Kurt Vile review – heavy-lidded rock seduces with its simplicity
Vile and his band only rarely break out of their slacker reverie, but when minimalism is this hypnotic, why bother?
Steven James Adams: Old Magick review – world-weariness worn lightly
House Music, the first solo album by former Broken Family Band member Steven James Adams, was recorded in his front room with a bunch of mates. In contrast, Old Magick was conjured with producer Dan Michaelson in a London studio, but … Continue reading
The Goon Sax: Up to Anything review – like living in a great coming-of-age film
Brisbane teen trio impress with an eloquent set of songs that are self-deprecating but never maudlin, prematurely world-weary but never cynical
Jeff Buckley: You & I review – another unnecessary posthumous release
Related: Jeff Buckley: ‘Either cursed, or the luckiest man alive’ Putting to the test the number of posthumous albums that one died-too-soon musician can bear comes You & I, the fifth collection of tracks – in addition to five live … Continue reading
Mexrrissey: No Manchester review – sadly no Smiths songs either
Mexrrissey have become a global phenomenon thanks to their Spanish-language reworkings of Morrissey songs. They have toured the UK, US and Australia, helped by continuing speculation as to why Mexicans so adore his melancholia. Now comes their debut album, which … Continue reading
The Coral: Distance Inbetween review – reunited and re-energised
After a five-year break, the Coral are back with a bit of extra muscle
Thao & the Get Down Stay Down: A Man Alive review – from surf rock to bubblegum pop
Thao Nguyen rarely meets an idea she doesn’t like. Over the past decade the San Francisco-based musician has dabbled in folk, bedroom beats and chamber pop, and collaborated with everyone from the Portland Cello Project to Merrill Garbus, AKA gonzo … Continue reading
Poliça: United Crushers review – excitingly upbeat electronica
The Minneapolis band have ditched their brooding edge in favour of a more mature – and more exciting – sound that outstrips the current glut of mannered trip hop
La Sera: Music for Listening to Music to review – less garage rock, more Smiths
Moving away from lo-fi clatter, La Sera’s fourth album has a new, rattled-out rock’n’roll sound, in thrall to Morrissey and Marr
The Coral: Distance Inbetween review – indie veterans make a purposeful return
The psychedelic rockers may no longer be their old playful selves, but their new record is a expert demonstration in controlled, stormy intensity
Blossoms review – rowdy crowd laps up sugar with a hint of spite
The Stockport band’s cathartic singalongs hark back to the region’s pop greats
Gwen Stefani’s Make Me Like You: the best of this week’s new music
Gwen Stefani | Tiggs Da Author ft Lady Leshurr | Hozier | XO ft James Chatburn | Rudimental ft Anne-Marie & Will Heard
Money review – they pull at the heartstrings but go for the throat
Frontman Jamie Lee takes a brilliantly cathartic tour through songs of death, despair and loneliness, all with a smile
Wild Nothing: Life of Pause review – calm competence and nigglingly familiarity
Jack Tatum’s third Wild Nothing album ticks all the indie boxes, but rarely excites in the process
Steve Mason: Meet the Humans review – confident, joyous indie anthems
Steve Mason sounds more at east than ever on this rapturous set of songs that dispel the tortured artist myth