Sadly, if you possess any of Embrace's four other albums, you'll have heard it all before. [May 2006, p.98]

Guitars, sounding like synths, soar into the stratosphere, and intense crescendos linger over delicate, breathy passages. [Aug 2005, p.94]

Very focused and quietly anthemic. [Feb 2006, p.92]

A clumsily executed, ghoulishly self-regarding mess. [Mar 2006, p.94]

The trio's chanting, loops and metal-bashing framework is now fleshed out by some beautiful ambient-noise balladry. [Mar 2006, p.106]

It's remarkable how organic and right (as opposed to gimmicky) the church voices sound on these 14 melodic folk, spare soul and various-tempo blues songs. [Apr 2006, p.98]

[CD1's] uproar casts most of CD2's over-delicate maunderings in a wan light. [Apr 2006, p.102]

A more than enjoyable stopgap. [May 2006, p.104]

Josh conjures a light, affectless mood which quietly promises happiness without ever sliding into schmaltz. [May 2006, p.100]

A worthy, determined salvo. [Jul 2006, p.102]

It's difficult to judge on one listen. [May 2006, p.104]

A stripped-back stroll through the summer of the '80s. [Jun 2004, p.106]

The joy of Steely Dan's early albums was that their superior playing, production and craftsmanship was vibrantly energetic, spiced with rollercoaster twists and turns, and deeply sardonic lyrics... Fagen now lacks those vital extra elements, leaving just craftsmanship with no spark. [Apr 2006, p.104]

A steely-eyed desperation to succeed is transparent all through Hard-Fi's debut. [Aug 2005, p.112]

Like Weimar cabaret Gilbert & Sullivan. [Apr 2006, p.104]

It's all funny, sardonic, heartfelt and loveable. [Apr 2006, p.106]

You sense they need a couple of pure pop gems that the Mary Chain had submerged within the noise to perfect the classic sound they aspire to. [Jun 2005, p.95]

There is no great leap into the unknown here, but rather a fusion of the band's previous two records. [16 Jul 2005, p.50]

Formula, for sure, but it's the Buzzcocks' own: the original and best. [Apr 2006, p.88]

A hugely sensual work. [Apr 2006, p.88]

Their unique pop panache saves the proceedings from simple retread. [May 2006, p.102]

Compare this latest instalment of vivid, left-wing existentialist pop with past triumphs like Mars Audiac Quintet and Emperor Tomato Ketchup, and it's every bit as good. [Apr 2006, p.102]

With its indelible songs and bug-eyed intensity, this album makes you wish that more bands could be so irreverent. [Apr 2006, p.100]

Delivers on the melodic promise of 2001's Rock Action, teetering between art-bruised fragility during its slower, gentler moments and flashes of stereo-buckling metal. [Mar 2006, p.93]

A gentle triumph. [Jan 2006, p.130]

Feels as old as a cracked-leather Bible that's lasted generations and witnessed many secrets. [Apr 2006, p.98]

For a studio album it sounds remarkably like a live one. [Mar 2006, p.90]

Mostly loose and warm more than heart-stopping. [Apr 2006, p.104]