Johnny Marr: Playland
Johnny Marr's second solo album suggests a consummate musician becoming more comfortable with his solo status.
Richard Folland
Wire: Document and Eyewitness (Re-issue)
Wire are arguably one of the most influential post-punk bands ever. But the (mostly) tuneless noise of this 1979/1980 live album is not the place to start.
Roddy Frame: Seven Dials
There's much to like about Roddy Frame, and much to admire about this album. Shame it lacks a killer tune.
Kasabian: 48:13
On 48:13, Kasabian largely eschew rock, pop and melody for a sound dominated by electronica and synths. With this they have lost a lot of what made them so good.
Paul Weller: More Modern Classics
No collection could do justice to some of the diverse paths which Paul Weller has pursued over the last decade.
Echo and the Bunnymen: Meteorites
This is not a "return to form". Some of the tracks are a bit boring and ponderous. But there are still just about enough chunks of Meteorites to compare with the Bunnymen's illustrious heyday.
Sade: The Essential Sade
Sade the band and the singer are responsible for classy, timeless music. Shame this collection is what feels like a pointless re-packaging
Kaiser Chiefs: Education, Education, Education & War
A big moment for the Kaisers, this album just about passes the pick of the pops test. It still stays too much in their quasi-new wave/indie comfort zone, but the different and interesting bits lend it some allure.
Glenn Tilbrook: Happy Ending
Quixotic (and that's just the name of the record label!) and plough-your-own-furrow he may be. But Glenn Tilbrook has the matchless quality to write a tune to his own enduring voice.
Colin Blunstone: On the Air Tonight
After all these years, Colin Blunstone retains a wonderful voice. It would be an even more rewarding experience if he were prepared to deploy it on more ambitious material.
Aztec Camera: High Land Hard Rain (Deluxe Edition)
This re-issue is an example of when youth and musicality collide in a sublime fashion.
Iain Matthews: The Art of Obscurity
Iain Matthews is an occasionally inspired survivor. It's a pity he couldn't summon more drive and ingenuity, on what may be his last solo album, to leave the testament his service deserves.