His whip-smart three-string guitar licks still take centre stage and his banter sizzles with the personality and charm that have won him so many new admirers. [Oct 2008, p.112]

There is a strange and gripping transport to be had in these imaginative flights concerning climbing Mount Everest, the Luftwaffe-bashing Spitfire, and in the Kraftwerk-in-a-garden-shed bango clap-along ROYGIV.[May 2013, p.85]

He likes to throw an occasional hot coal into your lap, such as The Pugilist’s angry strings, and Comfortable Love’s rock torrent, somewhat Jeff Buckley-esque. Yet the naked, tearful Alright and Good Lust cut the deepest, when time seems to stand still in the face of Keaton’s suffering.

The Decemberists' ace and absorbing eighth album is rather more traditionalist than they're letting on. [Apr 2018, p.88]

Considered restraint is a virtue, but Somewhere Else is hazardously polite. [Mar 2013, p.91]

Spry and spontaneous sounding. [Sep 2015, p.87]

An intriguing partnership that fails to entirely live up to expectations. [May 2012, p.86]

Great tunes delivered in ways you'd never dreamed of. [Oct 2001, p.122]

Despite a blip of vital signs, this 4-CD sprawl does The Cure's reputation no real favours. [Feb 2004, p.106]

As a rough cut solo exercise, Rhys has delivered a blinder. [Feb 2005, p.102]

Determinedly singing in her own accent was a wise move. [Oct 2005, p.110]

Another impressive cocktail of Eastern-inflected drones, mantra-like vocals and thick slabs of empyrean noise guitar. [Dec 2007, p.100]

The tone is wistful and serene more than sad and heavy, but principal singer Nona Marie Invie still sounds like a femme fatale, with a coiled, spectral charm that suits the band's name. [Jun 2011, p.104]

Omega Male doesn't stray too far from the day job(s) [of David Best of Fujiya & Miyagi and Sammy Rubin of Project Jenny, Project Jan]. [Dec 2012, p.94]

It's difficult to tell how much post-production has been done and how much the record truly reflects Marie's artistic vision. Even so, it's a good listen. [Apr 2013, p.90]

Sarcastic, ironic--and occasionally infuriating. [Jun 2013, p.95]

Despite berry's background in comedy there's definitely more of an air of homage than pastiche to this deliciously chilled album. [Jun 2014, p.90]

The most maligned period of his career, the 80s still served up the odd Dylan gem and 17 are re-ignited here. [Jul 2014, p.96]

The bursts of industrial trash, though dexterous, feel superfluous. [Sep 2014, p.98]

While Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth impress with the monolithic power of their noise, there's little else that compels here. [Mar 2015, p.94]

The intensity of MC Dalek's worldly-wise apocalyptic wordplay on Guaranteed Struggle and Masked Laughter (Nothing's Left) help reinvent their trademark sound without sacrificing its essence. [Aug 2016, p.95]

A solid 11-song set. [May 2017, p.92]

Inspired by a tumultuous period in his life, the 13th album from the guitar virtuoso has distinct shades of dark and light, making for some of his most interesting work to date. [Oct 2018, p.88]

A little more sonic danger may have roughed-up the pristine veneer that dampens the fun. [Dec 2021, p.89]

Ayers is a lovely singer in both English and Spanish; he rather less so on the London homage It's Another Night or the gently barbed I've Never Had A Good Time.... In Paris. When they harmonise on Room At The Top, though, they're a joy. [Jun 2023, p.89]

Sure, the age is clear in the voices of Matt Piucci and Steven Roback, but so is the honesty inside songs that mine lost brothers, opportunities, and time. [Jul 2023, p.86]

It really shouldn't work, but like much of It Leads To This, it does. [Mar 2024, p.91]

Walk This Road glides between cheerful boogies and sunny R&N vamps, luxuriating in the relaxed chemistry of the four surviving members. [Jul 2025, p.86]