The Student Playlist

Showcasing the Best New Music, Curating the Classics

Tag Universal

REVIEW: Greentea Peng – ‘MAN MADE’ (EMI / Universal)

Aria Wells’ first full-length Greentea Peng album ‘MAN MADE’ lives up to the hype, a refreshing blend of psychedelic R&B cut with dub and reggae influences.

REVIEW: The Amazons – ‘Future Dust’ (Universal / Fiction)

Matt Thomson’s claims for The Amazons’ second album ‘Future Dust’ fall short, with a collection of unremarkable rock riffs and bland over-production.

REVIEW: Self Esteem – ‘Compliments Please’ (Universal / Fiction)

‘Compliments Please’ is a confident and highly successful divergence from Slow Club for Rebecca Taylor.

REVIEW: Yak – ‘Pursuit Of Momentary Happiness’ (Virgin EMI / Universal)

Yak’s second album ‘Pursuit Of Momentary Happiness’ is a study in the tunnel-vision madness of the creative process and striving to get what you want.

REVIEW: Alessia Cara – ‘The Pains Of Growing’ (Def Jam / UMG)

‘The Pains Of Growing’ is a comforting, well-written and executed pop record, but stylistically it still keeps you wondering what exactly Alessia Cara’s sound is.

REVIEW: Vince Staples – ‘FM!’ (Def Jam / Universal)

An exhilarating 22-minute blast of bizarre and inventive fun, ‘FM!’ might be a detour in the journey of Vince Staples but shows exactly what music ought to be in 2018.

REVIEW: Robyn – ‘Honey’ (Island / Universal / Konichiwa)

Robyn is back, at long last, breathing fresh air into pop music with her first album in eight years, and ‘Honey’ only shows how much her presence was needed.

REVIEW: Spring King – ‘A Better Life’ (Island)

Major label indie-rock hopefuls Spring King deliver a disappointing follow-up to a strong debut with ‘A Better Life’.

REVIEW: Miles Kane – ‘Coup De Grace’ (Virgin / Universal)

On his third solo album ‘Coup De Grace’, Miles Kane halts his already glacial musical evolution with songs that you’ve heard time and time before.

REVIEW: Years & Years – ‘Palo Santo’ (Polydor / Universal)

With greater drama behind the vivid and bright-edged electro-pop, Years & Years’ second album ‘Palo Santo’ is much more compelling than their rather flat debut.