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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¬
Microcastle

Deerhunter

Microcastle

New York ambient art rockers with the follow up to 2007's acclaimed Cryptograms

Critics average rating

8.5

Label
Kranky
Release date
28/10/2008
  1. 10.0 |  Tiny Mix Tapes

    We’re never going to figure these guys out – and as long as they keep making instant classics like this, we really won’t have to
    Read Review

  2. 9.2 |  Pitchfork

    What they've done is use a stunning assortment of shrewd instrumental ideas to express contemporary anxiety and alienation, all in the form of pop songs, on albums conceived to be more than the sum of their parts.
    Read Review

  3. 9.0 |  The Observer

    Every song was a highlight.
    Read Review

  4. 9.0 |  music OMH

    After a few listens, Microcastle might take hold in your mind as an indie concerto. Broken into thirds, the album draws you in with some light pop fare before spilling its guts to you in a slow, dramatic middle section.
    Read Review

  5. 9.0 |  Blurt

    Resistance is futile, so turn it on, turn it up, and, at least for 40 minutes or so, tune the rest of the world ou
    Read Review

  6. 9.0 |  Click Music

    However prolific Bradford Cox is, it seems, unlike some, (cough Devendra Banhart cough), he manages to keep the quality of his produce at a stratospheric level throughout
    Read Review

  7. 8.0 |  The Guardian

    Nothing Ever Happened's astonishing motorik wig-out, one of the finest songs of the year.
    Read Review

  8. 8.0 |  God Is In The TV

    ...it takes the form of affirming their status as one of the most experimental, dynamic, exciting bands of our time
    Read Review

  9. 8.0 |  The Fly

    A real treat. Let it wash over you
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  10. 7.0 |  Blender

    The songs are textured and shapely, with reverb and echo cranked to give an extra dollop of creepiness to lyrics about the joys of agoraphobia and being “captured by Victorian vampires.” Scary. And at times, scary good.
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  11. 7.0 |  Pop Matters

    Deerhunter have rewarded those who applauded their bravery and may even convince the doubters that they are as significant an act as their fans have faithfully prognosticated.
    Read Review

Track preview & download

Deerhunter : Microcastle

  • Download full album for just £7.99
  • 1. Cover Me (Slowly) £0.99
  • 2. Agoraphobia £0.99
  • 3. Never Stops £0.99
  • 4. Little Kids £0.99
  • 5. Microcastle £0.99
  • 6. Calvary Scars £0.99
  • 7. Green Jacket £0.99
  • 8. Activa £0.99
  • 9. Nothing Ever Happened £0.99
  • 10. Saved By Old Times £0.99
  • 11. Neither Of Us, Uncertainly £0.99
  • 12. Twilight At Carbon Lake £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