Occasionally, things lift out of the bluster--unfortunately, in the case of Preacher, a terrible lyric--but even the Everybody Wants To Rule The World guitar on Life in Color or the relatively stately synth-pop of Something's Gotta Give can't make Native Anything but a great gas giant of a record. [Jun 2013, p.103]

She sounds more engaged than she has in years. Not the disgrace it could have been. [July 2011, p. 117]

When It Was Now comes across like French soft-rockers Phoenix without the arty twists. [Jul 2013, p.99]

Drizzles of acoustic guitar dilute any sense of experimentation, while the drab stadium indie of Vultures and Friend Of The Madness underlines the feeling that, underneath all the grand gestures, a very ordinary band is struggling to get out. [Sep 2014, p.113]

It tries to be everything at once, with varying results. [Oct 2005, p.114]

More quality control wouldn't have gone amiss. [Jul 2012, p.104]

It's all perfectly competent, but rather generic. [Jun 2006, p.119]

There's little of the fire and invention that characterised 2000's White Pony. [Nov 2006, p.140]

At its worst, it comes across as parody of one of Primal Scream's cod-Stones missteps. Only once do they drop the Southern shtick. [Dec 2013, p.102]

It takes a special talent to mine new gold out of acoustic songwriting, and Ben Howard just isn't it. [Nov 2011, p.135]

Grouplove need to strip their whole schtick back and start again. [Mar 2014, p.113]

It's a faintly embarrassing trifle that only a 69-year old ex-Beatle could get away with. [Apr 2010, p.120]

[Soulfly has been] churning out "world metal" for 13 years - with, it should be said, diminishing returns. [Apr 2012, P.101]

A real disappointment. [Apr 2004, p.118]

It's not always a comfortable union. [Jul 2015, p.102]

Even the rhythmic energy can't disguise a shortage of quality songs. [Mar 2014, p.114]

The follow-up [to 2013's All Hail Bright Futures] doesn't start well, picking up where that album's most irritating moments left off. [Jun 2015, p.100]

There's plenty here to test the patience of even the sternest fan. [Dec 2003, p.122]

They cook up an almighty storm, but as winds go, it's rather hollow. [Feb 2004, p.105]

Reggae has always plundered country for songs of love and heartbreak. Though seldom with such limp indifference. [Sep 2013, p.109]

Get Hurt is neither weird, nor, unfortunately, all that wonderful. [Sep 2014, p.116]

An experiment in performance art that'll put you in touch with your inner Brian Sewell. [Jul 2012, p.105]

Cells remains more a collection o would-be club anthems than an album. [Dec 2012, p.104]

What works onstage doesn't necessarily translate to disc, and that'sthe case here. [Oct 2007, p.108]

Once again it's a showcase for some dextrous prog-jazz metal guitar work that on occasion veers dangerously close to tuneless skronking. [Mar 2009, p.104]

They can still write a tune but they've done away with much of what made them unique. [Jul 2013, p.101]

Taking into account the great things expected of those once promising likely lads, Romance At Short Notice offers only more disappointment. [Aug 2008, p.144]

Disappointing return from orchestral indie types. [July 2011, p. 117]