Rosie Tucker’s fourth album, ‘Utopia Now!’, finds the talented singer-songwriter asking what an artist’s life looks like in 2024 – a time where people’s (especially trans) rights are being taken away because they’re deemed ‘different’ and capitalism rules over (almost) all. The album opener ‘Lightbulb’ is full of synths stabs and Rosie’s trademark stream-of-consciousness thoughts:…
Liam Gallagher and John Squire join forces on a self-titled album that builds on the relationship, bond and mutual appreciation that has been seen at both the Oasis ‘96 and Liam solo 2022 Knebworth shows… A jangly Byrds-style intro signals the start of ‘Raise Your Hands’, an album opener that reminded us of John’s ‘other’…
NewDad release their long-awaited debut album ‘Madra’ (which means ‘dog’ in Irish) this January. A guitar-heavy record that explores themes of self-exploration, destruction, mental health and resistance, it’s one that we’ve been excited about since first hearing them on BBC 6 Music and then seeing them at 2022’s Glastonbury Festival. ‘Angel’ opens the record with…
‘In many cultures children born with a dominant left hand were taught not to use that hand, and were told that using the right hand was ‘normal’ and ‘correct.’ Similarly, queer children are often times told that it’s not ‘normal’ for them to love who they love and that they need to change’. ‘Left Hand’,…
Written collaboratively from start to finish in Seattle, ‘The Window’ is the fourth album from Chicago’s Ratboys – and it finds the four-piece ruminating on love and grief. ‘Making Noise for the Ones You Love’ opens the album with a burst of intense feedback and pulsating drums that recall Deerhunter or The Walkmen. Julia Steiner’s…
There have been a lot of changes in The Xcerts’ camp over the past few years… A change of label, management and other personal and global challenges have made the release of their fifth album ‘Learning How to Live and Let Go’ a triumph in itself. Seeing it as a cathartic unshackling, the band promise…
Photo credit: Shervin Lainez The Hold Steady celebrate their 20th anniversary with new album ‘The Price of Progress’ – a collection of songs that finds Craig Finn once again telling the gut-punching stories of ordinary and often flawed people trying to navigate their way through life in today’s unsettled times…. ‘Grand Junction’ opens the song…
Photo credit: Niamh Berry Ailbhe Reddy follows up her 2020 debut album ‘Personal History’ with ‘Endless Affair’ – a collection of songs that find the Irish singer-songwriter tackling the pain and relief of growing up, the power of living and the raw emotion of mortality… ‘Shitshow’ opens the album with hushed tones that evolve into…
Manchester Orchestra follow up 2021’s ‘The Million Masks of God’ with ‘The Valley of Vision’ a 6-song piece that finds Andy Hull and co exploring all-new sounds (this is not a guitar-heavy record) while touching on the powerful and sometimes futile concepts of faith, adulthood and self-redemption… ‘Capital Karma’ opens the album with gentle stabs…
Photo credit: Oliver Sangster Dutch Uncles return after six years with ‘True Entertainment’, their sixth (!) album since 2009. Inspired by acts including Kate Bush, The Blue Nile and Ennio Morricone, the album features guest appearances from Metronomy’s Anna Prior and Everything Everything’s Jonathan Higgs while the sound continues to blend eminently danceable hooks with…
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