Coconut is overly polite by comparison to 2006's Derdang Derdang. [Apr 2010, p.106]

The mood is a celebratory, the vibe relaxed and one-time socially conscious hip hopper Franti makes like he's the happiest guy on the planet. [Jun 2011, p.124]

Europe is a more mainstream, although melancholy, affair, all about exile and extended youth. It's sometimes too much... But when Allo Darlin' snag hooks and get hopeful, they're wonderful. [Jun 2012, p.96]

While it's hard to feel moved, it's impossible not to admire the craftsmanship. [Mar 2005, p.101]

The breakbeat-based tracks offer obvious comparisons with like-minds such as Prefuse 73. [Jun 2006, p.113]

It's a mostly dazzling performance, though on the histrionic Gone Insane, they get carried away by their own virtuosity. [Apr 2016, p.109]

The music itself, a combination of gentle piano and tremulous, echoing synth, is mesmerisingly samey, like scenery rushing past your car window on a long road trip. [Aug 2017, p.102]

This record is like a pale version of their biggest fan in its shoe-shuffling awkwardness, and though each track sounds far too timid for single release, that is perhaps Upper Air's defining charm. [Aug 2009, p.103]

It's a good move, supercharged power pop melodies and sparky guitars combining to good effect on tracks such as "Gimme The Wire." [Jun 2010, p.127]

Immersion certainly contains its share of crossover anthems--not to mention some palette-expanding diversions into dubstep and progressive trance territories--but they'll be better appreciated in a festival field than the front room. [Jul 2010, p.135]

It's less emotionally instinctive LP than his debut, but over time those new pop hooks prove hard to shake. [Feb 2017, p.116]

Occasionally needs higher definition, yet her brittle voice and watchful lyrics cut through the Cocteau Twins grunge of With Love, the eye-rolling daze of All My Friends Are Drunk, the slacker energy of Keep It Near. [May 2020, p.100]

Angels Of Destruction builds on the momentum of 2005's "If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry." [Feb 2008, p.99]

A fair bit of filler... [Sep 2001, p.106]

Sadly, not all the guitar-led tracks work, but for every failure there's a soaring, slo-mo anthem or a downbeat campfire singalong.

Their debut presents tuneful, superior indie rock and bittersweet lyricism. [Sep 2011, p.119]

These unforeseen electro-moves should rightly bag fresh converts. [Mar 2016, p.113]

If we forget her Lenny Henry-esque Jamaican accent on the title track's Ziggy Marley duet, she's on sterling form. [Aug 2008, p.143]

Soundtracked largely by sweet, inoffensive Scandipop flavoured with R&B, EDM and acoustic indie. Occasionally, however, she complements her subject matter with notes of punk and emo ... and produces something livelier and less conventional in the process. [Jul 2020, p.104]

If there's an unstable, degraded wobble under their music, it's icily controlled, a deliberate reaction to an uncertain world. [Apr 2015, p.99]

They've still got the moves. [April 2012, p.106]

While William's folk inspirations remain obscure, with talking fish and tortoises featuring as well as birds, her music boasts a striking immediacy. [Apr 2014, p.112]

These songs come with fuzzy edges, a puff of smoke, a gentle wobble. It's Owen's solid songwriting skills that tether them to Earth, though. [Summer 2018, p.109]

Comes laden with flashy A-list cameos. [Jun 2003, p.96]

They've mercifully scraped away some of the abrasiveness on their fifth record--even taking the drastic step of recording in a real studio. It's a move that skillfully exposes their inner charms while preserving their lo-fi cool. [Jun 2011, p.123]

Cool Ghouls don't betray the influence of any music made in their own lifetime, but they have a broad enough palette to make their third album more than just a period piece. [Sep 2016, p.105]

Although this is certainly flawed, the Cardigans deserve kudos for recognising their faults, trying with all their might to rectify them. [Apr 2003, p.103]

If the production is a little soft, there's no denying the old boys can still knock out pop thrills. [Sep 2012, p.99]