Display[s] a broad musical taste that brings elements of Jack Johnson-styled folk and XTC jerk-pop to their unbridled, youthful joie de vivre. [Mar 2006, p.107]

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]

A mind-expanding trip for sonic explorers. [Mar 2017, p.107]

Exhilarating end-of-days from the US trio. [Oct. 2010, p. 113]

A late-career peak. [May 2019, p.115]

Nominally folk gospel, they embrace an array of styles from rock to dance, via unashamedly esoteric. [Oct 2013, p.100]

May be his most sad-eyed collection, but it's also his best yet. [Jul 2019, p.109]

Mount's intoxicating amalgam of past and present is the real thing. [Apr 2014, p.114]

Unashamedly English with a slightly mysterious undertow, the likes of Harvest Time and Graven wood recall Pink Floyd at their most pastoral. [Jan 2010,p. 126]

Short, but extremely sharp. [Feb 2010, p.104]

For the most part, though, this record is defined by its vibrancy, especially with bassist Lou Barlow's melodic vocal contributions to Love IS... and Left/Right. [Aug 2016, p.110]

This is compassion delivered with the force of a jackhammer. [Mar 2017, p.107]

These succinct, sparse vignettes could double as short stories, Darnielle's evocative imagery giving the likes of 'San Bernardino' a cinematic feel. [Mar 2008, p.108]

Its triumph is in its intimacy and honesty. [Dec 2008, p.134]

It's exhilarating in both its fury and its craft. [Jul 2017, p.114]

They're on terrific form. [Apr 2014, p.106]

A beautiful album that nudges a classic past into a brave future. [Jul 2016, p.109]

This debut seems to tremble on the threshold between the past and the present, the known and unknown, O'Brien's voice and allusive lyrics displaying a mixture of vulnerability and dexterity. [July 2010, p. 137]

Four albums in and Tunstall's voice remains original and excellent. [Jul 2013, p.111]

Genuinely anarchic and surprising. [Dec 2004, p.148]

Ballet School update and enhance, rather than copy or clone their '80s forebears. [Oct 2014, p.103]

The results are perhaps closest in spirit to Rough Trade-period Scritti Politti, all controlled experimentation and unexpected musical shapes thrown to enhance the songs, rather than indulge musical whims. [May 2005, p.112]

Her references are classic, but she's never polite with them, twisting her heritage into a brilliantly volatile LP. [Feb 2017, p.112]

Relentlessly entertaining--a vessel for the impressive vim and vigour of an artist who is many things, but never a bore. [Mar 2020, p.115]

Sorrowful and stately, Griffin's voice is a startlingly expressive instrument. [May 2007, p.125]

Alongside an early double hit of the two best pop songs the band have written in a decade and a rabble rousing take on their own Sproston Green, the album sees Tim Burgess pay respect to lifelong influence Crass. [Sep 2010, p.118]

There's not much room for nuance, but who needs subtlety when you've got pounding riffs and heroic guitar solos like this. [May 2020, p.112]

Irresistible. [Feb. 2012 p. 107]