersen and keyboard player Chris Parren. There is also a guest appearance by saxophonist Oti Arlotto.
The album comprises nine tracks, which include six original compositions.
“Sweet Loving Woman” provides a lively opening, which is built on by the bouncing rocker “For The First Time”, which has more than a suggestion of Canned Heat about it. The bluesy ballad, “Someone To Love”, features a lovely guitar solo before an excellent version of Percy Mayfield’s “Early Monday Morning” is embellished by a tasty sax solo and some fine keyboard tinkling.
“Tomorrow” is a gentle, Petula Clark-like ballad while the upbeat “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is driven by a predominant drum beat. “Know Your Man” provides three minutes of very pleasant, easy syncopation in direct contrast to the slow, Muddy Waters-style shuffle, “Insatiable”, that follows it. The album is concluded with the upbeat blues rocker, “Highway”, which sees all band members at their best, including the delivery of a couple of impressive guitar solos and some nifty keyboard playing.
The tightly-assembled, highly-skilled musicianship complements the Dani Wilde-like vocals of Laura Long, which are particularly effective on the bouncier, full-blown numbers. The album also demonstrates the band’s considerable versatility in the range of musical styles presented.
LIONEL ROSS bluesinthenorthwest.com
Insatiable” comes as close to defining what the blues are all about as any tune this critic has ever heard.
Nik Rodewald of Blues Rock Review
You and your band oozed quality…
Mac MacLaren, Lemonrock
We added a couple of your songs to our rotation. You have a great sound and we’re thrilled to have you in the line-up!
SoozeBlues and Jazz (Radio Live 365)
It's more than a "bit" good. The song is incredible! It's one of the first ones I played on the station. If it's okay with you, I'd like to post this video on the SBJ website."
SoozeBlues and Jazz (Radio Live 365)
"Long Time Coming" is 3AM's Sophomore release and comes with what could be considered a fairly major change, that being filling the gap of needing a new Lead Singer, with the amical departure of singing dynamo Tola Lamont, with Laura Long, a very well known London Jazz Singer. Other band members included Chris Parren (Keyboards), Fussi Andersen (Bass), Andy Renton (Drums), and Tim Renton, Andy's Brother (Guitar).
"Long Time Coming" consists of 9 Tracks which is 1 Track longer then their debut release. The album is also around 39 minutes, about 5 minutes longer then their debut, which I was happy to see. Of the 9 Tracks, 6 are originals which has Tim Renton in on the writing credits for 5 of them, solely writing 3. Andy Renton gets in on 3 Tracks, 1 by himself and 2 along with Tim, and Laura. The 3 covers included Pete Gage's "Early Monday Morning", Midnight Flyer's "Sweet Lovin' Woman" and Percy Mayfield's "Someone To Love".
3AM consider themselves to be a Blues band deeply rooted in Rock, something which I certainly got from their debut release and this one, perhaps more so Rock, but it is that great Rock feel, that came out of the late 60's and early 70's, that drives this band. This rocky edge certainly comes through on the first 2 Tracks, "Sweet Lovin' Woman" and "For The First Time".
The 3rd Track, Percy Mayfield's "Someone To Love", starts to cut into the Blues a bit and nicely shows off Laura Long's Vocal dexterity. Really nice Guitar work on this one from Tim Renton.
Track 5, Andy Renton's "Tomorrow", is a well written and beautifully performed Ballad. This one comes across with a lot of gritty emotion.
The next Track, "Won't Be Fooled Again", had a real nice opening delivery to it, reminenscent of a little Rocky Horror Picture Show feel, something that it plays on throughout this song, as it slips in and out of a powerful Chorus line, which features great Harmony work. One of my favorite Tracks.
Track 7, "Do You Know Your Man", has not only Laura's great Vocals taking center stage, but also the mighty fine Piano work from Chris Parren. A really fun song to listen to.
Track 8, "Insatiable" and Track 9, "Highway", nearly make up a 3rd of the album clocking in at over 11 minutes. "Insatiable" hypnotizes us with it beautiful memorizing beat, while "Highway", takes over in the drivers seat and throws a little pedal to the metal. "Highway" is a really fine closer and puts you in just the right mood for wanting to hit the replay button.
Although straddling the fence more on the side of Rock, "Long Time Coming", never the less, delivers a potent punch of great tunes, sure to please any fan of really fine music. "Long Time Coming" is gritty, no-apologies-accepted, music, the type I really loved when I was younger and really appreciate having it brought forward, to the present.
"Long Time Coming", will no doubt be a winner for 3AM, it was certainly a winner for me.
John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
I love it more and more every time I play it.
Otis Mack – Tubby Blues
Makes me go all shivery
Ashwyn Smith, Digital Blues