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The Shins - The Worm's Heart (Album Review)
It’s now nearly a decade since James Mercer cut ties with his bandmates in the Shins and took all creative matters into his own hands. While subsequent records may have left listeners in no doubt as to whether he was the project’s true auteur, they’re also evidence of a misshapen band.
Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Thursday, 25 January 2018
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Fall Out Boy - Mania (Album Review)
Fall Out Boy have been hanging on to their pop-punk label by their fingernails since they emerged from hiatus in 2013. ‘Mania’ now sees the quartet loosen their grasp entirely, and fall hard because of it.
Written by: Liam Turner | Date: Thursday, 25 January 2018
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Shopping - The Official Body (Album Review)
Photo: CJ Monk
The revolution may not be televised, but it'll be heavily soundtracked by bands like Shopping, who have managed to make defiance a dance-worthy pursuit with their third album, ‘The Official Body’.
Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
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First Aid Kit - Ruins (Album Review)
Photo: Lauren Dukoff
How much do you value authenticity in pop musicians? Does it matter that cockney anarchist wide boy Joe Strummer was a public school diplomat’s son? That one of the world’s most popular reggae bands, UB40, earned their stripes in the Working Men’s clubs of Birmingham? Or that First Aid Kit’s particular brand of Americana was honed in a Stockholm suburb?
Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Tuesday, 23 January 2018
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Anderson East - Encore (Album Review)
Every now and then you come across an artist you’re convinced is going to be a superstar. That, ladies and gents, is definitely the case with singer-songwriter Anderson East. Armed with a sassy smorgasbord of swinging R&B, roof-raising gospel and smouldering soul, the man from Alabama has dragged the vintage strains of Otis Redding, Joe Cocker, Sam Cooke and Ben E. King into the present.
Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 18 January 2018
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Joe Satriani - What Happens Next (Album Review)
After spending most of this century exploring brain-bending sonic wormholes with an unstoppable momentum, instrumental guitar maestro Joe Satriani – aka Shockwave Supernova – has come back to earth on a record that sees him returning to his rock and soul roots. Loosely embracing the power trio format, and ably backed by a famous rhythm section, this is Satch’s most comparatively straightforward and accessible effort in decades.
Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Monday, 15 January 2018
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Camila Cabello - Camila (Album Review)
Having left Fifth Harmony to the kind of fanatical heartbreak last seen at Princess Diana’s funeral, the Cuban-born 20 year-old was eager to share new music in 2017. While Crying In The Club, I Have Questions, OMG and Havana all went into heavy rotation, the last was the only single to make it onto her debut solo effort, ‘Camila’.
Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Friday, 12 January 2018
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G-Eazy - The Beautiful & Damned (Album Review)
G-Eazy has been calling himself the “rap game’s James Dean” since day one. And give the Californian credit where it’s due: he’s just as confident and good looking, even if at 28 he’s already lived longer than his idol. ‘The Beautiful & Damned’ is Eazy’s fourth record and the title shows he’s been consistent with his branding, if nothing else.
Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 03 January 2018
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Electric Eye - From The Poisonous Tree (Album Review)
Fresh from travelling the world on an extensive tour, Norwegian psych rockers Electric Eye returned to the studio to get to work on their third album, ‘From The Poisonous Tree’, just a year after their second effort ‘Different Eye’. Their punishing schedule also took in a live album, ‘Live At Blå’, and their dedication must be admired. Ultimately, though, it’s also evident that they may be pushing themselves a little too hard.
Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Friday, 22 December 2017
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Lemuria - Recreational Hate (Album Review)
There’s a line that pops up a few times on Lemuria’s surprise new record, ‘Recreational Hate’. It’s there on the country-tinged twang of Kicking In, and again as Marigold speeds to its conclusion: “Like something I had, but I hadn’t noticed yet.”
Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
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N.E.R.D. - No_One Ever Really Dies (Album Review)
There are three words in the English language that are enough to strike fear into anyone: ‘featuring Ed Sheeran’. Is there nothing that man won’t put his hand to? A matter of weeks after popping up on Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’, not to mention drafting Beyoncé in to enliven his own song, Perfect, he’s one of a cavalcade of guest stars on ‘No_One Ever Really Dies’, the comeback album from N.E.R.D..
Written by: Ben Gallivan | Date: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
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Miguel - War & Leisure (Album Review)
For most R&B artists, repeatedly being mentioned in the same breath as Frank Ocean and the Weeknd would be taken as a massive compliment. But for Californian singer, producer and certified dandy Miguel, you get the feeling it’s become a source of frustration (and that’s not just because he and Ocean had a very public feud in 2015).
Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Monday, 18 December 2017
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Neil Young - The Visitor (Album Review)
The presidency of Donald J. Trump has presented something of an open goal for singer-songwriters like Neil Young. These days, his protests may be as subtle as someone opening an envelope with a chainsaw, but hearing him unapologetically venting in a way many of today’s stars wouldn’t dare is undoubtedly refreshing.
Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Tuesday, 12 December 2017
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Glassjaw - Material Control (Album Review)
Glassjaw’s return after a 15 year absence pays tribute to the music that first inspired them, reminding Daryl Palumbo and Justin Beck just why they formed a band. On ‘Material Control’ they retain the passionate, fierce energy of their youth, which eludes many older bands, while showcasing the maturity that comes with age.
Written by: Jennifer Geddes | Date: Monday, 11 December 2017
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U2 - Songs of Experience (Album Review)
In a 2013 interview, U2 frontman Bono described some of the challenges that come with producing ‘very good’ music. “People don't get excited about us being very good,” he said. “Who needs a new U2 album? There's loads of them out there [...] we have to make a great U2 album.”
Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Thursday, 07 December 2017
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Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 2 (Album Review)
Whenever an artist releases a swift follow up to their previous record that includes material culled from the same sessions, any excitement is often curtailed by the nagging concern you’re about to be served reheated leftovers.
Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 07 December 2017
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Spock's Beard - Snow Live (Album Review)
It was a dark day for fans of Spock’s Beard when Neal Morse left the group in 2002 to pursue a new musical direction inspired by his Christian faith. So when the prog-rock giant recently reunited with his former bandmates to play the concept album ‘Snow’ in its entirety, the spiritual resonance of the group’s performance was shared with an audience who never dreamt that day would come.
Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
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