If her murmurous slurring defies full comprehension, her gentle sadness, hesitant beats and melancholic piano settings match the odd clear phrase. [Mar 2004, p.102]

At the heart of this overgrown squall of a record, there's a sense that The Strokes feel they have something to prove. If only they'd been able to decide upon what that is with greater clarity. [Feb 2006, p.88]

Patchier than Jacksonville. [Mar 2006, p.92]

Reveals a still intense and enthralling grittiness to her performances. [Feb 2006, p.93]

They're a group that believes in a thing called love. Happily, however, they don't believe in a thing called restraint. [Dec 2005, p.98]

A surprisingly consistent listen, albeit one that's akin to gorging on Christmas cake. [Feb 2006, p.102]

A bijou flashback to a place of quiet nirvana. [Feb 2006, p.107]

There's a beguiling musicality at play that puts pleasing melody at the centre of even the most outre detour. [Dec 2005, p.102]

Finds an uncommonly energised Oldham ranging across his capacious back catalogue, his palpable enthusiasm manifesting in unlikely between-song whoops of joy. [Dec 2005, p.116]

As each track segues into the next, this is a breathless listen, but the overall scheme works. [Dec 2005, p.99]

A worthy snapshot of a band at its peak. [Dec 2005, p.104]

Motion Sickness won't convert the uninitiated, but offers subtle craftsmanship and deft musicianship. [Feb 2006, p.95]

Heady, bodily, beautiful stuff. [Jan 2006, p.126]

Kate Bush is the greatest living British artist in song and this is her masterpiece. [Dec 2005, p.96]

It's not flawless, though it's damn good, and consistently engrossing. [Feb 2006, p.94]

Best savoured as a whole, a magical mystery of Pollard's pop-obsessed, haphazardly-filed subconscious. [Feb 2006, p.107]

Slick mediocrity. [Dec 2005, p.98]

None of these tunes conveys a fraction of the emotional ardour of those on the first (self-penned) Sun Kil Moon album. [Feb 2006, p.103]

A band who aim foolishly high but always return, wings intact. [Sep 2004, p.92]

While there's more than a little influence from early New Order here, one can also hear echoes of Suicide, PiL's Metal Box and the motorik reveries of Cluster. [Jul 2005, p.112]

An oddly seamless follow-up to its distant predecessor. [Nov 2005, p.110]

As unique and poignant as a family bible. [Nov 2005, p.104]

It's sweet and vivid, but also a bit messy. [Dec 2005, p.116]

Here, he is still the anthem addict of old, but there are softer, subtler electronic textures and a real sense of reflection. [Nov 2005, p.112]

Every bit as chaotically charming as its predecessor. [Nov 2005, p.108]

It's a less alien, less disturbed and thoroughly lighter record. [Nov 2005, p.104]

Shows a good deal more focus than their last two studio efforts. [Nov 2005, p.104]

Maybe all originals next time? [Sep 2005, p.89]