One of the States' great indie rock institutions, finding renewal largely in the familiar. [Oct 2022, p.86]

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

Driven along by a renewed sense of urgency and purpose, this may be Richard Thompson's most creative album in decades. [Oct 2018, p.92]

An alleviating statement from an artist whose curiosity and striving fir development have remained a driving force. [Apr 2024, p.85]

Ultimately, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that they’ve scaled greater heights with more time and pre-writing. [Aug 2024, p.91]

Perfectly sequenced, Sinister Grift's dubious uplift gradually falls away to reveal an exquisite melancholy introspection, the sound of optimism weighted by mooring hooks of sadness. [Apr 2025, p.86]

It's captivating stuff, with the gnomic lyrics adding to the implied oppostion between the natural world and the machines used to make the record. [Apr 2009, p.108]

This is exciting, audacious work from a band yet again on the edge of a new future. [Oct 2013, p.84]

Contra is the sound of a band driving themselves to very satisfying extremes. [Feb 2010, p. 96]

When the approach works, the results are bracingly exploratory; when it doesn't they're frustratingly half-formed. [Jul 2005, p.94]

Beth's vocals are startling. [Jun 2003, p.100]

Tender, wise, compassionate and magnanimous, it's a special, special record for anyone who has ever hurt. [Dec 2004, p.114]

An entirely silly album. [Jan 2006, p.120]

San Fran stalwart John Dwyer continues to deliver quality goo goo muck with his subterranean garage-psych combo. [Aug 2009, p.104]

Mrs. Buffalo's boy's not one of the herd: weird, but kind of wonderful. [May 2010, p. 97]

Marnie Stern is a strong statement from a musician whose confidence is soaring. [Dec 2010, p.97]

This is a big album in every way, full of ambitious layers, heavy on piano, strings, brass and drums producing vast soundscapes and lavish arrangements which place strong emphasis on the atmospheric undercurrent of some unerringly dramatic material. [Apr 2011, p.99]

Part band memoir, part call for artistic renewal, delivered via chiming rock anthemics with pop appeal. [Oct 2011, p.105]

Repeated plays will bear deep rewards confirming both protagonist' growing stature in modern music. [Jun 2012, p.82]

Whether it's the horrors of recognising yourself in an obnoxious younger person, his downbeat but defiant re-working of Jerusalem or the uncharacteristically optimistic The Wolfless Years, it's still the words that really stay with you. [Aug 2013, p.93]

Eclectic whimsicality--chugging blues gets a stadium guitar intro; horns add even more uplift to engaging Fountains Of Waynesque Big Times. [May 2014, p.91]

The album has a clear, organic sound. [Sep 2014, p.90]

All lovely throwbacks have an instant familiarity. [Oct 2015, p.93]

They draw from a practiced old hand's bag of tricks yet feel delightfully fresh. [Dec 2015, p.93]

Though still no barrel of laughs--far from it--there is evidence of green shoots of hope here. [Dec 2016, p.91]

Closure is more substantial than that implies, carrying on the more direct approach of 2005's Disaffected. [Feb 2017, p.95]

Jardin retain the EP's satisfyingly minimalist approach. [Feb 2017, p.92]

The Chimp awakes. [Jul 2017, p.96]