Those lying closest to their own unsubtle ouevre, ie the Minor Threat and Cypress Hill tracks, are as crunching as die-hards could hope for. But the arch sneer of The Rolling Stones' Street Fighting Man and Bob Dylan's Maggie's Farm are predictably reduced to chalkboard lessons in "angry".

Nice, but probably inessential. [Nov 2019, p.111]

[Many of] these clean-sounding, jazz-rock rearrangements of songs from 1928 to 1963 prove successful experiments. [Aug 2012, p.100]

Condon proves that less can be more. [Oct 2015, p.102]

They should always say yes to excess. [Oct 2012, p.107]

An album that delivers plenty of thrills, even if the spills are now to be found elsewhere. [Oct 2014, p.104]

Step Back is better when Winter plays it straight. [Nov 2014, p.120]

Each song still has the inevitable moment of electronic ascent but, as with Coldplay's Recent break-up record, you can';t help but wonder how these songs might've sounded left raw and unslickened. [Jan 2015, p.133]

Rogers's 63-year-old voice sounds uncannily well preserved. [Feb 2014, p.119]

Tart modern pop performed with a sly sense of homour. [Mar 2009, p.105]

FILA is not his monumental debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, but it maintains the revival in form that began with its 2009 sequel. [Jun 2015, p.111]

The [same] sort of Clash-meets-Green Day agit-protest skate-punk Anti-Flag have been making since 1996. [May 2012, p.90]

The Big To-Do is the familiar mix of big guitars and off-kilter storytelling. [Apr 2010, p.120]

It's mix of precision and passion reminds of Muse's debut. [Jun 2013, p.91]

This return proves surprisingly approachable, especially on the four tracks written with French songwriter and producer Woodkid. [Oct 2016, p.105]

It's quirky without being kitsch, and another fine addition to Smith's varied back catalog. [Aug 2013, p.105]

Stark, speedy, ferocious---all their established calling card are here. [Oct 2015, p.114]

Still scabrous, sardonic and singular. [Jun 2015, p.109]

It's hard to imagine Jurvanen can outpace his boss, but he's doing just fine. [Oct 2014, p.103]

It's a record that manages to find hope among the uncertainties. [Jan 2018, p.113]

Delta reveals layers few would have thought they had. Often though, these moments of interest get flattened by a wave of arena-ready bombast. [Jan 2019, p.108]

It's what Spiritualized might sound like before Jason Pierce sprinkles his gospel fairy dust on them. [Oct 2010, p.104]

At 14 tracks long, it could have done with some editing: there are too many soggy R&B diversions. [Oct 2011, p.113]

A collection of songs of pleasing weight and completeness, their musical joints expertly dovetailed, their detailing crisply hand-carved. [Jun 2016, p.108]

It's lacking some of his scabrous wit, but this is Merritt's most enjoyable album for years. [April 2012, p.101]

Unlike the singer, the songs need to project a little more, but Beauty Already Beautiful sounds an intriguing first note. [Jul 2016, p.114]

It walks to the wobbly line between the sparkling and the indulgent with the former just about winning out. [Aug 2018, p.116]

A must-listen if you know the infield fly rule, but not so essential if you don't. [Jun 2014, p.104]