A glorious return to form for one of the world's most peculiarly successful bands. [Jun 2013, p.92]

On this fifth album they do sound like a country band who like to rock sometimes, rather than southern rockers who do country, but their versatility makes such distinctions academic.

Springsteen On Broadway is best when he tackles his fractured relationship with his father, whose boozy presence he credits with forging his tenacity, and by extension that of his own children, his sisters and his mother (“with Alzheimer’s these past seven years”) to whom he’s gloriously devoted. ... Equal parts communion and catharsis--an immaculate deception. [Jan 2019, p.86]

It’s the nearest Strummer has had to a ‘greatest hits’, replicating six tracks from 001, bolstered for diehards by a previously unreleased acoustic demo of Junco Partner, and 2001 Brixton Academy versions of The Clash’s I Fought The Law and Rudie Can’t Fail that so faithfully replicate Mick Jones’s complex arrangements it sounds like Joe giving it some welly over a well-drilled tribute band.

A sequel that first celebrates the blooming of a relationship, then self-flagellates for ruining it. [Aug 2020, p.87]

Craft's previous work suggested he might have an album in him which is as wry as it is earnestly heroic. This is it. [Aug 2019, p.80]

The Gospel according to Water hovers in a mystical space between country, folk and jazz, his literate lyrics providing the thread which holds it all together. [Dec 2019, p.85]

A fine tribute to a timeless songwriter of our times. [Apr 2015, p.95]

If you do like a bit of in-depth rock luxury in your life, In Cauda Venenum delivers by the caseload.

The Crystals, Ramones, Blondie, Television, The Strokes, The Walkmen and the Friends theme all feed into Never Enough, their suave, glitter-ball garage pop debut, full of synapse-shagging surf punk melodies like Summertime, In Our Blood and I Don’t Wanna Live In California.

Every aspect of the band's sound coalesce on a series of stunning songs that have massive melodic grace and power. [Aug 2019, p.84]

Mind Control may occasionally lack the outright mania of its predecessor but this is music made in a puff of red smoke, heady and hypnotic. [Jun 2013, p.90]

This is the maturing of cute metal, and it's still nuts. [Apr 2023, p.76]

Tracks on Luminal such as Hopelessly At Ease are almost unsettling seductive, while Wolfe's every sung syllable on Shhh looms large and expansive. [Summer 2025, p.76]

Ready To Die suggests Iggy is anything but. [Jun 2013, p.90]

An ambient suite based on a two-note motif, as if homing in on a detail on Luminal, dwelling on it, tenderly bleeding it dry. [Summer 2025, p.76]

All things considered, Lady In Gold is a more satisfying listen than its predecessor, with a host of truly great moments.

Although Donald Fagen's vocals have mellowed, there's no decline in quality. [Dec 2021, p.73]

No, 13 isn't as good as their first six albums--what is?--but it's a million times better than most of what followed. [Summer 2013, p.86]

Aside from this one minor flaw [rapping in the title track], Gibbons has totally nailed it with Perfectamundo. It’s what a solo project should be: a new adventure.

Its 10 songs are bombastic, unabashed boogies, each one stacked with layer upon layer of symphonic volume. [Summer 2025, p.73]

The Darkness’ return to form is a welcome surprise in these apocalyptically drab times.

The album gets better with every play. [Jun 2013, p.89]

A modest masterpiece. [Oct 2023, p.86]

Much of We Can Do Anything, their first album since 2000 and following on from last year’s Happy New Year EP, is a breezy return to what they do best: acoustic folk-punk with ragged edges, held together by Gano’s ear for a ringing melody and delivered like a peculiarly skittish Lou Reed.

The most focused, challenging singer-songwriter record in some years.

It’s all smart stuff, but presented with tunes that hook into your brain. They’ve lost none of their spark in the 34 years since their debut, and have the edge on bands half their age.

Atmospheric to the hilt, you can almost smell the campfire. [Apr 2022, p.76]