Uncomfortable lyrics aside, there’s not much to make the adult listener squirm.
Two great albums, which surpassed expectations against the odds.
A trove of largely forgotten delights ready for rediscovery.
Denters is no album artist, yet, but a couple of these tracks could be great singles.
Deserves to take the duo to a new level of recognition.
Waking Up’s mass-appeal anatomy is oddly admirable.
Schmit’s most satisfyingly complete solo offering yet.
At their very best, dancehall duo Major Lazer offer arrestingly addictive listening.
Catchy but never quite conventional, this is a must-listen modern dance record.
An invigorating debut, auspicious and appetite-whetting.
The beginning of a career that would effectively define pop itself.
Having chosen to persevere, Six By Seven’s singer makes his solo mark.
These songs brave tumult and tension, despite their patchwork qualities.
Horner’s score to Cameron’s latest stands up well as an independent listen.
The producer seems to have forgotten what made him special in the first place.
Warpaint respect the balance between stirring sounds and surrounding stillness.
An arresting set of sweet, deep escapism from Karen O and cohorts.
A seasonal soft-rock set from the one-time Pink Floyd beater.
Enjoyable revivalist fare from The Fratellis frontman and friends.
Every bit as inoffensively average as its accompanying flick inevitably is.
An honest, authentic audio document of contemporary teenage Britain.
A greatest hits-style setlist performed with accomplished pizzazz.
A fine X to mark this spot in Snoop’s always interesting career.
A mostly enjoyable artefact of 1990s rock nostalgia.
Its gentle modesty might well make it the best example of its kind in 2009.
A phenomenon that failed to survive its own success.
Their story should be a lesson to fledgling bands: success is rarely immediate.
It’s a dream come true for Rod, but what about for everyone else?
A polished, chart-conquering affair, but detached from Sean’s roots.
Landmark post-punk LP remastered for its 30th anniversary.
Unlikely to be forgotten too soon based on this assemblage of evidence.
The boyband’s seventh album of originals sets its sights on the US market.
This ‘introduction’ is certainly a lot more comprehensive than most.
Do, please, bring it up and let yourself go.
Every bit as spellbinding as fans will be anticipating.
Hold on tight, to both your ears and your lunch.
A still-new band with a ragged niche all to themselves.
Album two from refreshingly upbeat, cacophonously catchy Tennessee outfit.
A muddled, but occasionally magnificent, time capsule-style package.
While the film packs bite, its soundtrack is relatively toothless.
Post’s imperially audacious design qualifies it as a timeless classic.
Little inherently wrong here – but shouldn’t we be demanding more?
An attractive and engaging postcard from the indie underground.
A fans-only collection, but at least time’s firmly on her side.
Essential pieces of the past ten years of pop history.
An electrifying listen, invigorating the parts Tricky can’t usually reach.
The work of outsiders banging repeatedly on the door of success.
Leona’s second album features collaborations with Justin Timberlake and OneRepublic.
Pencil him in as delivering a future album of the year, now.
SXSW buzz band’s debut album exudes a cheery effervescence.
