Muse: The 2nd Law – review
Last year, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy announced the band’s sixth album would be a “Christian gangsta-rap jazz odyssey, with some ambient rebellious dubstep and face-melting metal flamenco cowboy psychedelia”. It tells you something about Muse that it was hard to work out exactly how far his tongue was lodged in his cheek. Read review here....
Hot Chip – In Our Heads: Album stream
Hot Chip’s fifth album is a multi-coloured riot of electro, funk and pop – and possibly their best yet. Produced by the band themselves, it’s designed for the dancefloor yet never feels short of gigantic pop melodies. Listen here.
The Beach Boys: That’s Why God Made the Radio – review
As the Beach boys unveil a new track (which you can listen to here) from their 50th anniversary album ‘That’s Why God Made The Radio’, Alex Petridis says, “there’s some rotten stuff on it, but parts of the Beach Boys’ new album seem like the perfect way to end their story”. Read review here.
Richard Hawley delivers a masterpiece in ‘Standing At The Skys Edge’ – full album stream here.
The Sheffield guitarist / singer-songwriter / producer does something of a stylistic about-face without sacrificing any of his unique appeal. Read a 5 star rating review here whilst listening to a full album stream.
The Roots ‘Undun’ MX album review
The Roots – ‘Undun’ ★★★★ Imagine you’re a street criminal, making your fortune by hurting people. You wake up one day, dead on a morgue slab. It’s the perfect time to reflect, no ? Absolutely say US hip-hop/soul group The Roots. The band’s first concept album tells the life story of Redford Stephens (1974-1999)...
The Black Keys talk to MX about their new album ‘El Camino’
On the eve of the release of their new album ‘El Camino’, The Black Key’s Dan Auerbach talks to Michelle Read about winning Grammys, a different recording process and working [again] with Danger Mouse. Scroll to the bottom of the page to listen to the first single fom ‘El Camino’, ‘ Lonely Boy’. As far...
Kate Bush: 50 Words For Snow – Review
With her tenth studio album about to be released and with critics unanimous in it’s praise, The guardian’s Alexis Petridis gives us his thoughts on the eclectic Kate Bush and her new album ’50 Words For Snow’. Read article here.
The Getaway Plan – Requiem – Mx album review
There sure was a reckoning for The Getaway Plan. After their dizzying rise in 2008 with debut ‘Other Voices’, Other Rooms’, the four teens had to tug on the reins. Things got a bit too crazy, too fast and so they disbanded in 2009. The farewell tour was like a victory lap for Matthew Wright,...
Florence + the Machine – ‘Ceremonials’ – Mx album of the week
The pressure of producing a decent follow-up album is no greater than when the debut sold and charted exceptionally well. And in Florence Welch’s case, the pressure was immense – ‘Lungs’ went either gold or platinum in nine countries and saw the flame-haired, indie-pop nymph become one of the most respected musicians to come out...
My Favourite Album – ‘Since I Left You’ by the Avalanches
Continuing a series in which (UK newspapers) The Guardian and Observer‘s writers pick their favourite albums – with a view that you might do the same – Sam Richards falls for the debut Avalanches record ‘Since I Left You’. Read the reasons why here.
The Red Hot Organization release album 12 ‘Red Hot + Rio 2′
The Red Hot Organization have released their 12th ‘AIDS awarness’ compilation album Red Hot + Rio 2, a contemporary take on the late 60′s Brazilian Tropicalia movement. First founded as King Cole Inc. by Leigh Blake and John Carlin, Red Hot was established in 1989 in responce to the devistation wrought by AIDS on a...
The Rhythm of my soul: a tribute to Bart Willoughby
The Rhythm of my soul: a tribute to Bart Willoughby Corner Hotel, Melbourne 22nd May 2011 Bart Willoughby is noted for his pioneering fusion of reggae with Indigenous Australian musical influences, and for his substantial contribution to the growth of Indigenous music in Australia. Through his early work with the legendary band, No Fixed Address,...
