As has frequently been the case with later Yo La Tengo albums, the surface appearance of this music is deceptively simple. Delve beneath it, and the artistry that has fuelled the group for three decades gradually reveals itself.

While the concept behind Lysandre works well on Owens’ first debut outing, there is always a nagging feeling of something missing throughout the record.

There’s neither swag nor swagger here, just talent and a single-minded creative vision worth every gasping breath it takes to keep up with.

The extroverted, joyful melodies of Photon or the sustained brilliance of Spectral Split seem like brilliant recontextualisations of Weber’s artistic virtues.

Tre! is more whimper than bang.

With a little less mess, and a little more hook, the band might find some truly zealous followers.

Defying all expectations, they have taken a brave leap forward and delivered one of the first great albums of 2013.

Lost Sirens makes for a welcome parting shot; a sugared pill to take before slipping away into happy dreams where Bizarre Love Triangle plays from now until eternity.

Long.Live.A$AP is unlikely to win over the doubters, but it will consolidate A$AP Rocky’s status as an exciting talent.

When the stories are this well told, it doesn’t matter that Dropkick Murphys keep re-writing them.

Living With Ghosts is an album that demands intense focus and attention.

The echoes of previously heard themes, motifs make for a compelling examination of memory and experience as much as for an effective soundtrack.

This album’s seeming eschewal of depth and nuance of meaning leaves it feeling ultimately hollow.

Lady From Shanghai is not an enjoyable record--it’s not meant to be--nor is it by far Pere Ubu’s finest or most original musically. Yet it deserves applause for what it attempts to achieve, which is largely successful.

For all its archness and sophistication, the music here has a very clean, mainstream sound too.

Many Blue Nile classics whispered their way to five minutes without outstaying their welcome, and there's plenty here that could have done the same. It's a minor quibble, however, when an album sounds as lovingly crafted, honest and subtly passionate as this.

It's an adventurous, seductive and plush exploration of the depths of progressive and popular metal.

Cobra Juicy is an album that needs time to reveal itself. Like the band itself, it is a mysterious work that is difficult to get to the heart of, but with a little effort it is a rewarding experience.

Huge swathes of uplifting, chest beating, and grandiose magnificence populate this album, and it is almost impossible not to get swept up in the sheer pomp of the performance.

Those looking to capture a mood, to dive in to something soothing for just over half an hour, would be well advised to kick back and let the music wash over them

Like Dylan, Born To Sing will probably be an acquired taste for some (the jazzy backing may put some off, as may Morrison's tendency to incessantly repeat lines and start scatting every so often), but it's yet another example of his sometimes erratic genius.

At times, the low-key, downtempo atmosphere may threaten to overwhelm, but Nocturne is an album that both solidifies and enhances Wild Nothing's growing reputation.

Other Worlds is a pleasant, but modest experience and, while an effort has been made to stamp every track with distinctive hints, the end result is an interesting but arguably undemanding work.

Fay consistently finds beauty in the world and is not afraid to express such sentiments. There are also moments of very real sadness--but a hard-won wisdom and acceptance cuts through.

It's appealingly uncompromising and right on the border between lucidity and madness.

On The North Sea Scrolls, Haines stays true to his own brand of dark, surreal mystification and harnesses two other individual talents to create something that some will find highly satisfactory.

This is a bold, honest and carefree collection that, rather than announcing Kozelek's frustrated retirement, seems set to point to new and exciting musical adventures.

There is a great deal of music here that showcases Ahmed Gallab's musical dexterity and skills as an arranger, however it is slightly unsatisfying as a cohesive and lucid album.