From the moment ‘Bombs Away’ hoves menacingly into view, it’s clear this is Eels at their most visceral.

His many personas have made for an oddly characterless record.

For all its prettiness, though, Passerby is a record that boasts about as much excitement as a gentle breeze, and its rewards are too few and far between.

A 30-track nonsense-o-paedia of speed-metal twatabouts. [9 Apr 2005, p.58]

For Nao, it’s also a representation of the growth (and heartache and pain) she’s pushed through in the decade since her debut and how she’s come out the other side, lighter, warmer and happier – but just as brilliant.

Is much, much better than a record made by chronically drunk middle-aged men has any right to be.

She may not have written the words, but Björk's emotional investment in songs like 'I've Seen It All' (really sad) and 'Scatterheart' (really really sad) is undeniable; making this album - 'in character' as poor, doomed Selma - totally seductive as A Björk Record.

It's no classic, but there are reassuringly unhealthy signs of life.

Woptober II is much more intimate. ... A lot has changed since it was last open season on Gucci Mane. The optimism and positivity on this album is infectious, even when he’s reminded of the darker times.

It's astonishing how the band are unafraid to take on Serious Issues yet remain so much fun.

The Auto-Tune and teenage love stuff don't entirely ruin a surprisingly weighty return.

What the south London quintet have made is an album full of delicious dream-pop.

Britain’s foremost whiteboy funkateer has learned enough since his 2005 major label debut ‘Multiply’ for ‘Compass’ to pull off a neat trick. With his heart as his guide, Lidell gives us a tour of soul through his geographically-removed ears.

This is a colourful, energised collection of work from an artist who could comfortably stay in her own lane, but chooses not to.

For all its musical philandering, unbridled excess and shrouds of irony, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a record with more musical depth and warmth all year than this one.

Inevitably it’s also an adventure in need of an edit.

Poignant package-holiday dance, sun-drunk but urgent with passion.

Yet the easy chemistry between everyone on Amok means that more often than not the record is beautiful.

As California dreamin' goes, this is almost as good as heading for the hills, reaching for a hand-tooled native American bong and calling yourself Moon Unit.

Screws Get Loose is best listened to live in a mucky kitchen at your mate's cool older sister's amazing house party.

Epic guitars, crashing drums and intense keys--it's a dramatic record that will shake your bones.

Hang is propelled by two principal forces--star-quality musicianship and the will to trespass beyond tradition. And, crucially, at a third of the size 
of its predecessor, it allows 
Rado and France--who wrote and produced every song--to fully focus. Rado’s keys are particularly outstanding.

While it’s far from a dramatic reinvention, there’s enough on display here to ensure that long-time fans will be more than happy, with a consistent array of the arena-ready riffs and post-rock choruses that cemented their name in the first place. This time, however, we’re given a welcome glimpse into the darkness that seemingly exists within.

Gray’s newfound penchant for ’80s pop doesn’t come with a notion of irony – he’s fully embracing even the era’s most ostentatious elements. But despite his own sincerity, there are moments that drift closer towards a caricature of the era than a true homage to the decade’s most innovative pop.

Follow-up Ready For The Magic is just as angry and their sometimes gauzy alt-rock is beefed up to ferocious levels.

At the moment, her music is best consumed in blog-sized chunks, not as a stodgy 48-minute album.

We say: just give in, it'll be the best vomit of your life. [20 Jan 2007, p.29]

'Algiers', their seventh album, is far less surface-level appealing, but the sad twang of a pedal steel and Joey Burns' rich lyrical imagery draw you in, and depth and craftsmanship is slowly revealed.