The overwrought Fall From Grace is the only bum note: otherwise Singles is a brilliant, bewitching album. [May 2014, p.110]

There are exquisite moments here, mostly the simpler ones, but not as many as there should be. [Dec 2002, p.100]

An absolute masterclass in thoughtful, emotional songwriting. [Apr 2003, p.104]

Though not without merit, the reliance on other people's melodies (and words on the Caroline Says-pilfering Distortions) can become trying after a while.

Even if there's a sense of darkness descending, in his best solo album yet, Gruff Rhys paints with bright and uplifting colours. [Jul 2018, p.109]

Her penchant for acid blurts and seductive basslines rings throughout this characterful collection, drawing constellations between electro glitz, darkwave gloom and post-punk austerity. [Aug 2018, p.111]

Across the range of these 13 short songs is the sound of a singular musician revelling in his gift. A wonderful return. [Jan 2020, p.106]

It might be wearing, were it not for the fact that his voice... is a thing of considerable power. [Aug 2005, p.122]

After almost a decade in the shadows, Eska is ready to take her place in the spotlight. [May 2015, p.104]

Tahabort, however, soon kicks up a rousigly Fela Kuti groove, and there follow divergent echoes of Saharan folk and, on the band's titular tune, Algerian Rai, to vary up the ever-pleasing dusty meanderings. [Jun 2016, p.112]

This 20-track spread, ending on caustic wig-out You're On Your Own, would make a worthy farewell. [Feb 2019, p.108]

It's a suitably schizophrenic listen, the bubblegum-pop attack of Wasted On You and Move To San Francisco contrasted with the soul-searching anxieties of the album's second half. [May 2020, p.100]

Bobby Gillespie murmurs over Minimal's slinky pop, while Silenced and Kuzurenai toy with space, R&B dynamics and even more tunes. [Sep 2020, p.107]

It's a welcome, and much needed, breakthrough. [Apr 2017, p.118]

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]

That you are compelled to stay listening to see what it might be is proof of this record's eerie power. [May 2016, p.111]

[Randy Newman returns] to what he does best: write and sing songs that veer from wild sentimentality to ambiguity to deep cynicism. [Sep 2017, p.113]

This is a compelling debut throughout. [Sep 2020, p.113]

What on paper might sound like a recipe for disaster in fact turns into a triumph. [Jan 2006, p.125]

Shackles' Gift can sound grandly expansive, yet it's also locked into its own little world, thinking global, acting loco. [Feb 2015, p.117]

A debut album of rare potency. [Sep 2019, p.115]

From start to finish, an impressive piece of work. [Jul 2019, p.114]

The Toronto group's grunge underworld is floodlit by stadium-sized drums and vast, airborne melodies. [Oct 2018, p.108]

Theirs is a cerebral electronica, characterised by slippery time signatures, off-kilter drum patterns and baroque flourishes. Their 10th album, Polymer, distills all these traits. [Summer 2019, p.115]

Maybe not as consistent as previous efforts, but when Beam harmonises with his sister Sarah, in particular, Woman King is really a very lovely thing indeed. [Mar 2005, p.104]

These are fine-boned tracks, filled with lops, piano, surges of sound and Tomberlin's hazy voice. But they are carried on the shoulders of great melody, so the effect is of gloriously distorted pop--warm, somnolent, slightly out of focus. [Sep 2018, p.118]

It's simply another excellent Elbow record. [March 2011, p. 98]

If you've skipped some of their more recent efforts, you'll be shocked by just how innovative and impressive they've become. [Feb 2016, p.119]