TODAY WE LOVE

Listen On Spotify

Today's playlist

Click that iPod play button


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¬
Mark The Hard Earth

Kris Drever

Mark The Hard Earth

Second solo release from the Orcadian folk singer-songwriter and guitarist and member of LAU

Critics average rating

6.8

Label
Navigator
Release date
08/03/2010
  1. 8.0 |  The List

    With an array of big name musicians, stand-out tracks come via This Old Song and The Crown of London
    Read Review

  2. 8.0 |  The Guardian

    A classy set
    Read Review

  3. 8.0 |  Scotland on Sunday

    Understated arrangements that create space for his distinctive, delicate and often beguilingly enigmatic vocals
    Read Review

  4. 7.0 |  Drowned In Sound

    Drever’s voice is well-suited to the lyrical sincerity of the album but avoids being overly earnest. While sometimes a bit sentimental, Drever’s gentle declarations of loyalty are charming rather than trite
    Read Review

  5. 7.0 |  Clash

    With a more complex sonic palette than his debut, ‘Mark The Hard Earth’ contains a number of absolute gems
    Read Review

  6. 7.0 |  The Line Of Best Fit

    Even if folk music isn’t your normal staple Mark The Hard Earth is well worth a listen. It should challenge the ‘folkie’ stereotype of four old geezers in Aran Sweaters singing diddly dee
    Read Review

  7. 6.0 |  The Skinny

    ... ultimately carried by Drever's voice; one of undeniable maturity and depth
    Read Review

  8. 6.0 |  NME

    An extremely mellow album, while hardly groundbreaking, it’s quietly beautiful in places
    Read Review

  9. 6.0 |  Mojo

    Print edition only

  10. 6.0 |  music OMH

    Here's hoping that, on his next album, Drever heads for the road less traveled
    Read Review

  11. 6.0 |  The Music Fix

    ...an album that ultimately drifts along without ever completely engaging the listener
    Read Review

  12. 6.0 |  Uncut

    Print edition only

Roll over video for more options

Track preview & download

Kris Drever: Mark The Hard Earth

  • Download full album for just £7.99
  • 1. Mark The Hard Earth £0.99
  • 2. This Old Song £0.99
  • 3. Shining Star £0.99
  • 4. Allegory £0.99
  • 5. Wild Hurricaine £0.99
  • 6. Sweet Honey In The Rock £0.99
  • 7. O' A' The Airts £0.99
  • 8. The Call And The Answer £0.99
  • 9. The Crown Of London £0.99
  • 10. The Banks Of The Nile £0.99
  • 11. Freedom Come A' Ye £0.99
  • Service provided by 7Digital

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

  3. See full list