Reviews by henry-winchester

The French are just so good at music, aren't they? This is totally pleasant 80s-style pop that never stumbles into pastiche. Maybe a little too light in places, but it just sounds so damn nice.

Pretty much!

I swear that the reason the upbeat dance band Sub Sub became Doves was so that they could write minor-key songs. But they're brilliant, a crashing comedown after the regrettable highs of Britpop, with dashes of Ride and Spacemen 3 and early Verve.
"The Cedar Room" is the best track, I remember playing it over and over again when it came out. "If I told you you was wrong" is grammatically UNFORGIVABLE though. Still five stars.

Love Ride. Saw them live and unplugged in Bristol and they were just the nicest guys, they had such rapport among themselves and with the audience.
And this album is great. Initially, it sounds a lot like The Stone Roses, but there's something far deeper and more intelligent and meaningful happening here; an existential ecstasy-fuelled escapade. My kind of music.

The audio equivalent of being caught in machine-gun fire, which has happened to me many times. Just when you think you're done it hits you again with "Death or Glory" or "Revolution Rock."

I used to think "Hello Nasty" was the Beastie's best, but I think "Ill Communication" might actually be a little tiny bit better. While it lacks "Hello Nasty's" blockbuster tunes, it's also more direct and raw while maintaining a similar level of playfulness.
"Heart Attack Man" is a bit mean though.

Not sure how these guys have passed me by, but this is spot-on, defining both 80s new wave pop and indie rock in one fell swoop.

Exploring the sonic boundaries of electronica while always staying listenable. Essential.

Yes, I said "sonic boundaries."

Insanely important politically, but also a brilliant recording. A heartbreaking testament to the power of music for underrepresented voices.

That rare combination of being catchy without ever becoming grating or irritating. Dramatic and passionate. Pretty much perfect.

The musical equivalent of dumpster-diving. Just utterly bereft of any direction or something to say.

Sounds kinda rough in places, enjoyed this though.

I like the one where he sings sweetly about nuking the world.

This might be Albarn's best work? Not as cringeworthy as Gorillaz and not as dated as Blur. As a concept album it has much-needed drive and focus. It was that perfect window where he could afford the good coke but wasn't too old.

They just really hit the ground running, didn't they? Every song sounds so different to what went before, and yet it all feels so cohesive and it never puts a foot wrong.

Just so completely insane and brilliant.

Probably their best album; scuzzy and lo-fi. No idea how they became so successful though.

I remember Justin making pop cool again, but this album is a bit too long and none of the tracks hit quite as hard as the singles, which are brilliant.

Punk with a slightly experimental edge.

A nice mix of Beach Boys harmonies and electronica that shouldn't work but really does.