Griff - Vertigo (Album Review)

In 2021, Griff won the Brits’ rising star award, catapulting her into a creative production mode and a touring schedule that left the singer-songwriter nearly burnt out. Now, after an inspiration-seeking grand tour of European Airbnbs, the Hertfordshire native is back with ‘Vertigo’, a debut album defined by exciting and breathy pop.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Wednesday, 17 July 2024

Clairo - Charm (Album Review)

Photo: Lucas Creighton Clairo has come a long way since her debut. Where ‘Immunity’ traded in hook-heavy, scratchy bedroom-pop, she has followed up her acclaimed 2021 record ‘Sling’ with her most fully realised album yet. Each track on ‘Charm’ is brimming with full-bodied, rich instrumentals produced in collaboration with Leon Michels, whose past attachments to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and The Black Keys offer a glimpse of its palette.

Written by: Nieve Elis | Date: Tuesday, 16 July 2024

Eminem - The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (Album Review)

Much has been made of Eminem’s decision to revive his iconic, foul-mouthed alter ego Slim Shady only to kill him off — supposedly for good this time — but ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)’ isn’t really interested in the big question. Namely, do we need Shady in 2024?

Written by: Will Marshall | Date: Monday, 15 July 2024

Previous Industries - Service Merchandise (Album Review)

Photo: Robyn Von Swank For a minute it felt as though hip-hop’s axis had shifted, with wordplay and storytelling ushered out by lean, face tats and Soundcloud rap. What a relief it is, then, to hear ‘Service Merchandise’, the debut album from Previous Industries.

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Thursday, 11 July 2024

Stefflon Don - Island 54 (Album Review)

It’s wild to think that — after almost a decade in the game, multiple mixtapes and features on tracks by Ne-Yo, Wiley and Mariah Carey — this Stefflon Don is only now ready to unleash her debut studio album. ‘Island 54’ arrives steeped in anticipation and promise, just about delivering.

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Wednesday, 10 July 2024

Megan Thee Stallion - Megan (Album Review)

Right now, Megan Thee Stallion is where most artists want to be — wherever you look in the world of hip-hop, the Houston rapper is right at the heart of it, setting the agenda rather than following it. Her third album ‘Megan’, then, could not come at a better time.

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Tuesday, 09 July 2024

Gracie Abrams - The Secret Of Us (Album Review)

Photo: Abby Waisler It rarely hurts to receive a co-sign from the biggest pop star on the planet, as Gracie Abrams recently discovered. ‘The Secret of Us’, her second album, features Us, a co-write and duet with Taylor Swift that the pair recently teamed up to perform together at the Wembley Stadium leg of the Eras Tour. But there’s more to Abrams than this glossy endorsement.

Written by: Emma Way | Date: Tuesday, 09 July 2024

Kasabian - Happenings (Album Review)

Photo: Neil Bedford Kasabian have been one of the most successful indie bands of the past 20 years thanks to enduring hits including Club Foot, Underdog and Fire, seeing off the exit of singer Tom Meighan in 2020 to continue their popularity under Serge Pizzorno.

Written by: Chris Connor | Date: Monday, 08 July 2024

Washed Out - Notes From a Quiet Life (Album Review)

Photo: Landon Speers The name Washed Out has long been synonymous with dreamy chillwave and ‘Notes From A Quiet Life’ slips neatly into Ernest Greene’s catalogue. Following a four year absence,  he returns with a typically rich and textured retro synth-pop sound, which is admirable chiefly for its smooth, immaculately polished sonics.

Written by: Matthew McLister | Date: Thursday, 04 July 2024

Loma - How Will I Live Without a Body? (Album Review)

Photo: Emily Cross One knock on effect of the relentless pace of modern life is that time and space have become highly prized commodities. We may often be on our own, but we are rarely alone with just our thoughts for company. On their third record, though, Loma seem to cherish taking some time out to focus inwards.

Written by: Craig Howieson | Date: Wednesday, 03 July 2024

Camila Cabello - C,XOXO (Album Review)

Photo: Dimitrious Giannoudis Camila Cabello’s musical journey has had a consistent theme of self-discovery. Released in 2022, 'Familia' was an embrace of her Cuban roots, where her 2019 album 'Romance' reflected the process of moving on from past relationships. Now, ‘C,XOXO’ ventures into new musical territory, offering 11 tracks that blend R&B and hip hop influences with occasional hints of hyperpop, presenting a willingness to explore new sounds and experiment. 

Written by: Katie Macbeth | Date: Monday, 01 July 2024

Wilco - Hot Sun Cool Shroud (Album Review)

Photo: Peter Crosby Wilco have never been ones to stick to the script. Across 30 years together they have continuously broken elements of indie-rock and Americana apart, reassembling them into enduringly popular records such as ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’, ‘A Ghost Is Born’ and ‘Sky Blue Sky’. Led by Jeff Tweedy, they return with the EP ‘Hot Sun Cool Shroud’, a suitably eclectic six track collection that, as with all Wilco projects, is hard to pin down.

Written by: Chris Connor | Date: Monday, 01 July 2024

The Mysterines - Afraid of Tomorrows (Album Review)

Photo: Steve Gullick In 2022, The Mysterines had one of those years. The Liverpool rockers scored a top 10 album with their anthemic debut ‘Reeling’, while there was also the small matter of an opening slot on Arctic Monkeys’ The Car tour. A couple of years on, ‘Afraid Of Tomorrows’ is a more creative and well-rounded return that, crucially, can continue their precipitous rise.

Written by: Matthew McLister | Date: Friday, 28 June 2024

Normani - Dopamine (Album Review)

Photo: Hugo Comte When Fifth Harmony went on permanent hiatus in 2018, it was pretty clear that the first of the band’s members to race out of the traps towards solo stardom would be Camila Cabello, who had quit two years earlier. Four albums later, she has solidified her place in the pop firmament, while at the other end of the scale ‘Dopamine’ is bandmate Normani's long-awaited debut.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Thursday, 27 June 2024

Pond - Stung! (Album Review)

Should we put into place a set number of albums a band is allowed to release? Four and out, maybe. Get over the infamous difficult second album, enjoy it for a bit and head off the album five identity crisis at the pass, skipping the complete delusion behind album seven and the dead-horse flogging of albums eight and nine entirely. Let’s not talk about album 10.

Written by: Jack McGill | Date: Thursday, 27 June 2024

Kehlani - Crash (Album Review)

A decade on from their first mixtape, ‘Crash’ finds Kehlani bending an R&B sound to their will, offering up unapologetic songs that dive into sexual expression and situationships with nods to queer sensuality. It pushes every boundary possible, and it is totally worth the risks it takes.

Written by: Issy Herring | Date: Wednesday, 26 June 2024

John Grant - The Art of the Lie (Album Review)

Photo: Hörður Sveinsson On his sixth solo record, John Grant leans into 1980s textures and vocoder, delivering 11 songs of varied, entertaining synth-pop that, while offering a marvellous platform for his unique, occasionally hilarious lyricism, don't quite match his best work.

Written by: Jacob Brookman | Date: Tuesday, 25 June 2024

Lola Young - This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway (Album Review)

Lola Young’s path seemed to have been set out for her — the young singer-songwriter has a John Lewis Christmas ad plus BBC Sound of… and Brit Rising Star award nominations under her belt already — but her debut album ‘This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway’ isn’t interested in following an easy roadmap. Its 11 tracks showcase genuine musical range while offering comfort and tranquillity amid romantic turmoil.

Written by: Katie Macbeth | Date: Monday, 24 June 2024

The Decemberists - As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again (Album Review)

Photo: Shervin Lainez Given that it’s now almost 25 years since The Decemberists began their voyage into highly literate and theatrical indie-rock, a lot of minds have been made up about the band. The twee charm of frontman Colin Meloy's sordid re-envisioning of historical tales grates on some, as does the impeccable nature of the band's music, a stark contrast to their lo-fi contemporaries in the Pacific Northwest indie scene. But, despite being a hipster’s dream, the group have never strayed into self-parody, with their new record ‘As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again’ gamely holding true to their course.

Written by: Craig Howieson | Date: Thursday, 20 June 2024

Cola - The Gloss (Album Review)

Photo: Craig Scheihing Moving on is hard. Moving on from something that worked is even harder. Cola rose from the ashes of Ought after the great Montreal band had run its course, all of its precious art-rock ore used up. They dove in at the deep end of a new sound, with their moody debut ‘Deep In View’ trading in sophisticated and wordy post-rock, but now they appear to have reconciled with their former selves somewhat.

Written by: Jack McGill | Date: Tuesday, 18 June 2024