Thier relentless pursuit of "the craic" is wearing, evocative song titles not hiding the fact Dublin-native Dave King's lyrics lack the romanticism of Shane MacGowan. [June 2008, p.138]

A functional quality is leavened by guest voices. [Feb 2012, p.104]

Laughing Party proves a pleasing surprise. [Jun 2012, p. 104]

A weapons-grade blast from start to finish. [Jan 2013, p.113]

Atmospheric and unsettling, it's a thrilling, long dark night of the soul. [Feb 2014, p.116]

The broadening of the palate is certainly welcome but there still remains a nagging sense that, over a whole album, a lack of emotional heft renders them as frothy as ever. [Mar 2015, p.110]

Animal Wisdom is pretty enough, while drone epic Silent Stream nails his Velvets fetish. But to call the other Nuggets-style fodder here "something else" is overstating it. [Summer 2018, p.109]

Formerly one of the finest melodicists of his generation, this assured debut secures his position as one of our finest artists. [Nov. 2011, p. 124]

Halcyon casts a formidable spell. [Nov 2012, p.96]

In time-honored fashion it rattles through a dozen tracks in a shade over 30 minutes, never getting close to overstaying its welcome. [Mar 2011, p.116]

They appear to have tired of Love and have been listening to far more Velvet Underground. [Oct 2016, p.105]

It's all a disarmingly easy listen, even if their sugar-spun harmonies at times prove a touch too sweet. [Dec 2015, p.112]

More of the same, then. [Apr 2016, p.117]

Unfortunately, aside from Stranger's Kiss, the overall level of artifice here is simply too steep to surmount. [Oct 2017, p.100]

Impressive though it is, however, there's a lurking feeling that it could have been released any time in the past 10 years. [Mar 2010, p.97]

Paring down the roster to give more space to standout performers would have made this hit-and-miss debut fell less like a lucky dip. [Mar 2015, p.106]

This Is... Icona Pop does contain some enjoyable moments, but it's a hollow victory. [Nov 2013, p.117]

Glover's wit and dexterity confirm he's the real deal. [Jan. 2012 p. 119]

Stylish nightlife pop. [Dec 2004, p.148]

There's still the odd detour into eerie atmospherics, but essentially this is electronica for people who fine The Knife hard going, with recent Kylie collaboration, Whistle, providing a final dusting of pop sugar. [Oct 2013, p.106]

It's a curious artifact for sure, but it casts a unique spell. [Jul 2014, p.111]

The tempo seldom rises beyond a twitch, or Buttery's voice above a murmur, News From Nowhere is warm and confident. [Apr 2013, p.99]

They make a decent stab at it. But with such an overfamiliar sound, it smacks too much of the World Cup exit montage. [Oct 2011, p.117]

Liddle's earthy vocal wobble remains central, but this time it's married to such strident, straightforward rock that no one's going to compare them with Mumfords again. [Oct 2014, p.109]

There is too little variety on show and the lack of breathing space is more likely to induce mild claustrophobia than any genuine excitement. [May 2016, p.118]

The Black Keys may have as much in common with the conventional '70s blues-rock of Canned Heat and Free as they do with the more left-field THe White Stripes. [Oct 2006, p.118]

The sunny hooks of the title track and Disco Kid's funky backsbeat display similar flair, though indulgent wig-outs such as Don't Blame Yourself could do with an edit. [Jun 2017, p.105]

Left to her own devices, she radically strips back her earlier material and it works. [Nov 2018, p.111]