Although Saltbreakers may have less easy-to-find melodic hooks than its predecessor, it certainly doesn’t lack much in the rich eclecticism stakes.

An excellent album graced by the kind of clever hooks, lines, and sinkers that color Malkmus’ best work, be it with Pavement or the Jicks.

Das Racist takes the strengths off their mixtapes and simply take them on a new adventure with Relax.

Guero is Beck’s most enjoyable long-player because it doesn’t pretend to be more than what it is: a fun collection of disparate, delicious songs.

I’m New Here is an outstanding album and one of beauty and substance and for the first time in fifteen years, Scott-Heron is back.

Real Gone is incredible because of its songs, some of which stand among Waits' finest work.

All in all this is a rock-solid debut from a group of veteran musicians who aren't necessarily out to reinvent the wheel but whose fiery passion rings through on every note.

This is a wonderful piece of work from a talented, intelligent artist, put across with all the passion of someone who's spent a long time thinking about and living with the project.

Parts and Labor have expanded their sonic palette with Receivers and with it may find some new fans who wouldn't have been able to tolerate the overwhelming stimulation of previous releases.

Ultimately, although Into Forever might not quite hit the same consistent heights as the meticulously-crafted Modular Living, it’s still a respectable and forward moving addition to the Eat Light Become Lights canon in own right.

Whilst Illegals In Heaven may not propel Blank Realm into dramatic new terrain, it does re-fortify existing ramparts with a scrupulous conviction.

Bamboo Diner In The Rain won’t necessarily catapult The Wave Pictures much further forwards in terms of commercial appeal, but as a self-proclaimed attempt “to grow inwards” it’s a strangely satisfying go-to collection for those already convinced of the group’s lateral charms.

Keeping it loud and with some wry northern humour around the edges, Autobahn’s second album is a tour de force of resonant, power-driven, electronic alt. rock played as it should be.

The self-produced LP is a stimulating listen with some compelling lo-fi sonic tricks employed with little need for mainstream approval.

Such music deserves strong praise, even when it's simply another great album to hear from one of music's many rising stars.

Taken as a whole, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea stills far short of the Silver Jews’ seminal statements--namely 1998’s "American Water" and 1994’s "Starlite Walker"--but its mix of mischief and melancholy provides more than enough to keep David Berman in the game he continues to reassuringly and unpredictably play on his own terms.

In the end, both are viscerally charged representations of what A Sufi and a Killer is: sincere and at times, bluntly honest, utterly captivating and exceptionally crafted, it’s a special album that will soon become, very simply, essential.

All in all, Foreign Body is a very rewarding and promising collaboration for fans of the more emotive side of droning ambient music.

An above-average nouveau-garage punk record that blends the elements of disjointed noise, R&B-inflected punk and a post-modern pop sensibility into something interesting and enjoyable, but not quite groundbreaking.

The Mendoza Line have created an album that has had many talking, received the most recognition of their career, and will spawn repeat play on the CD players of many.

Elephant & Castle is refreshing, and its an extremely impressive solo project.

Here We Go Magic certainly sound fantastically magical on A Different Ship. It's a definitive kind of feel and one that deserves proper recognition; they've delivered a remarkable album.

Wareham delivers Emancipated Hearts through a dark yet dreamy fog, honouring his past pedigree as well as finding fresh dimensions for his songcraft in the process.

While it’s still the arrangements that will continue to impress, the words and overall sonic ability speaks paramount to what Yeasayer is capable of.

A brave, commanding, astonishing LP that shatters all notions of what modern rock music can, or for that matter, should be.

Radian has given soul and warmth to the body electric on Juxtaposition.

I know the whole ‘retro-rock’ thing is en vogue in about a bazillion different ways, but Stellastarr*’s take just seems a bit more energetic and vibrant than most. Considering the genre, this disc is a frighteningly solid listen.

Destroyer has clearly picked up where it left off and the music on this eleven song album is utterly exceptional.