This Week's Releases

This week's latest and greatest… 

St Vincent - Masseduction (Loma Vista/Caroline)

St Vincent's Annie Clark teaches us a thing or two about what a big, brash and brilliantly articulated indie pop album with plenty on its mind and unwillingness to compromise should sound like in 2017. The lonesome slide guitar on Happy Birthday, Johnny and the cold and desperately loveless streets of New York capture Clark at her most sincere, tugging on listeners' heartstrings.

"This is St Vincent at her very best." - Guido Farnell. Album Of The Week. Four and a half stars. Read more… 

Beck - Colors (Capitol/EMI)

Following his Grammy win for 2014's Morning Phase, Beck is back and wastes no time getting down to business with the opening title track a punchy one-two, all swanky chorus and excitement. It's the most polished approach he's taken to date, as was hinted at when Dreams was released as a single earlier in the year, showcasing that a shift outside the realm of an indie stalwart was in the works.

"Colors unfortunately falls short of expectation." - Adam Wilding. Three stars. Read more…  

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile - Lotta Sea Lice (Milk Records/Matador)

The seemingly offhand but insightful observations of both are present. By turns they're wry, resigned, occasionally surreal. It's not just their two laconic voices, there's also their idiosyncratic guitar playing: off-kilter strummy one moment, wiry-loud verging on grungy the next. That plays off against little flourishes like Let It Go's limping martial drums.

"... It seems to have worked so easily. Or maybe it takes real effort for something to sound this casually throwaway." - Ross Clelland. Four stars. Read more…