#albumreview

Jun 16, 2019
2 min

Album Review: Hot Chip - 'A Bath Full of Ecstasy'

This Friday (21st June) sees the return of Hot Chip with their seventh studio album ‘A Bath Full of Ecstasy,’ their first since 2015. The London-based indie-tronica quintet famed for earlier songs such as ‘Over and Over’ and ‘Ready for the Floor,’ deliver an album celebrating joy and happiness while pursuing the melancholic approach of pain and toil which it takes to get there. A Bath Full of Ecstasy is also notable as it is the first time that Hot Chip have not self-produced

Album Review: Charlie Cunningham – 'Permanent Way'

The Mic Magazine

Jun 13, 2019
4 min

Album Review: Charlie Cunningham – 'Permanent Way'

The classically trained London singer-songwriter delivers a documentation of life’s uncertainties on his glowing sophomore record. The burgeoning mass of British singer-songwriters that have emerged in recent years has slowly moulded into a quagmire of similarity and simplicity, taking away some of the joy from acoustic guitar-based music due to its increasing predictability. However, when London-based Charlie Cunningham released his hugely successful debut album Lines in 201

Robyn Walford

Jun 12, 2019
2 min

Album Review: Bastille - 'Doom Days'

‘Doom Days’ pretty much sums up the feeling that most of us hold about the world in its current state. Headlines are turning ever bleaker and the world is seemingly a darker place than it has been in a long time. This is ultimately what Bastille’s third album is trying to capture. However, in a time of sadness and madness, Bastille have been able to offer a more optimistic snapshot of reality. Personally, I don’t think anything will top ‘Pompeii’ (a song that it definitely st

Album Review: Lewis Capaldi – 'Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent'

Cameron Chadwick

May 30, 2019
4 min

Album Review: Lewis Capaldi – 'Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent'

The Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of Twitter and most rapidly growing pop star to emerge from the UK since Adele surprises with a stripped-back debut which shows hints of greatness, but struggles to justify 12 songs of lethargic balladry. It’s a miracle I ever listened to this album. Its title is a top contender for The Mic’s ‘Worst Album Name of the Year Award,’ an accolade I’m considering setting up purely due to Divinely Uninspired’s existence, and the idea of yet anothe

May 22, 2019
3 min

Album Review: whenyoung - 'Reasons to Dream'

The young Irish band’s debut album ‘Reasons to Dream’ is set to be released this Friday (24th May) and it is definitely something to get excited about. If you can’t wait that long, the first single ‘The Others’ is out now. whenyoung have created an interesting sound with their new album, with an array of messages and themes being found through the tracklist. From typical pop to politically charged tunes, whenyoung are able to create a good balance between feel good and think

Album Review: The National - 'I Am Easy to Find'

Alex Barston

May 15, 2019
3 min

Album Review: The National - 'I Am Easy to Find'

The National. The umbrella that stops the hail from hitting your head, the first sip of water the morning after a heavy night of drinking, the woolly jumper that shields you from a bitter winter frost, you get the drift from this obsessional fan. The National are great, and they’re back with their eighth studio album at the perfect time. As I settle down after another arduous day of masters degree assignment writing, the stress-ridden short term future all of a sudden appears

Album Review: Cage the Elephant – 'Social Cues'

The Mic Magazine

Apr 25, 2019
4 min

Album Review: Cage the Elephant – 'Social Cues'

The frenetic Kentucky six-piece offer a highly-ambitious, yet confusing fifth record caught in the throes of heartbreak and loss. Over the course of their thirteen-year history, Cage the Elephant have dipped their toes in their fair share of rock’s offshoot genres. Despite being labelled a classic rock band with a funk and blues stamp to them, the six-piece from Bowling Green, Kentucky have navigated the likes of blues rock, grunge, alternative and arena rock throughout their

Album Review: Wolf Alice - 'Visions of a Life'

Abby Clarke

Oct 12, 2017
2 min

Album Review: Wolf Alice - 'Visions of a Life'

The success of Wolf Alice’s debut album ‘My Love Is cool’ which charted at number 2 meant that there was a lot of expectations surrounding their follow up album ‘Visions of a Life’ which was released on September 29th. As the opening song ‘Heavenward’, which was released as a single on the 18th September, begins it gives a calm, serene almost peaceful vibe which is quickly replaced by the start-up of the drums and then lead singer Ellie Rowsell’s distinctive voice. It is a gr

May 24, 2016
2 min

Album Review: Thick As Thieves, The Temper Trap

Australian Indie-Alternative band The Temper Trap are back with their much awaited third album. The band rose to popularity with their 2008 single Sweet Disposition (which featured on the 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack). After three long years of recording, Thick as Thieves is finally ready to be released just in time for the bands tour of Australia, Asia and Europe. Since their second self-titled LP, there has been rumors of the band being under pressure to revert back to the

Mar 23, 2015
3 min

The Cribs – “For All My Sisters” album review

‘For All My Sisters’, the first of two new studio albums from Wakefield rockers ,The Cribs is a self-professed pop-romp, and delivers no end of unabashed riffs and hooks. The album is somewhat of a departure from the raw aesthetic of their previous record ‘In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull’, by instead drawing on 80s pop influences. This shift is heralded by The Car’s Rick Ocasek taking on the mantle of production from the likes of Dave Fridmann and Steve Albini. This shift is

Nov 19, 2014
2 min

Foo Fighters – ‘Sonic Highways’ album review

Dave Grohl pretty much defines the rock music movement today, and almost 4 years later has released the sinful glory which is Sonic Highways. Foo’s 8th album seemed to beat the stereotype of classic rock, by recording each individual track in a different American city, in iconic studios where history was made. Sonic Highways captures the essence of being American, whilst having the rock ballads to give it a soft edge, in a sort of Johnny Cash meets Red Hot Chilli Peppers way.

Nov 10, 2014
2 min

Deptford Goth – ‘Songs’ album review

Following his 2013 debut, Life after Defo, Deptford Goth has come back with a more upfront and honest sound for his second album: Songs. Sticking to his love for synthesisers and vague lyrics, we were promised a more cheerful and joyous record from him at the press release a few days before Songs’ release. And yes, this album is just about as joyous as that tear-melted post breakup Ben & Jerry’s cookie dough ice-cream. Deptford Goth is the producer turned singer-songwriter Da

Oct 23, 2014
3 min

Gerard Way – ‘Hesitant Alien’ album review

Gerard Way’s solo career is not My Chemical Romance 2.0, and that’s clear from the first few seconds of The Bureau, the opening track of début album Hesitant Alien. Infused with rock and roll style guitars and lyrics to incite rebellion against ‘The Man’, it’s everything you’d expect from a killer opening track. Next comes ‘Action Cat’, which isn’t really about cats. It has all the makings of a great single, catchy riffs and a bass line I found myself nodding along to, alone,

Oct 20, 2014
3 min

New Found Glory – ‘Resurrection’ album review

After having the same line-up for 17 years, some questioned whether New Found Glory’s new album ‘Resurrection’ would be unavailing after the controversial departure of guitarist Steve Klein last year. However, if there’s one way to show that you’re going to work just fine as a four piece, releasing an album as flawless as ‘Resurrection’ is definitely one. The album opens with ‘Selfless’, a track about altruistically living each day like it’s your last. This song, as well as o

Oct 13, 2014
2 min

Kye Alfred Hillig – ‘The Buddhist’ album review

The Buddhist is the fourth album of the little known American singer songwriter Kye Alfred Hillig. Hillig began recording in 2012, and has increased in popularity and skill over this time. His latest album is his most solid yet, a collection of hauntingly reflective songs touching on subjects that most of us would rather block out and ignore. The songs come from the heart and despite their difficult nature he does not approach them with anger, sadness or resentment, but rathe

Oct 7, 2014
2 min

Jamie T – ‘Carry on the Grudge’ album review

After eagerly waiting for new material from London lad, he has emerged through the darkness to bring us probably his best work yet. The rawness of his atmosphere just makes him so loveable, in any form- what I like about this album. Carry on the Grudge is an emotionally damaged album, subtly hinting to what I can only imagine his life might be like. In his old age of 28 he seemingly has become a bit of a hopeless romantic. Don’t You Find makes you want to melt and relate a bi

Oct 9, 2013
2 min

Cage the Elephant’s “Fear of Music” – Melophobia

Kentucky rock band Cage the Elephant, writing their third album was definitely a challenge. Released on the 8th of October, Melophobia mixes mellow sounds, along with some 60’s vibes, with a new set of electric rock songs. The first single Come a Little Closer frankly hits the album of to a kicking start. The rolling bassline subtly complimented by Matt Shultz’s husky voice, and a rhythmic riff from Brad on the chorus is sublime. This song is probably the most addictive song

Jun 11, 2013
2 min

Tribes ‘Wish to Scream’ Album

There are many contested things in this turbulent day and age: Palestine, Britain and the Euro, the efficacy of the 4-4-2 system, to name but a few. The intrinsic worth of the new ‘Tribes’ album ‘Wish to Scream’ (release date 20/05/13) is another such issue. Widely panned as a ‘disappointment’, the general consensus is that ‘Wish to Scream’ lacks oomph and is too far a departure from the catchy stadium rock that characterised their first album ‘Baby’ (Jan 2012). Detractors cl

Nov 10, 2012
1 min

Astraea by Rolo Tomassi

Fans who associate Rolo Tomassi with a sense of pure chaos may have to readjust for Astraea. After the departure of Joe Nicholson and his blurry-fingered guitar-dada, as well as bassist Joseph Thorpe, the band recruited members of Brontide and No Coast to complete their lineup, with the result of a more direct and approachable song writing mode. It is their least weird, least technical record, but should not be regarded as the product of compromise. The record’s great strengt