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– Cigarettes after sex – X
Perfectly befitting the band's name, this third album contains 10 quiet, hazy songs about love, loss and, yes, sex, made for late-night listening with headphones.
Addressing a four-year relationship that ended shortly before the album's recording, frontman Greg Gonzalez brings both euphoria and heartbreak to life through his blunt lyrics and seductive, androgynous vocals.
Whether problematic like Dark Vacay and Ambien Slide or dreamlike like Silver Sable, Hideaway or Dreams From Bunker Hill, each track offers a window into González's soul.
The latter is actually a lament for the lost love in question and “when everything was beautiful with us,” while Hot really ties the different threads together: “I’m still scared that I’ll always be lost forever/ But I don’t give a fuck, if I’m too delicate, when you hold me it’s always better.”
The band is already a TikTok phenomenon with an established following around the world and X is set to further cement their appeal.
Score: 9/10
(Review by Tom White)
– Marc Almond – I am nobody
I'm Not Anyone is Marc Almond's latest solo release, a compilation of 11 covers of classic songs that are thoughtful, charismatic and impressive without straying too far from the original interpretations.
The album is gentle and uplifting, using choral sounds on tracks like I'm The Light and I Talk to The Wind to form a collective of otherworldly, dreamlike performances by artists including Don McLean, King Crimson, Paul Anka, Colin Blunstone and Mahalia Jackson.
Almond brings a new light to a selection of classics, adapting to the tired summer weather with a relaxing blend that transmits emotion.
Powerful instrumentals and passionate vocals form a thoughtful, soulful and inventive mix, much like on Smokey Day.
Look to Your Soul is a standout track that allows Almond's distinctive and soulful voice to shine.
The Soft Cell singer reinvents the songs, presenting them in an easy-to-consume format but retaining the essential elements of their original form, allowing the listener to find their own meaning and emotion throughout each song.
Marc Almond is a unique and talented artist who shines on his new album, where his standout voice refreshes and rekindles the meaning of old songs.
Score: 8/10
(Review by Carla Feric)
– OneRepublic – Artificial Paradise
OneRepublic's sixth studio album, Artificial Paradise, brings a selection of catchy anthems to the music scene this summer.
The title track opens with dreamy synthetic sounds, before moving into a selection of upbeat, light and summery tracks. Hurt uses acoustic guitars to create this atmosphere, which sounds like it belongs in a coming-of-age movie.
As for new releases, Sink or Swim and Room For You are two standout tracks: catchy, bright and youthful.
The album's 18 tracks fly by, and the album is upbeat and adds variety to One Republic's typically heavier-sounding discography.
Entr'acte and Singapore are instrumental albums that use classical sounds to divide the album led by orchestral violins, bass and cellos that make it heavier.
The radio hit I Ain't Worried is a reference to the album's lengthy production: it took over a year and a half to make and the wait was worth it.
West Coast, the album's second single, is led by a powerful bassline, catchy guitar riffs, and smooth, compelling vocals that make the song especially easy to enjoy.
The American alternative rock band has created a progressive musical mix that is easy to listen to and has enough tracks for anyone to find at least one song they like.
Score: 7/10
(Review by Carla Feric)
– Travis – LA Times
Travis' tenth studio album, LA Times, impresses with a solid mix of upbeat and slower-paced tracks detailing life in New York as well as the hectic California city where frontman Fran Healy resides.
While all the songs are sonically very different, they all contain catchy choruses, something that has clearly become habitual for singer-songwriter Healy.
Some of the singles, including Raze The Bar and Home, are reminiscent of Travis's previous hits, while the subject matter remains very contemporary.
The most innovative track is the title track, in which Healy raps about the vast wealth inequality in Los Angeles: “I look around and all I see is pain and suffering. Reflected in the 50 facets of a diamond ring.”
Healy briefly mentions cryptocurrencies and anti-vaxxers in the LA Times, and also explores the concept of “gaslighting” in another single.
The new album, which Healy has described as the band's “most personal album since The Man Who”, is likely to appeal to a wide range of listeners, and one of the songs also features backing vocals from Coldplay's Chris Martin and The Killers' Brandon Flowers.
Score: 9/10
(Review by Hannah Roberts)
