Reviews

Album: Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun (Capitol) (Rated 3/ 5 )

On his first coherent new project in years, Brian Wilson reverts to his default setting to offer a billet-doux to his beloved hometown of Los Angeles.

Inside Reviews

Album: Bloc Party, Intimacy (Wichita)

Friday, 29 August 2008

In the new digital-download world of pop, things arrive more suddenly, but they also depart with alarming speed, too.

Album: Brett Anderson, Wilderness (BA Songs) (Rated 1/ 5 )

Friday, 29 August 2008

Brett Anderson's career has not been well served by his poor timing.

Album: Fujiya & Miyagi, Lightbulbs (Full Time Hobby) (Rated 4/ 5 )

Friday, 29 August 2008

Now anchored by a rhythm section, Fujiya & Miyagi extend the vector of 2006's addictive Transparent Things into this follow-up, with another set of infectious pieces informed by the more methodical end of Krautrock.

Album: Roots Manuva, Slime & Reason (Big Dada) (Rated 4/ 5 )

Friday, 29 August 2008

"Do for self, move for self, try to stay true to self," toasts Roots Manuva on his new album; and once again, it's that determination to stand out from the crowd that makes Slime & Reason such a success.

Album: The Peth, The Golden Mile (Strangetown) (Rated 2/ 5 )

Friday, 29 August 2008

Save for a brief snippet depicting a man apparently playing the spoons with a tin on his head, The Peth's YouTube clips all show a band seemingly born out of a Julian Cope wet-dream of stoner-rock excess, all elements of their sound overloaded in a whirlpool of psychedelic rock riffage.

You write the reviews: Bellowhead, Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape (Rated 5/ 5 )

Friday, 29 August 2008

Snape Maltings, near Aldeburgh, is the home of seriously serious music, where nice tunes, although not actually forbidden, are definitely frowned upon. So it's a bit of a mystery how Bellowhead, who have nice tunes in abundance, ended up playing there. Because this was part of the Proms season, many of the audience were getting their first taste of this eccentric 11-piece folk ensemble. The amplification frightened off one or two punters, but the rest were game to stay and give it a go. In the democratic days of Top of the Pops, you feel certain that Bellowhead would have had an "All Around My Hat"-type crossover hit by now and be headlining festivals all over the country.

The Raconteurs, Corn Exchange, Edinburgh (Rated 4/ 5 )

Friday, 29 August 2008

Increasingly, The Raconteurs would seem to be Jack White's full-time thing rather than just a side project with friends, given that Meg White is still away. The White Stripes's loss needn't be mourned, though, because The Raconteurs are a fine and distinctive group.