Strong, old-school production and tireless verses will remind you why Common has outlasted so many other rappers on the scene.
The legendary first album is iconic and remains the water mark for the emo scene, but American Football’s long-awaited second album shows the band grown up and still capturing introspective melancholy in a way that few others can.
‘Do Hollywood’ hints at something very exciting to come, if The Lemon Twigs can separate their own personalities from the musical character studies they’ve so expertly got nailed down.
On their fourth album ‘Cody’, Californian punks Joyce Manor produce their most mature and emotionally profound effort so far.
Green Day’s fire is still alight, but while they aren’t exactly neutered, they do sound diluted.
Despite some mediocre moments, ‘Head Carrier’ gives us an older, more sensible Pixies who sound as though they’re having fun with their music.
Michael Rosenberg gives us another collection of songs that are mostly tolerable and pleasant enough, yet still feel utterly bland and emotionally contrived.
‘Melt’ doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but it’s exciting to hear a promising young band begin to experiment.
If you hadn’t been sold on Cymbals Eat Guitars already, then you’re unlikely to be by the end of ‘Pretty Years’.
‘Here’ is by no means the most cutting-edge rock record you’ll come across in 2016, but it neither needs nor wants to be.
