Latest Reviews
Interpol
This Mirror Weighs a Ton
The results display more radio-friendly polish, while the grooves are enhanced with percussive syncopation, and strings and woodwind are employed for added sonic swirl. Print edition only
Mojo
Interpol
This Mirror Weighs a Ton
There's much to admire, but 'Bird And The Serpent", whose intriguing exit passage featuring woodwind and strings, and "Wings On Fire", which suggests a tormented INXS, are among the darklights. Print edition only
Uncut
Lambchop
Punching The Clown
Who knows what the next record will involve – but the journey that we have taken to get this far with the band suggests that it will be worth waiting for. For now, we have this, and a spectacular back catalogue to enjoy, too. Same time in 2029, then? Over to you, Mr. Wagner
God Is In The TV
Westside Cowboy
It Goes On
I wish I could say to Westside Cowboy: please stop being so overly infatuated with America and embrace your British sensibilities. You absolutely shine when you lean into your Britpop roots and give us highly melodic, crunchy riff-driven two- and-a-half minute rockers
Spill Magazine
The Afghan Whigs
Soft Control
For Dulli and The Afghan Whigs it means remaining true to themselves and creating some great rock music
Spill Magazine
Lambchop
Punching The Clown
In lesser hands it could all have been a glorified mess, but, again, Wagner pulls things of, this time with full, gentle, force
Beats Per Minute
The Afghan Whigs
Soft Control
As much as the Whigs can be said to have a classic sound – volume-pedal swells, wah-inflected slide guitar, open strings – the album embraces those sonics without being self-referential
Beats Per Minute
Brandon Flowers
Thrasher
Thrasher marks the Killers frontman’s pivot to country, but it mostly feels contrived, like he’s hitching a bandwagon rather than blazing his own trail
Paste Magazine
Brandon Flowers
Thrasher
On his third solo effort, ‘Mr Brightside’ comes out his cage to vividly tell us about his childhood
NME
Brandon Flowers
Thrasher
Hopefully, Thrasher is still able to give Flowers a renewed sense of purpose that he can then bring to his bandmates and finally make an eighth album worthy of the Killers' canon. If he got anything else out of it, you can only hope it was the subtle hint to not quit his day job
Exclaim
Brandon Flowers
Thrasher
Even if Thrasher comes off as something of an equidistant compromise, it’s still a wholly satisfying work that takes a blend of rural-facing genres and makes them glisten in a way only Brandon Flowers can
Sputnik Music (staff)
Weezer
Weezer [Gold Album]
With added contributions from Brian Bell and Patrick Wilson, humor and playfulness, Weezer’s 20th album, The Gold Album, is a strong sign of life for the band, delivering on a clear statement of purpose and intent
Spectrum Culture
Lambchop
Punching The Clown
A creative reset for an always creatively restless band, Punching the Clown is one of the best albums of the year
Spectrum Culture
Paul Heaton
Jenius
Jenius is crammed with characteristically witty earworms about everything from the state of the nation to how the whisky did for Dylan Thomas and Georgie Best, capped by the rambunctious romanticism of "Favourite Kind Of Idiot". Print edition only
Uncut
Paul Heaton
Jenius
It's a whipsmart re-statement of what makes Heaton special and in Broudie he's found another musical soulmate. Print edition only
Mojo
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