Robert Pollard: The World’s Greatest Living Songwriter
I have many favourite songwriters, James Mercer, Sufjan Stevens, Paddy McAloon, but none of them have the longevity and body of work that Pollard has. Continue reading
Owen Pallett – Heartland
Owen Pallett, the Canadian composer, multi-instrumentalist and all round clever so-and-so, may just have produced one of the best albums of 2010. Ok, so we are only a few days into the new year and so far there is not… Continue reading
Eels – End Times
While some heartbroken artists find solace through penning the odd break up song here and there, Eels frontman Mark Everett has decided to rake through the whole emotional mess of his recent divorce with an entire album, End Times. The… Continue reading
Vampire Weekend – Contra
It would be so convenient to start a review of Vampire Weekend’s second album Contra with something about the band’s metamorphosis into the bastard love child of Graceland-era Paul Simon and Lily Allen now being complete. There’s something so squeeky… Continue reading
Beach House – Teen Dream
I used to think Beach House were just another one of those dreamy, meloncholic bands. Soft vocals over key boards and simple guitar. Good but nothing special. That was until I heard their third album, Teen Dream, which elevates them… Continue reading
Midlake – The Courage of Others
With 2006’s album The Trials of Van Occupanther, Texan band Midlake perfectly recreated that sunny, kaftan wearing feeling of the early 1970s. All Fleetwood Mac and Eagles, songs such as ‘Roscoe’ and ‘Bandits’ could easily have come from the era.… Continue reading
Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring
Los Campesinos are among the most divisive of bands. A bunch of shouty students, spouting immature teen angst to some, one of the most innovative British bands around for others. Their latest Romance is Boring is a pretty good case… Continue reading
The Magnetic Fields – Realism
When Stephin Merritt released 69 Love Songs he made one big mistake, he’d produced an album so good that he was unlikely to ever better it. In the subsequent years he has released some interesting, although not always successful, side… Continue reading
Broadcast 2000 – Broadcast 2000
This first full length album by classical music graduate turned folkster Joe Steer, who goes by the name Broadcast 2000, is sure to appeal to those that enjoyed The Sleeper, last year’s critically acclaimed album from The Leisure Society. Released… Continue reading
Field Music – Field Music (Measure)
Field Music’s third album, Field Music (Measure), marks a comeback of sorts for the Sunderland four-piece, coming after a two-year hiatus for the band’s two driving forces, brothers Peter and David Brewis. During their break they have been busying themselves… Continue reading