Tke heart and enjoy The Boss's galvanising newie--Mr. Motivator is back. [Mar 2009, p.102]

This sequel ups their ante further; there's inventiveness here that rivals Girls Aloud producers Xenomania. [Apr 2009, p.103]

Gutter Tactics is their most approachable set to date. [Mar 2009, p.107]

This bombastic, cacophonic, but endlessly impressive set would make a fine soundtrack for dancing madly among the wreckage [of capitalism]. [Feb 2009, p.113]

The Rifles perservered, and if originality is not a strong point, their skill for crafting simple but immediate pop choruses makes uo foir it. [Nov 2008, p.109]

By far the most streamlined and purposeful Animal Collective record. [Jan 2008, p.98]

It's an ideal January release, time enough for Antony's spacious, textured odyssey to sink in before those Album Of The Year polls come round again. [Feb 2009, p.104]

It may lack the wrong-footing eclecticism that made his name, but makes up for that in pure melodic charm. [Mar 2009, p.109]

Their star-kissed analogue sprawl and beautiful singing revitalise tired classic rock moves. [Mar 2009, p.107]

The veteran's authoritive amber croon and psychedelicised, occassionally spectacular axework imbue this mid-tempo set with a grace and economy often lacking in the genre. [Apr 2009, p.107]

RTZ is a must for Six Organs fans and anyone interested in what has since been termed "nu weird folk." [Mar 2009, p.123]

Major General plough's The Hold Steady's punk-pop narrative furrow almost to the point of surrealism. [Sep 2009, p.92]

Josh's melodic intelligence and structural wit keeps things neat. [Apr 2009, p.110]

They confidently harness the emotion-sapping melodramas of the '60s girl group. [Oct 2008, p.108]

Here they sound commanding and convincing as they do on-stage. [Mar 2009, p.111]

Folie A Deux recalls the high-impact pop oof "Private Eyes"-era Hall & Oates, and that's preferable to sounding like Blink 182. [Jan 2008, p.104]

The first side's carnal workouts are muscular of beat, but let down by Common's awkward dirty-talk....The more 'conscious' ssecond half plays better. [Feb 2009, p.106]

Formidable. [Feb 2009, p.109]

Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith may not make as many dollars these days, but they still have a winning way with their slouching, filthy funk. [Feb 2009, p.109]

The writing on this third album's greatest strength. [Feb 2009, p.109]

'Lifelong Passion' and 'Don't Stop Running' suggest that there's something inspirational, even cathartic, about making an album under an assumed name (even if the world know it's you). McCartney should do it more often. [Dec 2008, p.111]

It is his most facinating, and bewildering, record to date. [Jan 2008, p.104]

It's at once plush and anodyne, both insatiable and confined. [Dec 2008, p.100]

The singer's second solo album is far removed from VR's ass-kicking hard rock. [Feb 2009, p.108]

The sun's gone out and here is the soundtrack to our long, dark financial winter. [Mar 2009, p.114]

Chinese Democracy reveals itself to be an ambitious, brave and expansive offering. [Feb 2009, p.108]

Lange hasn't changed Nickelback wholesale: mostly, they still rock like a post-grunge Metallica. [Jan 2008, p.104]

There's something for anyone with a taste for things multicoloured and marvellously eclectic. [Nov 2008, p.104]