It's really that entertaining. He's found his voice now and he's coasting. A winner.

Unexpectedly, these star-sailors are tripping the light, fantastically.

It would be a crying shame if a record so accomplished, relevant and unifying never gets to be heard. Because, right now, this album is necessary.

This is the sound of pigeonhole-free ambition slowly being realised, and it's sounding great.

In the end, Watch the Throne is a very noble attempt at cohesion, but its inconsistency ultimately stalls the project, resulting in an uneven recording that buckles under the weight of its own pressure.

Disappointing fare from Britpop revivalists on the receiving end of critical vitriol.

The album's better songs – of which a towering Black and the inventive if not precisely brilliantly titled Capsize the Sea are just two – even hark back to the time when their creators sounded fresh and exciting.

The result is louche and intoxicating.

A disappointing return from the former Mercury champions.

Every one of the 13 tracks on this album are co-writes that he's had a hand in, but all the same, a certain autobiographical tone predominates.

There are some fine songs on Natural History, which deserve better than being presented as if they were museum exhibits.

Yet, something's missing. An emotional engagement, perhaps, because they sometimes seem positively embarrassed to play from the heart.

In any form, What's Going On is an album that everyone should have in their collection; no matter how many times you play it, there is always something else to discover.

Despite their attempts to court the teenagers across the land, it's questionable whether this music has enough quality, variety and ingenuity to truly compete with others who have emerged from the talent hotbed of south Wales, let alone the rest of the world.

She's refining her songwriting into an individualist composite of myriad genres, crafting works which resonate with her own personality. It's clear that she's no dilettante, and that her understanding of rock'n'roll, gospel, folk, country and rockabilly has a profound depth.

They now sound more like a band that has really found its own voice. Recording live in the studio in as few takes as possible also seems to have given them a new edge.

The only complaint that can be made--that several of the shorter tracks here could have been developed further, rather than left to merely loop and fade--isn't really a complaint at all, but rather anticipation for what this inventive producer will do next.

Perfect Darkness is rather special.

Wild Go is easily among the frontrunners for album of the year (so far).

This Stockton-on-Tees septet's stoic, gritty, blue-collar sound, somewhere between rock, soul and folk, between those old stalwarts "rebel rock" and "dad rock."

Produced by The Bronx's Joby J Ford--who has also worked with Californian hardcore punks Trash Talk, whose MO is much the same as Cerebral Ballzy's--this eponymous set does a good job of transporting the band's ferocious live show into one's living room.

The Clan sounds lean, experienced and relaxed on a recommended new collection.

A compact and incredibly gratifying introduction to a new lo-fi talent.

These guys have defied the odds to deliver a collection that's all gold and no albatross.

Despite the contemporary co-writes, in an age where Take That work with Stuart Price and Nicola Roberts embraces Diplo's electro cool, this album comes across as a selection of competent B sides surrounding the fantastic Starlight.

Stone packs all the power you expect, but her control misfires enough for some of these tracks to never quite click as they might.

A polished fourth solo studio LP aimed at mainstream reggae audiences.

On Damnesia, the bare bones and glistening edges are on such clear display that even the most cheerful listener's day will be darkened by Alkaline Trio's gathering storm clouds.