Shades of Gray – 'Are You Ready For Love'

Like everything else, COVID-19 (and the associated financial impact on the music industry) has most likely played its part in delaying the release of any further music from Shades of Gray… but good rock musics can’t be indefinitely destroyed by this pesky virus, hence the upcoming release of second single ‘Are You Ready For Love’, reviewed here in order to pique your interest and prick up your ears!

This track is a rocker from the outset, with some lead guitar squeals responding (in a call and response manner!) to chunky power chords! There’s a really 70s glam rock/blues rock feeling to the opening section, driven along by bass and drums and initially evoking memories of T-Rex and maybe even Fleetwood Mac’s (or Judas Priest’s!) Green Manalishi when the guitars come in! Prior to the chorus, there’s a more melodic vocal section where the vocals climb a bit higher up the scale, declaring “give it to me baby. I’ll take it like a man”. Sexy stuff indeed!! The chorus has a definite sing along quality that will have you bopping along in no time, assisted by the deployment of the ‘call and response’ idea used by the guitars during the intro. “Are you ready?” enquires the background vocals. “Are you ready for love?” clarifies Gray!! Of course, it would be unthinkable for a guitarist of Myke Gray’s quality not to adorn this track with a masterful guitar solo… and he doesn’t disappoint! It’s a solo worthy of inclusion in any hard rock track and I challenge you not to play air guitar with your eyes closed and face distorted during a private moment (or not so private, if you’re that way inclined and don’t care about neighbours seeing you!). Following a more menacing sounding bridge section that’s still driven along by the bass, the track plays out with the brilliant chorus, giving you one last chance to ask your other half if they’re “ready for love”!

This track will be featured on the debut Shades of Gray album that is now available for preorder on Myke Gray’s website and social media pages. Only 1000 physical CDs will be produced, so it’s worth ordering your signed copy before they sell out. He has also set up a Patreon page for donations, with the opportunity to have your name added to the credits of the album. As Gray himself says on a video message on his website, for the first time in his life, he has found himself unemployed due to COVID-19. So if you can, please consider preordering or donating, ensuring that talented British rock artists such as Myke Gray can continue to make great music… as ably evidenced by ‘Are You Ready for Love’.