Shoot's one and only album was recorded at Abbey Road and Air studios in early 1973, and produced by Ian McLintock, who'd played with The Others, Sands and Sundragon before moving into the production field at EMI. "I knew The Others because they were all at my school, Hampton," notes Jim. Released later that year, the album features an impressive set of melodic West Coast-flavored material, all but one song composed (or co-written) by McCarty. The opening "Neon Life" is a standout with its soaring vocal harmonies, tasteful lead guitar work and jazzy undertow. "Neon Life" was about that late city life that I was trying to avoid at that time," says Jim. "I'd moved out of London about 20 miles and relished the peace and quiet where I lived." The haunting "Sepia Sister" is another highlight, its gentle acoustic backdrop cloaked by clouds of Mellotron and psychedelic lead guitar. "Sepia Sister" was influenced by the spaciousness of America - something I've always loved," says McCarty. "I liked those old sepia prints from the Wild West. The Mellotron was pretty fashionable at the time and really brought out the feeling of spaciousness in that song. Also, you didn't have to be a keyboard virtuoso to play it!"

...Unfortunately the album sold unspectacularly at the time. "I'm afraid we had very little airplay and consequently never really got off the ground in terms of touring," recounts Jim. "We recorded some more demos, but were not taken up by the record company." The group split up soon afterwards. "It was all very disappointing," he admits, "but I think the album does sound pretty good now, and I'm very happy it got a rerelease."

The CD reissue by Angel Air adds two tracks from a December 1972 BBC radio session, "Neon Life" and an otherwise unrecorded song, "Storms as Sorrows".

Ugly Things Magazine (Summer/Fall 2017)

---

On this CD debut (with 2 extra items), the compositions per se still shape up to confident and often unorthodox arrangements, passing any artistic litmus test if stripped down to just voice and piano, as is actually the case for half of waltz-time 'Old Time Religion', a most immediately memorable opus along with 'Ships And Sails', guitarist Dave Greene's brief 'Head Under Water' instrumental, the understated tension of 'Sepia Sister' plus the title track (and spin-off single)

R2 Magazine (May/June 2017)

---

Released in 1973, it keeps a wide berth from the sort of sweeping acoustic-based prog of that early Renaissance in favour of a largely soft-rock approach which yet lurches wildly and unpredictably into country-rock, blues, folk-boogie and even some art-pop, worthy of the nascent 10cc. The latter is best represented by the opening track and probably the standout, the very cleverly composed and played 'The Neon Life'. Other highlights are the subtle yet charming 'Sepia Sister' and the lengthy closer 'Mean Customer'.

Classic Rock Society (May/June 2017)

---

It's a shame that Shoot's flame burned out so quickly, as this debut showed a lot of promise but ultimately it was to be the lone recorded output from the band before they broke up. Angel Air has gone to great lengths to make On the Frontier's first appearance on CD a good one, complete with a detailed history of the band and photos. It's well worth investigating for those always searching for rare '70s rock.

Sea Of Tranquility (April 2017)

---

'The Neon Life' is responsible for opening the album and it is particularly well placed, led by Jim's piano. The saxophones of Lyn Dobson and Bob Birtles give a jazzy colouring...We notice the importance of Jim's dominant voice, with beautiful vocal harmonies on 'Ships And Sails' combined with sumptuous arrangements, and wonderful guitar. 'Living Blind' has electric piano bringing a funky side, also enhanced by the saxophones and feverish guitar. Jim's voice is warm and melodious.

All the sound of the west coast of the United States is honoured on 'On The Frontier' where BJ Cole plays the pedal steel guitar. In 1973, this track was offered by Jim to Renaissance for his fourth album 'Ashes Are Burning'...two bonuses are included from radio sessions...a beautiful version of 'The Neon Life' where guitar and piano are worth the detour. One wonders why this album has gone completely unnoticed, certainly hidden by the stars like Roxy Music, Queen and Genesis.

Highlands Magazine - Translated (March 2017)

---

Jim's former group would cover the title piece of "On The Frontier" a few months down the line, but there's a charged urgency to the ivories-driven original to send ripples across the tracks and veer away before voices elevate the country-tinctured "Midnight Train" above the painstakingly textured surface of the record - best felt on "Sepia Sister" which, in its grand understatement, could shine on McCarty's next venture, ILLUSION. In a SHOOT context, though, the momentum-gaining "Living Blind" unfolds as a demonstration of the band's jazzy edge, from electric keyboard strokes to the shards of brass that are also sprinkled over Greene's acid-kissed six strings to add a touch of psychedelic delight to "The Neon Life" whose previously unreleased live-on-radio version extended it to highlight the collective's interplay and vocal harmonies.

Another bonus, "Storms As Sorrows" where wah-wah has a field day, didn't make the cut, but if it did there would be a nice arc between this number and an almost orchestral "Ships And Sails" which is weaving acoustic lace around the same bobbing bass. Just as majestic, and helped by a new RENAISSANCE's John Tout on piano, "Old Time Religion" paints patinated lines over a hymnal swell, but it's "Mean Customer" that rhythmic wonders are housed in to shake off the cobwebs and welcome raga into the fold.

Slightly exotic, although not going all over the place, the album would struggle to find a listener, so after a handful of concerts, the players became disillusioned and soon went separate ways; their only collaboration remains an essential piece of British art-rock rock puzzle. ****

DMME.net (March 2017)

---

This in fact is mostly soft rock with hints of country, psych and prog here and there, with only 'The Boogie' being somewhat in blues mode...Dave Greene plays incisive guitar on 'The Neon Life' and is excellent throughout; on some tracks the exceptional Lyn Dobson (ex-Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames) and Bob Bertles (ex Max Merritt & the Meteors) augment on horns; there are two bonus tracks, from radio sessions.

Blues In Britain (March 2017)

---

Their one and only album...now released for the first time on CD, Jim McCarty has added 2 previously unreleased radio session bonus tracks - 'Storms As Sorrows' and 'The Neon Life'.

Bev Bevan, The Sunday Mercury (February 2017)

---

The band made only a scant number of live appearances and managed only a single album, On the Frontier, now reissued by Britain's highly laudable Angel Air label with two radio sessions tagged on for good measure...a closer listen reveals several hidden gems - the supremely melodic "The Neon Life," "Ships and Sails" and the title track (belatedly covered by a McCarty-less Renaissance) among them...there's something to be said for the album's sensual sound, making it more than a mere curio and a still-worthy part of the Yardbirds' lingering legacy.

Goldmine Magazine (February 2017)

---

It's a shame that Shoot's flame burned out so quickly, as this debut showed a lot of promise but ultimately it was to be the lone recorded output from the band before they broke up. Angel Air has gone to great lengths to make On the Frontier's first appearance on CD a good one, complete with a detailed history of the band and photos. It's well worth investigating for those always searching for rare '70s rock.

Sea Of Tranquility (February 2017)

---

This is the first time that this album has ever been made available on CD. Shoot was a short lived band. During the time they were together, this is the only album they released in 1973. The band was comprised of Jim McCarty (lead vocals, keyboards, percussion), Dave Greene (vocals, guitars, banjo), Bill Russell (bass), and Craig Collinge (drums, percussion). Principle songwriter McCarty is best known as the drummer in The Yardbirds and Renaissance. But he has also released solo albums and played in Together, Illusion, Box of Frogs, Stairway, The British Invasion All-Stars, and Pilgrim (whew!).

This is one of those cases in which this album will probably find an entirely new listening audience in 2017. It seems sad that these tracks have been unavailable for such a long time. Although recorded decades ago, these recordings have lost none of their magic over the years. The playing is precise and inspired, and the vocals are simply amazing. Recorded at Abbey Road studios, these cuts still sound amazing. In addition to the original ten tracks on the original album, this reissue also includes the bonus tracks "Storms As Sorrows (radio session)" and "The Neon Life (radio session)." Listening to this, one can't help but wish these guys had kept things together longer to record more music. Another true gem unearthed by the folks at Great Britain's Angel Air label.

babysue (February 2017)

---

A forgotten jewel of former Yardbirds and Renaissance drummer Jim McCarty. 'Shoot' missed the commercial goal in the seventies but is nevertheless an impressive album.

Keys and Chords (January 2017)

---

This album will tweak the interest of classic rock fans, featuring the drummer from The Yardbirds and the original line-up of Renaissance, Jim McCarty.

Originally released in 1973 it failed to make much of an impact; the band hardly gigged to support it. However, now on CD for the first time, it is something of a lost psychedelic progressive rock gem.

Southern Daily Echo (January 2017)

---