A3 Music Album Reviews

This is the début EP from a promising new indie band based around Canterbury, and it's all about young, energetic, punky indie songs driven by three passionate and committed young musicians.

French music video director turned artist Yoann Lemoine released his dazzling debut album, The Golden Age on March 18 which has proved to be the most intriguing record to date this year.

There are only a handful of bands that I have seen live without the benefit of any released material that have blown me away ( Maccabees and the Verve spring to mind ) but the Parlour Flames joined that elite group when I was one of the lucky few that saw them late last year in Herne Bay. The question was, could Vinny Peculiar and Bonehead ( AKA The Parlour Flames ) reproduce their quality live work onto their self titled début album.

The multi-million selling icons best known for the hit singles Two Princes and Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong, not to mention the classic Pocket Full Of Kryptonite, Spin Doctors will release their new album “If The River Was Whiskey” in the UK on May 6 through Ruf Records (US release is April 30).

Is this what mainstream metal sounds like now? Well that's just... fine.

It's a little worrisome that my first thought when I open up the content for this release is 'haven't I reviewed this band already?..'

This week Pompeii went straight in the UK Singles Chart at #2, only beaten by one of the world’s biggest pop acts. Can Dan Smith and company go one better top the album charts on Sunday?

Don't let the fact Noel Gallagher thinks this band is 'f***ing mega' put you off, they're actually much better than that makes them sound.

This, the third album from Mercury nominated Bat for Lashes (aka Natasha Khan), arrives with huge expectation from press and fans alike. The first two had received critical acclaim and having strangely missed out on hearing these albums I listened to this third offering with some anticipation.

Chris Helme former member of The Seahorses' second solo album 'The Rookery' really delivers a satisfying mix of acoustic ballads and Indie-rock tunes that really work together creating a memorable and dramatic album.

So after an agonising two year wait, I can happily say that Dog Is Dead’s debut is simply flawless. This is the perfect debut album-it’s original, it’s brilliantly produced and I am absolutely certain ‘All Our Favourite Stories’ will stand the test of time with remarkable ease.

The third album by Hostage Calm is aggressive, catchy and brilliantly punky. From beginning to end it really is just simple, great quality music with variety and class.

Hidden Hospitals release their second EP, innovatively named, ‘EP 002’ on October 30th. This is claimed to be their “deepest dive into music yet”, and indeed it seems to have more depth, and more musical integrity than the first EP, named ‘EP 001’, funnily enough.

So here it is: the review of the ‘Pop/Rock Recording of the Year’, written by the ‘Male Artist of the Year’, and it’s safe to say the already growing set of awards for Andrew James O’Brien’s debut album do not disappoint.

Mim Grey’s second full length album, ‘Chasing Tigers’ follows the same folk-pop vibe as its predecessor ‘Grey Matters’, so expect to hear more melodic, husky vocals with some delicate guitar resonating throughout; however if you’re looking to be swept away, ‘Chasing Tigers’ may not be the revelation you are looking for.

‘Singer Man’, the brand new album by reggae legend, Dee Delroy Williams is a collection, a portfolio, a smorgasbord of original material combined with classic covers bound to satisfy any listener’s musical needs.

‘Running in The Family’ the seventh album from Level 42 the quintessential Brit Jazz-Funk band of the eighties has been re-mastered and re-released with so many goodies you’ll feel spoilt rotten.

Great Falls is Rhys Williams' début album. He is a Welsh singer/songwriter that has recorded at Abbey road, sung at the Royal Albert hall, and was once Morrissey's flautist. Quite a good start then.

Alternate folk band The Portraits new album Counterbalance delivers an interesting release full of politically charged songs.

In preparation for their debut album, Arcelia have released their first EP ‘This Time’ and it’s safe to say that the three-track promises an awful lot for the up-coming album.