Essentially, Chapman is an old-style saloon storyteller whose reflections are enhanced and coloured by his myriad guitar treatments, an old dog not afraid of new tricks.

Never mind dig in deep: this is an emotional excavation.

On its own merits, 001 disrupts the notion that Strummer lost his way after The Clash, without wholly overturning it, but there's nothing remotely grubby here. [Oct 2018, p.97]

Grim catnip for 40-something lapsed Nirvana fans. [Aug 2023, p.79]

Their return album is a fire-and-brimstone rock-and-soul delight. [Sep 2013, p.91]

This is much more raw Manic Street Preachers, fuelled by despair as usual but also simplicity. .... Critical Thinking shows that with the Manics, rage never sleeps. [Feb 2025, p.72]

Hold On! sounds utterly effortless: an effervescent streak of soul, bossa nova and rumba tunes.

A distinguished, intriguing return. [Sep 2013, p.91]

For Raincoats fans this is the most similar to their underrated third album Moving, for its fluent, danceable, off-kilter rhythms. For everyone else it's a marvel waiting to be discovered. [Apr 2023, p.76]

The default setting of these thunderous doom lords from Sweden's far north remains the expansive, melodic, lavishly arranged anthem, layered densely with clobbering drums and shuddering riffs. [Apr 2022, p.79]

The Million Masks Of God is way less heavy going than a concept album centred on explorations of faith and existence inspired by the death of a parent has any right to be. [Jun 2021, p.79]

BMTH sound more genuine, dramatic and emotional than they ever have before. [Jun 2013, p.89]

You could spend hours ticking off the references (which obviously extend beyond Abbey Road), but what gives the album its identity is their own sense of style.

You'll feel dirty. In a good way. [Jan 2019, p.89]

The 10 tracks here prove that the trio truly feel the Dog under their fingernails. [Sep 2021, p.77]

The Boston boozers’ tenth album is a triple shot of euphoria with a Guinness chaser.

First High and Born Tough seek out her adolescence, while the title track and Black Widow stress her continuing defiance. This girl is not just following the satnav. She's older, but wilfully no wiser. [Oct 2022, p.73]

A vintage Bowie album for vintage Bowie people, of whom there are many; a reflection on his own journey and also on ours. [Apr 2013, p.92]

Rip-roaringly emotionally vivid stuff with myriad tropes and devices cherry-picked from the rich tapestry of alt.rock past. [Jul 2023, p.87]

As Clark wraps up with the formulaic 12-bar of Dirty Dishes Blues, you realise how much the rest of the album pushes the envelope and applaud him for it. [Mar 2019, p.88]

Across 70 minutes, the band return in their heavier style. [Jul 2022, p.80]

The ramshackle mix of lyrical longing, acoustic guitars and glacial synths would ordinarily be described as Americana, but the lyrics are still as British as fish and chips. [Sep 2023, p.76]

This is unquestionably Weller's most personal and most heartfelt record in years. [Oct 2018, p.88]

A masterful companion piece to Lanegan's unflinching memoir. [Jun 2020, p.88]

The end result is a sweet and thoughtful set from one of the genre's lifers. [Oct 2022, p.70]

The nearest to a rock record Thompson has ever made. ... A very good album. [Oct 2018, p.83]

A must-hear for fans of glorious, horrible noise.

von Haysswolff achieves a new drone nirvana with her unique mix of soprano wail and minimalist-but-grand gothic church organ. [May 2018, p.91]