Merz - Moi Et Mon Camion

2-5 Stars

In his bookshop shows, should Merz win anyone over, it’s likely to be this no more than pleasant music will attract those shoppers in the ​‘tragic life stories’ section.

24th March 2008

Be Your Own Pet - Get Awkward

2-5 Stars

By now, you get the feeling that Be Your Own Pet should be broadening their horizons, and attempting something just a little more grown up.

17th March 2008

Nada Surf - Lucky

2-5 Stars

Nada Surf are good mainstream musicians, doing what they’re asked to do and what their public like: ballads of normal teenagehood. You can’t blame them.

4th February 2008

McFly - Greatest Hits

2-5 Stars

If The Libertines can release a ​‘best of’ after just two albums, then McFly surely must be allowed to after three.

5th November 2007

Nine Black Alps - Love / Hate

2-5 Stars

So, turns out Nine Black Alps singer Sam Forrest got his heart broken a few times and he’s, well, a little angry about it.

29th October 2007

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

2-5 Stars

Shame, this one could have been a big-haired and big-beated romp. As it is, it’s merely a sexy shuffle on the dancefloor.

30th July 2007

The Chemical Brothers - We Are The Night

2-5 Stars

Yes, the subliminal cry of ​‘dance fools, dance!’ might be missing, but that’s not a bad thing. Heck, it’s this kind of variation that makes it all the better.

2nd July 2007

Amiina - Kurr

2-5 Stars

As the languid, pleasant tinklings advance you’re two minutes in to ​‘Glamur’ before you realise fundamentally nothing has happened.

18th June 2007

The Stills - Without Feathers

2-5 Stars

A lacklustre and instantly forgettable album, despite proven potential.

11th June 2007

Sia - Lady Croissant

2-5 Stars

Live albums are always a bit, well, redundant to all but adoring fans. This is once again proved here.

7th May 2007

Idlewild - Make Another World

2-5 Stars

Never mind ​‘Make Another World’, it’s a bit surprising that Scot longstays Idlewild have made another album.

5th March 2007

The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off

2-5 Stars

As the album progresses, the drums become as painful as the vocals, though the final tracks are a welcome change of direction.

11th September 2006

Babyshambles - Down In Albion

2-5 Stars

Depending on where you sit on the Doherty fence he should either be poet laureate or he should be put out to pasture; it’s a fine line between genius and madman.

14th November 2005

The Thrills - Let’s Bottle Bohemia

2-5 Stars

To summarise: we’re still at stalemate — ​‘Let’s Bottle Bohemia’ isn’t going to change anyone’s opinion any time soon. As you were.

13th September 2004

Lambchop - Aw C’mon/No You C’mon

2-5 Stars

Lambchop’s 6th and 7th albums respectively, this double release of ​‘Aw C’mon/​No You C’mon’ is essentially a concept album contrasted with a more twee Belle and Sebastian.

9th February 2004