Days Are Gone is a pretty impregnable collection of songs, their alloy of golden Fleetwood Mac melodies and liquid R&B polished to a reflective shine. [Oct 2013, p.103]

Bloc Party remain a band with the greatness they seek still hovering somewhere on the horizons. [Nov 2008, p.112]

While the second project has iuts moments--'Venice' is beautifully undersatetd--the juxtaposition doesn't really come off and you're left wondering why these weren't simply kept as two disctnct EPs. [Mar 2009, p.96]

Sounds like everyone has a ball. [Jun 2009, p.117]

On the down side, it's a record that fails to keep pace. [Aug 2002, p.133]

The sound may gain more traction in a post-Mark Ronson world than his previous electro-based efforts. If only Tillmann didn't have to excise the fun to achieve it. [Jun 2013, p.98]

But for some off-key warbling, they might have slapped some crowd noise over the fantastically bonkers original. [May 2011, p.115]

Subtlety is not their strength. [Jul 2013, p.111]

Hardcore fans will probably be disappointed with the amount of rhythmic experimentation which, the messy breaks of Boom aside, is pretty much lacking. [Aug 2004, p.113]

Were they anything but Gallic, this approach would doubtless sound corny and contrived.

There's nothing that reeks of genius here, but there's enough to be getting on with. [Oct 2012, p.97]

While Introspection and Ocean Flow Zither pluck strings in infinite caverns of echo and temple bells, elsewhere things are more earthbound, though still transcendent. [Dec 2017, p.106]

[Heaven's Ladder, performed by Beck is] so good, though, that it makes the rest of this complicated exercise seem like a waste of time. [Oct 2014, p.108]

A set of modestly sparkling gems. [Dec 2006, p.147]

Good pop needs light and shade to grow up, it seems, and so does Example. [Jan 2013, p100]

The Black And White album plays their usual garage-rock game with no desire beyond loking hot and sounding cool. [Nov 2007, p.138]

It builds upn the spirit that made his debut, "Yours To Keep," so warm. [Aug 2008, p.136]

The more Khan sets the pace, the more all three fly. [Jun 2017, p.112]

Conjures up a haunting, almost mythical American landscape of lost highways and endless skies. [Dec 2011, p.137]

Occassionally the set suffers from too much studio polish and not enough grit. [Jan 2009, p.116]

It's hard to keep up, but it's an enjoyably bonkers journey. [Summer 2018, p.113]

It's not a wildly eclectic trip, but for dependable hooks and relatable emotion, Alvvays are spot on. [Oct 2017, p.100]

Halcyon haze from Californian flute-toters. [Sept. 2011, p. 110]

Gong have become their own tribute band. But it works. [Nov 2016, p.107]

Whereas that time [on Off My Rocket At The Art School Bop] the sharp lyrics were backed by memorable tunes, here he isn't pulling up any trees musically. [Nov 2016, p.107]

Occasionally frustrating and sometimes even a little soapy, Mechanical Bull has its flaws, but it also brims with personality and passion. [Oct 2013, p.104]

While 'Caskets' and 'Coats Of Ice' evoke Eels at their most melodic, the tedious 'Gillian Was A Horse' belongs in the knackers' yard. [Nov 2008, p.117]

Their sound has broadened, too, moving from callow mod-punk towards the big choruses of Kaiser Chiefs. [Nov 2008, p.120]