The Gleeman // You’ll Land Among The Stars // Album Review

Here we are, folks, racing towards the end of Jan already in 2026, the longest “Year” of the year, and it’s almost over. The good news, we have a new glorious recording from one of our fave solo acoustic singer-songwriters in The Gleeman with his new offering ‘You’ll Land Among The Stars’

We do love a good singer-songwriter over here at Rock ’N’ Load, I try my best to catch as many as I can across any given year when doing live reviews, mainly as a pallete cleanser as the majority of my gigs will be Rock and Metal, it is always good to venture outside of the usual genre and remind yourself where it all started for so many. And let’s be honest, the best shows, musically, sonically, production-wise that I have been lucky enough to attend have come from Country, Americana and good old-fashioned songwriters just like The Gleeman himself. 2026 looks to be a killer one for the live scene with so many top-shelf Country/Americana musicians on the road to entertain us, so settle in, light that fire and embrace the magic of this beautiful new recording.

Now, The Gleeman is a man on a mission. #MatureMusicMatters is his mantra, and rightly so. Try to get your hands on a Paul Simon or Bob Dylan ticket, and you’ll know why great music is timeless. If you are a fan of YouTube and the likes of Rick Beato, he will say himself when comparing 2026 Grammy Nominations with those of forty years ago, “Who will remember any of these tunes?” Nobody, Rick, they’re as disposable as the artists themselves. Hence, when an album like The Gleeman’s lands on your desk, you have to take notice.

The album may only be eight tracks long, but they carry a weight and responsibility that ensures you get your money’s worth with each and every one. The album’s opener is a feel-good track in ‘Our Teenage Years’ and has those old-school vibes that would remind you of the classics like Rick Springfield or Hall and Oats, and gets the feet tapping right away. A great opener and one to lift the spirits on a cold winter’s day, ‘All My Days’ is a more emotive track that allows you to absorb the quality of the musicianship on display. ‘Singing In The Rain’ takes me back to the likes of early Jon Denver, where the melodies just flow over you like a warm blanket. You can get lost in a soundtrack as easily as this. The vocal harmonies of ‘For A Second Time’ are a joy to behold. I love the quality of two voices coming together as they create a moment of magic that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ with its orchestral arrangements overlaying the vocals creates a beautiful sonic landscape that allows the mind to wander and take in the impeccably arranged pieces.

Before you know it, you are on your way towards the album’s last two songs, ‘You Are My Friend’ and ‘My Final Song’, that once again wrap you up in an emotive bubble to send you off on a melancholic high. A beautiful album from start to finish, it is a great reminder to keep the faith in the modern music industry, which can absolutely break your faith in humanity at times, but can also deliver gems like this. I think you need to keep an open mind and keep your eye out for such artists beyond the usual push on social media or viral trends, as you won’t find them there. But a lot of people, like myself, will quite often give the little guy an opportunity, where possible, to have a voice and be heard, and they absolutely deserve to be heard.

You’ll Land Among The Stars is released Jan 30th 2026.

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