Hard to get a handle, but easy to love. [May 2011, p.119]

They've taken their time, but this fine record suggests it may not be too late. [May 2011, p.124]

The six tracks on Take care... are beautifully realised mini-symphonies that invite comparisons with a leaner Godspeed You! Black Emperor, all defined by epic, awe-inspiring crescendos. [May 2011, p.115]

If you can cope with the intensity, tracks such as Done and the almost unbearably sombre $20 draw a mesmerising beauty from their anguish. [May 2011, p.119]

The length and sheer number of guest stars mean it;'s somewhat rambling, but when you're talking P-funk, what's new? [May 2011, p.112]

A refreshingly upbeat counterpoint to 2006's opaque, Brian Eno assisted Surprise. [May 2011, p.124]

The sentiment of the latter is clearly that the doubts and fuzziness of the past have gone and the future is now dazzlingly bright. On the strength of this sharply-focused, wholly impressive record, that much is certainly true for Guillemots. [May 2011, p.113]

By definition, it's a water treader and there's nothing surprising. [May 2011, p.124]

What was often missing was much in the way of engaging, nuanced songwriting. Four alums in, though, there are clear signs of progress. [May 2011, p.121]

Her sense of foreboding remains intact, as does her way with a spooked Portishead-esque rhythm and a keeningly intelligent lyric. [May 2011, p.119]

{The Birthday party is ] more like an unfortunate scratch on what is otherwise a miniature jewel of an album and one of those rare side-projects that deserves a long life of its own. [May 2011, p.117]

Such is the electronic murk elsewhere, it feels better to dabble your toes in this record than plunge right in. [May 2011, p.120]

He makes a quantum leap forward on his new album. [May 2011, p.112]

He's not the first person to have exploited the uranium half-life of the '80s but on Confetti's doomy missile-silo clang and the brassy Robert Smith jive of Alchemy And You, he customises it smartly for a newly paranoid generation. [May 2011, p.112]

If his vocals sound phoned in on those, when he does engage, his half-spoken, half-threatening drawl on the homesick America! and Universal Applicant evokes Gil Scott-Heron, but it;'s not enough. [May 2011, p.112]

The defining album of his career, Wasting Light is the sound of Dave Grohl putting his whole life in context. [May 2011, p.110]

Jollett's weighty musing are all but neutered by his determination to cover all musical bases but, as an alt-rock starter-kit, it's just about perfect. [May 2011, p.109]

He fashions an album that's playful and dewy-eyed, without being juvenile. [May 2011, p.109]

There's no doubt Glasvegas are on the side of the angels; they just need to remember that the Devil is in the detail. [May 2011, p.108]

Unfortunately, too many of their other choruses aim high yet fall flat. [May 2011, p.109]

Radiohead's ambitions are so modest that it's hard to tell whether this is just creative throat clearing or the quieter path they've settled for. If it's the latter, well, Radiohead sound calmer and more content than ever. [May 2011, p.106]

Simple, yet irresistible. [May 2010, p.118]

Interplay sees him continuing the retro-futurist experiment. [Apr 2011, p.102]

It stays true to their quirky synth-with-Indian-influences sound, while adding club beats, but displays a penchant for half-explained, possibly sinister scenarios involving, variously, alcohol, agoraphobia and hospitals. [Apr 2011, p.95]

She does more than enough to establish herself as a contender. [Mar 2011, p.112]

the expectancy of being universally tipped for greatness may yet sink her, but she's delivered here. [Mar 2011, p.109]

There's nothing here to suggest either a problem with what he's doing--Heavenly is as heavenly as its title suggests; Middle of Love shows how friendly Sexsmith can be; and the jaunty-sounding Eye Candy is covertly acerbic as they come--or that things will turn around for him. [Apr 2011, p.109]

This follow-up to their debut shows more polish and a firmer grasp on rhythm. [Apr 2011, p.106]