A roaring cosmic-rock romp, equal parts Muse-esque space station stomps and jitterbug Krautrock rhythmics. [Dec. 2011 p. 137]

A giddy blend of nostalgia and invention that'll do just fine for starters. [Dec. 2011 p. 136]

There are moments of exquisite melancholy to treasure. [Dec. 2011 p. 136]

The Devil's Rain is very silly indeed. [Dec. 2011 p. 136]

A collection of loose - in fact, very loose - rock-n-roll with at least one foot in the '60s. [Dec. 2011 p. 136]

New Blood again finds him working with a full orchestra, this time on selections from his own back catalogue. [Dec. 2011 p. 136]

As long as you're up for more mood and texture experiments there's plenty of interest. [Dec. 2011 p. 135]

A charming little diversion from the cares of the modern world. [Dec. 2011 p. 135]

Beyond the just-add-tears euphoria it also shows a band capable of a rawness that their self-created, slightly precious, image masks. [Dec. 2011 p. 135]

Fallen Empires is typically and unashamedly arena-friendly bombast ... leavened by leader Gary Lightbody's often appealing insecurity.[Dec. 2011 p. 134]

When Green is good here, he is very good, and the mis-steps are minor niggles.[Dec. 2011 p. 132]

Humor Risk is another casually monumental achievement from one of the great singer-songwriters of the day. [Dec. 2011 p. 130]

There's a welcome '60s pop feel to the material, proof that Lynne doesn't need anyone else to show her how it should be done. [Dec. 2011 p. 129]

It's focused, punchy and beautifully poetic. [Dec. 2011 p. 129]

There's enough to help fans rekindle the love affair. [Dec. 2011 p. 129]

Dense swirls of electronic noise, baleful, twanging gothic country guitars, lyrics that never quite reveal some horrifying secret - fans of Lynch's films with find themselves on familiar ground. [Dec. 2011 p. 129]

To hard-hitting R&B and funk akin to God Foot-era James Brown, Jones can strip paint and soothe with equal aplomb. [Dec. 2011 p. 129]

If an album's ever demanded the description "plangent" or "mellifluous", it's here. [Dec. 2011 p. 128]

His debut combines melodic dubstep with a dose of Timbaland-style R&B. [Dec. 2001 p. 127]

Imagination and maturity abound, energy less so, although it bodes well for the next album. [Dec. 2001 p. 127]

A bright and breezy sophomore that occasionally hints at darker themes. [Dec. 2001 p. 127]

They don't sustain the quality of songwriting throughout, but this is a promising start.

Boundless and ecstatic, this is house music at its very best. [Dec. 2001 p. 126]

He's turned his back on electro flourishes in favour of a melodic approach... It works. [Dec. 2001 p. 126]

The sound is at once distinctively British and uniquely African, encompassing vivid live field recordings and heavily processed electronica. [Dec. 2001 p. 126]

Both Ways Open jaws is just smug enough for you to wish it was wired shut. [Dec. 2001 p. 125]

Harper recreated herself as a sultry electro diva ... it's a role she plays with panache on this full-length debut. [Dec. 2001 p. 125]

There is only one real slip - Stephen Fry's mood shattering appearance on the title track. [Dec. 2001 p. 123]