Exhuasting but rewarding too. [Dec 2008, p.135]

Herren's wall-of-noise productions were clearly a big influence, alongside shoegazing indie bands and Joy Division, though nothing that follows quite measures up to spectacular opening lamundernodisguise, somehow reminiscent of both MGMT and gothic folk troupe Espers. [Dec 2008, p.133]

It's clear Russell was a true renaissance man, as at home with thoughtful guitar pop as he was with New York disco. [Dec 2008, p.143]

Filth's fondness for combining high-minded conceptualism with base British humour is actually their strong point. [Dec 2008, p.123]

Ultimately, though, it's her own barnstroming commitment and sheer affability that steer things safely home. [Dec 2008, p.123]

"Lamping" is a hunting term for flooding a forest with light then opening fire on the panicking prey, and the ninth album by these Athens, Georgia oddballs is similarly scattershot. [Dec 2008, p.132]

Their fourth album proves more than just a trendy daliance, placing them at the cutting edge being honed by Dirty Projectirs and TV On The Radio. [Nov 2008, p.117]

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

While there is much to admire, some of the wilfully discordant tunes grate on subsequent listens. [Nov 2008, p.107]

Black Ice is the album AC/DC were always going to make. It wasn't broken. They didn't need to fix it. [Nov 2008, p.119]

Often the players transform the hushed originals into rousing barnstormers, although diehards might baulk at the cluttered performances and newcomers may wonder what seperates the "Prince" from other raggle-taggle troubadours. [Nov 2008, p.107]

It's one of the least boring records you'll hear this year. [Nov 2008, p.108]

For such a distinctive voice, disappointingly run of the mill. [Nov 2008, p.123]

It might alienate those who prefer him to wallow, but there's magic and bravery here. [Dec 2008, p.130]

It's too entrenched in the past to take Costa forward, but there's nobody relighting the old fires with such authenticity. [Mar 2009, p.96]

The old fervour remains intact. In truth, their third LP holds few surprises. [Feb 2009, p.116]

For his eigth studio album he's gone over the top politically. [Feb 2009, p.116]

Their joyous music has an even greater emotional weight. [Dec 2008, p.133]

Tobacco keeps things instrumental, lathering on freakish analogue effects but rejecting dance music's stylistic tics in favour of a pleasingly warped relative of space rock. [Aug 2009, p.112]

It's not going to challenge anyone, but it would bring a welcome touch of class to the charts. [Oct 2008, p.139]

Mostly, it's just not interesting enough to hold the listener's attention throughout. [Aug 2008, p.139]

Everything Is Borrowed is a huge disappointment, riding in on the crest of the huge disappointment that was Skinner's previous album. [Oct 2008, p.140

A second Oasis album to better "Standing On the Shoulders Of Giants" and "Heathen Chemistry," but one too, that promises so much only to fall so short. [Nov 208, p.104]

Aside from the relatively oomph-laden, piano-driven 'Sharing A Gibson Withh Martin Luther King Jr.' and a lonesome cover of Don Williams's 'I Believe In You,' there's barely a melody to savour. [Nov 2008, p.118]

Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand's label is an unlikely home for these militant lesbian rappers who screech sex-filled rhymes over tough, minimal beats, although thheir punky energy should appeal to Messrs Turner and Kapranos. [Oct 2008, p.152]

It's Hynde who steals the show with her lip-curling vibrato, part Elvis, part Dusty, never more intoxicating than on the seductive 'Almost Perfect.' [Jul 2009, p.129]

With ace guitarist Marc Ribot on board, it's rockier than her three previous outings--but in a good way. [Nov 2008, p.121]

Raposa's songs are often just a little too aimless. [Dec 2008, p.126]