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FUNKED UP

2117¬Montreal's foremost exponenents of Prince-inspired dirty funk are back with their new album. Critics so far are impressed, Rave Magazine seeing the album as an affirmation of the band's unique style.¬False¬

Middle of the Trail

2101¬Rootsy folkster Ray Lamontagne continues his career as a Radio 2 botherer with his new album. Critics see it as competent but hardly revolutionary, scores coming it at around 6 or 7.¬False¬

Towering achievement?

2098¬There's a very rare 10/10 from The Skinny for the rapper, pianist and producer's album, released to accompany a feature film also written and produced by the maverick Canadian. Such enthusiasm is not shared by the BBC or music OMH, who regard it as interesting but only partially successful.¬True¬
Similes

Eluvium

Similes

Oregon-based ambient musician and producer Matthew Cooper with his 5th album of loops, piano and synths

Critics average rating

7.0

Label
Temporary Residence Limited
Release date
08/03/2010
  1. 9.0 |  Pop Matters

    It’s what ambient music could be, if artists were only a little more willing to trim the fat
    Read Review

  2. 8.0 |  Mojo

    Print edition only

  3. 7.0 |  Blurt

    In a hesitant baritone that mirrors The National's Matt Berninger's, Matthew Cooper guides his once-shapeless forms into unsurprisingly stunning songs
    Read Review

  4. 7.0 |  Tiny Mix Tapes

    From the layered and melody-rich vocal tracks to the humble, monochromatic instrumental interludes, Similes remains firmly rooted in Eluvium's single-minded optimism
    Read Review

  5. 7.0 |  Drowned In Sound

    Cooper has raised his voice in an attempt to be heard. Quite literally, given that this is the first Eluvium record to feature Cooper singing on what might tentatively be called ‘songs’
    Read Review

  6. 6.9 |  Pitchfork

    In a distant way, these are pop song ... But his voice is so subdued and intermittent that it doesn't scan as a lead. It's just one slowly beating, spreading element among others
    Read Review

  7. 4.0 |  Uncut

    As quietly beautiful as ever, but somewhat inert. Print edition only

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Prolific

2120¬These Virginian sludge-rockers find themselves releasing their fifth album in two years, a huge feat by anyone's standards. Critics are unsure whether any degree of quality can be sustained at that rate however, with Tiny Mix Tapes stating that in fleshing out their sound, they have drawn "too much attention to musical aspects [they] never had going for them".¬True¬

Duppy Love

2109¬Critics are falling over themselves to heap praise on this album of dub remixes of classic Roots Manuva tracks. It has managed a very decent showing on our chart, especially given that it is essentially a remix album. It has impressed so much that Culture Deluxe has proclaimed it as "possibly the most perfect reggae album released in the last 30 years". ¬True¬

Back On Top?

2114¬The Manic Street Preachers have had something of a critical rebirth with their last two albums, and that trend looks set to continue with their latest offering. The Line of Best Fit call it a "wonderful album", while The Fly reckon they "are in the form of their life". With only a few reviews in so far, it seems we could have a contender for the higher echelons of our chart.¬True¬

Pain and pleasure

2105¬Can the third of the three Mancunian electro-ish bands which featured in the BBC's Sound of 2010 list emulate the success of their counterparts, Delphic and Everything Everything? The jury's still out so far. NME is a big fan of the duo's 80s-inspired synthpop anthems, but The Guardian is far from convinced, and others find the album stylish but unremarkable. ¬True¬

Compilations & Reissues

They're not in the main chart as they skew things

  1. 8.5

    The Teardrop Explode Kilimanjaro: Deluxe Edition

  2. 8.5

    R.E.M. Fables Of The Reconstruction

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