Tegan and Sara review – pointed new songs a statement of intent
The Calgary-born twins combine more impressively than ever, but the promise of arena-sized success means they might have to overhaul their bare-bones stage presence
The Stone Roses review – a vast house party
They’re still riding their reunion wave on the strength of two new songs, but seeing the Roses live these days is more about the fans than the band
Parquet Courts review – a sweaty hour of buzzsaw riffs and detuned melody
Success looks unlikely to mellow the DIY art-punk quartet
Mitski: Puberty 2 review – unflinching confessional pop full of wit and pain
Given this generation’s supposed fondness for oversharing, you’d think albums as open and unflinching as Mitski’s fourth would be ten-a-penny. But in fact it’s quite the opposite, and this New Yorker’s sheer candidness can make you wince: “I told him … Continue reading
Yung: A Youthful Dream review – polite and prettified punk
The fact that Danish band Yung are retreading old ground on their first album is a moot point: guitar rock currently feels like a place where craggy riffs and rasping vocals are reanimated in order to stir up memories of … Continue reading
Band of Horses: Why Are You OK review – indie rockers return to wistful euphoria
After the mainstream ambitions of Infinite Arms and Mirage Rock, Band of Horses’s fifth album makes something of a triumphant return to the wide-eyed, dreamy vulnerability that marked the Seattle band’s first two records. The default mode is anthemic indie-rock … Continue reading
Spring King: Tell Me If You Like To review – deliciously distorted racket
Here’s another album to suggest that sparky, spiky British indie bands are finding a way to pull themselves out of the landfill, even if it’s still the landfill that offers the greatest commercial rewards. This Mancunian quartet’s stock in trade … Continue reading
Coldplay in Manchester review – visual treats and infectious niceness
Their love of cliches may be comical at times, but band prove there are few serious challengers to their own heavyweight title
Cat’s Eyes: Treasure House review – lush strings, garage rock and all points between
Few side projects turn out as well as Cat’s Eyes, a bit of extracurricular fun for Horrors frontman Faris Badwan and Italian-Canadian soprano Rachel Zeffira, which has so far delivered two swooningly lovely records and a pair of guerrilla gigs … Continue reading
William Tyler: Modern Country review – a paean to the old, weird America
William Tyler manages to say a lot without ever uttering a word. Despite featuring little besides gentle strums and fingerpickings, the Nashville guitarist’s ruminative folk and country pieces speak eloquently to what the critic Greil Marcus called the “old weird … Continue reading
Cat’s Eyes: Treasure House review – celestial delicacy and gruesome horror
Related: Pop band breaches Buckingham Palace security As is custom with duos, Cat’s Eyes relies on its members’ opposing forces: Rachel Zeffira, a Canadian soprano, composer and multi-instrumentalist who summons celestial delicacy from every song, manages to smoothe out the … Continue reading
Steve Gunn: Eyes on the Lines review – head-nodding treats
Brooklyn’s Steve Gunn is the Ty Segall of Americana, a prolific musician who has released 13 albums since 2007, some with like-minded strummers such as Kurt Vile and Hiss Golden Messenger, others solo records such as 2013’s acclaimed Way Out … Continue reading
Whitney: Light Upon the Lake review – gorgeous, russet-coloured Americana pop
Whitney’s reputation as a supergroup is perhaps a little overstated. Only in the indie world could a group formed of members of Smith Westerns and Unknown Mortal Orchestra attract the super prefix. But Light Upon the Lake merits superlatives. It’s … Continue reading
Let’s Eat Grandma review – frighteningly inventive duo rip up girl-group cliches
Best friends Jenny Hollingworth and Rosa Walton amp up the weird factor with their synth-laden glimpses into the darker sides of teenage life
Tegan and Sara: Love You to Death review – smart, confident, grown-up pop
Continuing their skilful transition from the indie world to the mainstream, the Canadian twin-sister duo prove their pop chops on a brilliantly concise new album