Schmilco in particular is best consumed as a contemplative whole. [Oct 2016, p.94]

Anarchic Breezes is a fully-fledged new direction, and as coherent and powerful a record as McBean has made in his 10-year career. [Aug 2013, p.88]

Nothing nosebleedy in its warm, evocative patchwork. [Oct 2016, p.100]

The whole album unfolds at a pace somewhere between stately and glacial. [Oct 2015, p.93]

Nugent's own stately take on I Am Asleep And Don't Waken Me, Caoimhe Hopkinson's lovely Jamieson's Favourite and Junior Brother's joyous tumble through The Lark In The Morning bring playful spirit to old pub session favourites. [Dec 2025, p.87]

The 10 tracks of Brain Worms don't outstay their welcome, but as the title suggests, they do linger. [Aug 2023, p.84]

This is the message of Barnett’s fourth: that a blind leap of faith is better than wearing a further groove into your rut; that actually, if it is broke, you should fix it. Because perhaps songs as rewarding as those on Creature Of Habit are waiting on the other side of such a change. [May 2026, p.85]

There's a real bleakness here, so 7's motif is the confession that "I will always be alone," while the haunting Lisa Hannigan collaboration, Thousand, confronts Carney's grandmother's dementia. But there's optimism and strength too. [Mar 2019, p.92]

Though musically more fulsome, lyrics are still key. [Sep 2022, p.96]

The music could overwhelm lesser singers but Lidell's astonishing vocals carry it off with remarkable elan. [Mar 2013, p.90]

This 18-song miscellany reminds us that talent loves the company of talent, one-off duets with Ray Charles and Dolly Parton underlining Jones's seemingly effortless ascent to premier league status. [Jan. 2011, p. 97]

With its wealth of sonic adventure, its thoughtful merger of the personal and the political, and its four choice guest spots (Jack White; Kendrick Lamar; James Blake; Abel Makkonen Tesfaye AKA The Weeknd), Lemonade is a dazzling example of pooled talent coalescing around an iconic doyenne. There can be little doubt on whose head Prince’s crown should now sit.

Galvanising, jazzy embrace of call-and-response tradition. [Aug 2020, p.94]

For diehards, these takes [on the second disc] have an attractive live-in-the-studio-run-through feel, complete with informal chat and occasional sloppy edges. [Feb 2012, p.108]

If the lyrics deal with wavering states of mind and quiet struggles, though, the music is sharp and direct, echoing Belly or Tsunami but also keeping pace with Lucy Dacus or Phoebe Bridgers. [Oct 2025, p.88]

This is one explosive package no hip hop loving home should be without. [Aug 2004, p.92]

The focused, meander-free Ocean To Ocean is big on uplift, balm and musical adventure. [Dec 2021, p.84]

Forever Turned Around tows the if-it-ain't broke line, a choice justified by nuggets such as My Life Alone and Before I Know It. [Oct 2019, p.89]

Immersive and entrancing. [Jan 2022, p.90]

This largely autobiographical follow-up uses Guy's musician friends more wisely. [Oct 2015, p.91]

A lesson in ageless folk rock opulence. [Apr 2005, p.97]

An intriguing labyrinth of idiosyncrasies. [Jun 2005, p.110]

Sometimes great, often enchanting, and always disarmingly self-aware portrait of a doomed and wounded hero. [Oct 2013, p.87]

Foster's is an oddly moving, crepuscular and dream-like world to get happily lost in. [Jan 2018, p.91

Despite having some of Ritter's least introspective lyrics, there are some of his most emotionally affecting songs. [Apr 2006, p.98]

Best of all is Sleep Together: like Radiohead playing Kashmir, and brilliantly led by former Japan keyboard player Richard Barbieri. Yes, prog lives--and Porcupine Tree are its leading players. [July 2007]

With both McGovern's baritone soul-mining and Damien Tuit's mercurial six-string electrifying throughout, Blindness should rightly see these Irishmen advance to the Premier Division. [Apr 2025, p.83]

Multi-artist tributes are typically patchy by nature, but George Fest really works. [Apr 2016, p.86]