The Mountain Goats - The Life Of The World To Come
4-5 Stars
Darnielle knows all too well of this pain and reclamation he speaks of.
3rd November 2009
4-5 Stars rated Albums & EPs
Johnny Foreigner - Grace And The Bigger Picture
4-5 Stars
Difficult second album? Pfft. As if.
26th October 2009
Gentle Friendly - Ride Slow
4-5 Stars
Despite the dark, often brooding sounds used in the record, there’s still a warmth and intimacy that shines through.
20th October 2009
Tubelord - Our First American Friends
4-5 Stars
Sounds overwhelming, right? Probably because, well, it is.
9th October 2009
Various Artists - Ciao My Shining Star
4-5 Stars
There is an underlying theme of hope and longing that is also found in Mulcahy’s songs.
5th October 2009
The Twilight Sad - Forget The Night Ahead
4-5 Stars
Enjoy this record. Preferably quite loud.
1st October 2009
Twin Atlantic - Vivarium
4-5 Stars
When it comes to music, those Scots really do seem to have it sorted.
25th August 2009
The XX - XX
4-5 Stars
Whilst it’s easy to address the youth and inexperience within the energy, the expert crafting of nanoseconds of priceless silence is so valuable and rare. Nothing on this record is overdone and this assures the stand-out elements become even more powerful.
17th August 2009
Deastro - Moondagger
4-5 Stars
An album that seems to never stop growing on you.
14th August 2009
La Roux - La Roux
4-5 Stars
A sharp, bold effort that should be so much more of a talking point than an avant-grade hairstyle. If, when time passes, the quiff is more of a conversation starter than this self-titled debut album, you’ll know things could have gone better.
2nd July 2009
White Denim - Fits
4-5 Stars
It is the versatility of this record that shines through.
1st July 2009
Regina Spektor - Far
4-5 Stars
True to form, it’s spine-chillingly beautiful.
23rd June 2009
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
4-5 Stars
It’s most assuredly an after-the-party record, and might just make you question your hard-living ways.
11th June 2009
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
4-5 Stars
In ‘Bitte Orca’ they maintain a sense of superiority over an everyday modern pop act, whilst incorporating one outstanding detail into each and every song, an accessibility factor, shall we say, that makes the whole listen stick in your head rather than forcing you to scratch it in bewilderment.
10th June 2009
Florence And The Machine – Lungs
4-5 Stars
After the sheer amount of hype (including a Brit Award!) that Florence and the Machine has been receiving for the past six months or so we were convinced that debut album ‘Lungs’ stood not a cat in hells chance of living up to it. We were spectacularly wrong.
8th June 2009
Magik Markers - Balf Quarry
4-5 Stars
Indeed by supporting Sonic Youth on their American Tour in 2004, Magik Markers in many ways condemned themselves to forever being associated with the pivotal noise rock kings. However, as justified and supported as the association is, Magik Markers need a little more credit for their troubles.
30th April 2009
Brakes - Touchdown
4-5 Stars
As well as containing fantastic songs the record is also expertly structured. Harder rock songs give way to tender country pop, the juxtaposition highlighting the strengths of both and flowing as so there’s never a need to skip a track.
9th April 2009
Dananananaykroyd - Hey Everyone!
4-5 Stars
Finally, at last, after all this time there’s an album.
7th April 2009
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
4-5 Stars
Everything can be great and lovely and shiny if you just stop giving a shit about the rest.
31st March 2009
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - Beware
4-5 Stars
The songs are honest examinations of what lies within ourselves when we are left utterly alone, and what qualities can possibly redeem us when we tire from being lonely.
25th March 2009
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz!
4-5 Stars
Both exactly what you’d expect from Yeah Yeah Yeahs and entirely different at the same time.
19th March 2009
Sky Larkin - The Golden Spike
4-5 Stars
To use a potentially shit analogy, the album flows like a bird in flight.
18th March 2009
Morrissey – Years Of Refusal
4-5 Stars
Morrissey is back and apparently he has a score to settle.
16th February 2009
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
4-5 Stars
This record can win over even the most hardened, cynical indie-kid.
11th February 2009
Festival special! Featuring Wolf Alice, Kasabian, Lykke Li, Marmozets, Genesis Owusu and more.