The going is initially uncertain, but by 'Turn It On,' space and size begin to shift and singer Alex Kapranos shimmers in and out of the mix. [Jul 2009, p.106]

While impressive in their cinematic scope they can feel a touch superfluous. .[May 2013, p.96]

The themes are familiar, yet still captivating, as rock's most misanthropic man sings about a world of emotional retardation and alienation. [Dec 2009, p.111]

But judicious daubs of strings, piano, female backing vocals and even a band (on Roll On, a surprise boisterous finale) reach out and the lyrics follow suit - venturing out into snow is a metaphor for change. [Jan 2010, p. 104]

Each piece worms in and stays there. Brice has enhanced the voices of others for too long. Now, her own needs to be heard. [Jul 2016, p.91]

An intriguing companion to DM's Songs of Faith and Devotion, heady with the lexicon of addiction and redemption. [Jun 2003, p.110]

The trio are at their most effective when meshing from-the-streets comment with clanging guitars and harmonies in the vein of early-period Who, see the wry poke at tabloid celebrity, "Keep Your Eyes On Me." It's only when they descend into the Kinks pastiche of "Mr. Grey" that the bar is lowered. [Mar 2010, p.96]

Mann's voice remains exquisite, her lyrics cinematically vivid, often painfully so, but the album possesses a chimerical looseness, a fuzzy aimless drift that is simultaneously haunting and somniferous. [Dec 2021, p.87]

An uneven yet entertaining debut. [Jun 2012, p.85]

There remains a mood off unease here, as if these transportive pop chants were also magic spells designed to awaken something ancient and terrible. [Sep 2014, p.90]

Although the quality dips dramatically on Samir & Abboud's bland, overworked Games and Gharbi Sadock & George Garzia's sickly slap-bass odyssey Lala Tibiki, both prove rare exceptions. [Jan 2018, p.102]

It builds a new stoic eloquence into her vulnerability, even if the stark, birdsong-imbued Darkish drips with Radiohead-like ennui. [Jun 2022, p.84]

LaVette says thank you to the British Invasion for bringing soul back home. [July 2010, p. 103]

At their best melodically, Artificial lopes on Pornography-era Cure beats to a rousing Interpol angst chorus. Further on through, the various '82-91 moves become too familiar and the mood of despond too oppressive. [Apr 2018, p.95]

We get tracks like Old De Spain and Driving After You, bare-bones blues whose satisfying menace echoes To Bring You My Love. In between, we're back to hillbilly hoots, jigs and Corrs-style ballads. [Apr 2015, p.96]

Another left-field guest-fest. [Jun 2016, p.96]

[The album] sees the reunited Grand "Daddy G" Marshalll abnd Robert "3D" Del Naja proving they can still corner the market in atmospheric glooom, even if their era-defining days have passed. [Mar 2010, p.90]

Sleepy, certainly, but never tired. [Aug 2004, p.89]

Kid A is intriguing, eccentric, obviously a grower, but by Radiohead's standards it can't help but disappoint.

While her David Lynch qualities remain, there's also something of the masochistic Lars Von Trier heroine in the resigned drowse of these songs. [Sep 2014, p.92]

Wald is a continued move in more playful directions. [Oct 2015, p.95]

It's no instant hit, but some cracking songs like Moths In The Gas Light and Dancing In The Ruin rise to the top and a brilliantly vivid production keeps you riveted. [Dec 2017, p.90]

Any ad creatives hoping for mobile phone campaign music will be disappointed. [Oct 2005, p.102]

BP retain a youthful fixation with personal drama, biting lyrics and angular guitars, laced with keyboards. [Jun 2022, p.94]

Indie-folk lifers tackle the Prairie Home Companion canon, also bringing their ethereal close harmonies to Kanye West. [Apr 2020, p.96]

Only a droll stab at Dueling Banjos shades into the hokeyness that could've cursed the entire project. [Jun 2020, p.95]

A dash more melodic brio wouldn't have gone amis, but its muted charms gather cumulatively nonetheless. [May 2008, p.109]

An unusual 35 minutes, then, but Confection makes the perfect background for an evening of sophisticated seduction. [Feb 2014, p.95]