Black Rainbow Sound
Menace Beach claim that "the best albums spend the first 30 seconds repeating the album title over and over again". That may or may not be true, but the opening half-minute of 'Black Rainbow Sound' certainly lays out the foundations of what's to come on the Leeds band's determined third album. The sound in question is made up of motorik beats, distorted guitars, electro-clash synths and the complementary interplay between vocalists Ryan Needham and...
Read more
Joy As an Act of Resistance
The fun punks' second album is an instant classic, one that people will turn to in times of need for years to come There are, improbably, a couple of nods to ’80s romantic drama Dirty Dancing on Bristol punks Idles' instant classic second album 'Joy As An Act Of Resistance'. On the deceptively brooding 'Love Song', which pairs howling guitar lines (that could have been lifted from the start of a horror movie) with compassionate lyrics about...
Read more
Dissolution
The start of something beautiful... The Pineapple Thief have been one of the most consistent British acts of this new progressive rock wave, although I think their output can better be described as alternative rock with prog/art rock influences. The group always drew comparisons to Porcupine Tree and especially now that they co-opted Gavin Harrison, it's even easier to spot the similarities. Nevertheless, the famous "drum machine" who leveled up...
Read more
Let's Go Sunshine
On their fifth set, Kinks-obsessed Brighton lads the Kooks take a step back from 2014's beat-driven Listen and balance the occasional big moments with confident restraint. Ideal for fans of late-era Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, and Blossoms, Let's Go Sunshine isn't as cheerful as the title suggests: a mostly tame affair packed with patient groovers and some lush production, this is a full-album experience with a few punchy standouts. Forgoing the youthful...
Read more
NEW RELEASES
- Pop/Rock
- R&B
- Rock
- Blues
- Country
- RAP
- Jazz
- Electronic
Latest releases in Music Critic's Pop/Rock Category See all Pop/Rock New Releases >>
-
Black Rainbow Sound
Menace Beach -
Bloom
Troye Sivan -
Joy As an Act of Resistance
Idles -
Loved
KEN mode -
Fixed Ideals
Muncie Girls
Latest releases in Music Critic's Rock Category See all Rock New Releases >>
-
Bad Witch
Nine Inch Nails -
Consolation [EP]
Protomartyr -
Angels of Death
Jennifer Castle -
Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino
Arctic Monkeys -
Boarding House Reach
Jack White
Latest releases in Music Critic's Rap Category See all Rap New Releases >>
Latest releases in Music Critic's Country Category See all Country New Releases >>
-
Chains Are Broken
The Devil Makes Three -
Wild! Wild! Wild!
Robbie Fulks -
Shooter
Shooter Jennings -
Time Flies
Jim Lauderdale -
To the Sunset
Amanda Shires
Latest releases in Music Critic's R&B Category See all R&B New Releases >>
-
Hive Mind
The Internet -
K.T.S.E.
Teyana Taylor -
Childqueen
Kadhja Bonet -
African Scream Contest, Vol. 2
Various Artists -
Good Thing
Leon Bridges
Latest releases in Music Critic's Jazz Category See all Jazz New Releases >>
-
Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album
John Coltrane -
Vanished Gardens
Charles Lloyd & the Marvels -
Heaven & Earth
Kamasi Washington -
Collagically Speaking
R+R=Now -
New Bodies
Tangents
Latest releases in Music Critic's Blues Category See all Blues New Releases >>
-
Please Don't Be Dead
Fantastic Negrito -
King of Boogie [Craft] [Box Set]
John Lee Hooker -
Trails & Tribulations
Martin Simpson -
Joy Comes Back
Ruthie Foster -
Fantasizing About Being Black
Otis Taylor
Latest releases in Music Critic's Electronic Category See all Electronic New Releases >>
-
Love Me/Love Me Not
HONNE -
Devotion
Tirzah -
Qualm
Helena Hauff -
Dissolvi
Steve Hauschildt -
Physical
Gabe Gurnsey
Music Critic Instrument Reviews
- The Music Critic Instrument Cable Reviews
- We take a look at the best Cameras for Music Videos
- Music Critic's new Drum Kit Reviews
- Quality Guitar Reviews
- Recommended Headphones
- Microphones for Every Situation
- Top 10 Best Upright Pianos
- 10 Best Keyboards for Beginners on a Budget
- Top Kick Drum Mics
- Most Popular 88 Key Weighted Digital Keyboards
- Best Classical Guitars Under $1000
Music Critic Equipment Reviews
- Our look at the top 10 Microphone Stands
- Music Critic reviews the best Sheet Music Stands
- Music Software Lists
- Music Stands - Which is for you?
- Speaker Reviews
- Get the Pedal you need
- Best RCA Audio Cables
- Top 10 Best DAW Recording Software
- 11 Best Karaoke Machines
- The Best Guitar Stands for Acoustic & Electric Guitars
- Top 10 Best Bluetooth Headphones
- Recommended Microphones for Guitar Amplifiers
- Best Patch Cables for Instruments, Pedals & More
- Top 10 Dynamic Vocal Mics for Live & Home Recording
- 9 Best Guitar and Instrument Cables Reviews
- The Best DJ Turntables
- The Keyboard Amplifier Reviews are in
- Our look at the 10 Best Drum Thrones
- Busking or Gigging? We review the best Acoustic Guitar Amps
- Making some Noise -The 9 Best Volume Pedals
Music Critic Articles
Don't miss our new article: How to become a Music Critic
You don't need to be a musical genius to become a Music Critic, but a passion for music and in-depth knowledge of music artistry is essential. Got a passion for music and a desire to share it with others? Get the inside scoop on what is involved in becoming a professional, paid Music Critic as a career.
Music Critic Staff Reviews
A look back at almost 20 years of reviews by the staff, contributing authors and friends of Music Critic. You just can't beat the classics.
Music Critic Infographics
Band Name Food Pyramid
How many bands named after types of Food can you think of? At Music Critic HQ we managed to get all the way up to 81 - and that's without having to resort to cop-outs like Spice Girls.
Music Critic Scores
Did you ever wonder how we take reviews from many of the best critics in the world and turn them into the simple Music Critic scores? Find out with this stunning infographic.
