Manic Street Preachers - Resistance is Futile (Album Review)

After dragging themselves out of the doldrums with 2007’s ‘Send Away The Tigers’, Manic Street Preachers released a string of superb records that were often brave, creatively single-minded and indicative of a band still bursting with ideas. But what goes up must come down. Their new LP, ‘Resistance is Futile,’ may offer a return to their anthemic mid-’90s sound, but it’s a hit and miss affair that sees a winning run finally come to an end.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 25 April 2018

Black Stone Cherry - Family Tree (Album Review)

Photo: Harry Reese Black Stone Cherry’s last two albums were predominantly intense affairs. Made under the dark clouds of depression and record label strife respectively, they boasted a heavy, aggressive approach that didn’t always play to the group’s strengths. The same can’t be said of ‘Family Tree’. Bursting with infectious exuberance and quality craftsmanship, it’s the work of a band who sound like they’re finally having fun again.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Tuesday, 24 April 2018

J. Cole - KOD (Album Review)

J. Cole is often regarded as being at modern hip hop's top table, alongside Drake and Kendrick Lamar. If we're talking about album sales, arena tours and all-round brand recognition, the North Carolina rhymer undoubtedly deserves his spot in this holy trinity. And, to his credit, he's largely achieved it without sacrificing the “true school” essence so revered by critics.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Monday, 23 April 2018

John Prine - Tree of Forgiveness (Album Review)

‘The Tree of Forgiveness’, John Prine’s first album of originals in 13 years, sees the singer-songwriter deliver a fine collection of folksy Americana, with his distinctive and understated drawl presenting themes of mortality and rejuvenation. It is an album of genteel humour and quiet existentialism that should inform (and remind) listeners of his rare talent.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Thursday, 19 April 2018

Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour (Album Review)

Rebellious. Outspoken. Liberal. Misfit. Stubborn. Independent. Stoner. Since the release of her 2013 debut album ‘Same Trailer Different Park’, people have been desperate to label Kacey Musgraves. But if anyone thought they had the Texan singer-songwriter pegged, both as a person and musician, the ethereal intimacy of this neo-traditional country album will banish any preconceptions for good.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 19 April 2018

Møl - Jord (Album Review)

Møl’s debut album, ‘Jord’, is a brutal, emphatically beautiful entry into the blackgaze genre. It’s another awesome reminder of how far black metal has expanded since its earliest days, with bands now concerning themselves less with corpse paint and Satan, and more with crafting hypnotic spectacles through foreboding ambience. And ‘Jord’ really is spectacular at times.

Written by: Guy Hirst | Date: Wednesday, 18 April 2018

King Tuff - The Other (Album Review)

Whether it’s his cartoonish vocals or bizarre one-liners, King Tuff’s innate goofiness has always seemed inseparable from his music. It’s a welcome surprise, then, that his kooky ways have all but vanished on his fifth full-length, making it his most mature outing yet.

Written by: Liam Turner | Date: Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Sex & Food (Album Review)

Photo: Neil Krug A simple glance at the tracklisting would lead you to think that ‘Sex & Food’, the fourth album by Unknown Mortal Orchestra, is intently focused on the political context in which it was born. Ours is a world of technological turmoil and political pandemonium, and more than half of the song titles here scream of a critical appraisal of our current climate.

Written by: Helen Payne | Date: Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Kylie Minogue - Golden (Album Review)

Since the release of her debut album in 1988, the world has seen many iterations of Kylie Minogue. From pop princess to showgirl to disco queen, the Australian star has now revealed her latest reincarnation, as a country chanteuse, on ‘Golden’.

Written by: Olivia Tambini | Date: Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Rough Hands - Moral Terror EP (Album Review)

Photo: Harry Steel Rough Hands’ ‘Moral Terror’ EP is an example of intelligent British hardcore that will nevertheless satisfy your unquenchable mosh pit bloodlust. It would certainly be a fitting soundtrack for isolationist misanthropy, or maybe sending a windmilling elbow towards someone’s face. But there is more at at work here than just noise and chest-beating.

Written by: Guy Hirst | Date: Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Flatbush Zombies - Vacation in Hell (Album Review)

Photo: Ben Kaye When the self-described 'beast coast' movement emerged out of New York in the early 2010s, Joey Bada$$ and his mammoth crew Pro Era received the bulk of critical attention. The group, much like fellow Brooklynites the Underachievers, won acclaim for their true school ethos, playful sound and reverence for their hip-hop heroes.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Wye Oak - The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs (Album Review)

It’s fair to say that Wye Oak no longer sound like a band called Wye Oak.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Monday, 16 April 2018

Isaac Gracie - Isaac Gracie (Album Review)

Isaac Gracie has been a hot topic ever since he uploaded a bare bones demo of Last Words to Soundcloud back in 2015. It became a slow-burn internet hit, with the young indie-folk troubadour quickly declared to be the new Jeff Buckley, or even Bob Dylan. But he had just a handful of tunes under his belt and had barely set foot on a stage. Were the claims ill-founded?

Written by: Liam Turner | Date: Monday, 16 April 2018

Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy (Album Review)

One thing is for sure: Cardi B is no one hit wonder.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Friday, 13 April 2018

Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog (Album Review)

Photo: Tonje Thilesen When confronted with an empty canvas, there’s always a temptation to fill every inch of it; to purge yourself of ideas, to remake and remodel. On their second album, ‘Painted Shut’, Hop Along didn’t have that option. Their time in the studio came with a full stop attached to it, so they had to work fast and clean. The dense, layered approach of their debut, ‘Get Disowned’, was set aside in favour of economical indie-rock songs that had the happy byproduct of pushing their melodies, and Frances Quinlan’s remarkable voice, to the fore more than ever before.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 12 April 2018

Eels - The Deconstruction (Album Review)

The term ‘auteur’ is derived from cinema criticism, and describes a director whose personal vision can be seen in every part of their films; from script, to music, to set design, and so on.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Thursday, 12 April 2018

Kali Uchis - Isolation (Album Review)

Photo: Felipe Q Nogueira Kali Uchis may well possess one of the keenest new intellects in pop. Her debut album, ‘Isolation’, is a veritable smorgasbord of chart joy, combining funk and soul revivalism, synth-pop and Latin tropicana with a stunning degree of cogency and verve.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Thursday, 12 April 2018

Hinds - I Don't Run (Album Review)

The party is over on Hinds’ second album, ‘I Don’t Run’. Their debut celebrated late nights and drunken hookups, but this release sees the band get truthful about their emotions as the partying and one night stands get tiresome.

Written by: Jennifer Geddes | Date: Wednesday, 11 April 2018

Blackberry Smoke - Find A Light (Album Review)

Ask any fan of Blackberry Smoke which of their albums best represents their sound and they’ll probably go into a tailspin of deliberation. The Georgia quintet may be southern rock stalwarts with an easily identifiable sonic imprint, but they always gift each record its own unique signature, tellingly spicing their musical stew with fresh flavours.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 11 April 2018

The Weeknd - My Dear Melancholy, (Album Review)

This week in music marketing news, the Weeknd branded his new release, ‘My Dear Melancholy’, a ‘six track album’ as opposed to an EP. Whatever.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Tuesday, 10 April 2018