Bren Berry – In Hope Our Stars Align – Album Review by Killian Laher Thirty years or so after the heyday of Dublin band Revelino, Bren Berry is releasing his debut solo […]
Bren Berry – In Hope Our Stars Align – Album Review
The Declining Winter – Last April – Album Review
The Declining Winter – Last April – Album Review by Killian Laher The Declining Winter is a band from West Yorkshire led by Richard Adams, formerly of the post-rock band Hood. It’s […]
Fennesz – Mosaic – Album Review
Fennesz – Mosaic – Album Review by Killian Laher While Christian Fennesz always appears to be working on/collaborating on something, this is his first solo album in five years. It’s billed as […]
Midwinter Swimmers – The Innocence Mission – Album Review
Midwinter Swimmers – The Innocence Mission – Album Review by Cathy Brown The Innocence Mission has been making music for thirty-five years but they are a band that seems happy to remain […]
Kim Deal – Nobody Loves You More – Album Review
Kim Deal – Nobody Loves You More – Album Review by Killian Laher A couple of surprising things about Kim Deal. She is now 63 years old and this is her first […]
Primal Scream – Come Ahead – Album Review
Primal Scream – Come Ahead – Album Review by Killian Laher Primal Scream are just gas. They are all over the place, from jangle pop (1987’s Sonic Flower Groove) to amphetamine skronk […]
Deathbed Convert – Inverse Field Vol. 1 Inishowen – Album Review
Deathbed Convert – Inverse Field Vol. 1 Inishowen – Album Review by Killian Laher Belfast musician Connor Dougan releases music under various aliases depending on the type of music he’s creating. This […]
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World – Album Review
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World – Album Review by Killian Laher Never mind Brat Summer… Cure Winter is here. The Cure have finally released their 14th studio album, 16 […]
Pixies – The Night The Zombies Came – Album Review
Pixies – The Night The Zombies Came – Album Review by Killian Laher Since the Pixies reformed 20 years ago and began releasing albums 10 years ago, we’ve all had to recalibrate […]
Jerry Cantrell – I Want Blood – Album Review
Jerry Cantrell – I Want Blood – Album Review by Killian Laher And if I want blood, you’ve got it… to paraphrase AC/DC. Jerry Cantrell follows up his 2021 solo album Brighten, […]
Hard Quartet – Hard Quartet – Album Review
Hard Quartet – Hard Quartet – Album Review by Killian Laher Hard Quartet are a new band, seemingly resulting from the jams of Emmet Kelly, Matt Sweeney, Stephen Malkmus and Jim White. […]
The Smile – Cutouts – Album Review
The Smile – Cutouts – Album Review by Killian Laher Some Radiohead fans will be cursing the existence of the second album this year, and third album overall from Thom Yorke and […]
A Place To Bury Strangers – Synthesizer – Album Review
A Place To Bury Strangers – Synthesizer – Album Review by Killian Laher Once upon a time, A Place To Bury Strangers were known as New York’s loudest band. I’m not sure […]
Alan Sparhawk – White Roses, My God – Album Review
Alan Sparhawk – White Roses, My God – Album Review by Killian Laher The new Alan Sparhawk solo album is incredibly jarring with its beat-ridden electronica and Sparhawk’s vocals distorted out of […]
Gemma Hayes – Blind Faith – Album Review
Gemma Hayes – Blind Faith – Album Review by Killian Laher Gemma Hayes retreated into family life for several years but is back with her first album in ten years. It starts […]
Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity – Album Review
Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity – Album Review by Killian Laher This is, I believe, Thurston Moore’s ninth solo album, and seventh since the demise of Sonic Youth. As with everything […]
Clinic Stars – Only Hinting – Album Review
Clinic Stars – Only Hinting – Album Review by Killian Laher It hasn’t gone unnoticed that so-called dream pop, as practised by quiet, introverted types in the late 80s and early 90s […]
Tindersticks – Soft Tissue – Album Review
Tindersticks – Soft Tissue – Album Review by Killian Laher A band like Tindersticks is practically an institution at this stage, releasing albums of tasteful misery every couple of years. This is […]
Midwife – No Depression In Heaven – Album Review
Midwife – No Depression In Heaven – Album Review Midwife is the name under which Madeline Johnston records. This is the fourth album she has released under that name. It’s a glacially […]
Hello Mary – Emita Ox – Album Review
Hello Mary – Emita Ox – Album Review by Killian Laher The return of New York trio Helena Straight, Stella Wave, and Mikaela Oppenheimer with a peculiarly-titled follow-up to last year’s self-titled […]
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Wild God – Album Review
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Wild God – Album Review by Killian Laher Nick Cave returns, this time with the Bad Seeds, for a first album of new material in […]
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings – Woodland – Album Review
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings – Woodland – Album Review by Killian Laher Fans of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will be celebrating their return, for their first album of original material […]
A Lazarus Soul – No Flowers Grow In Cement Gardens
A Lazarus Soul – No Flowers Grow In Cement Gardens by Killian Laher We are truly in a golden age for Irish music, between hip-hop, doom folk and modern rock, not to […]
And So I Watch You From Afar – Megafauna – Album Review
And So I Watch You From Afar – Megafauna – Album Review by Killian Laher And So I Watch You From Afar emerged from the north coast of Ireland around 15 years […]
Sweets – Sweets – Album Review
Sweets – Sweets – Album Review by Killian Laher Sweets are something of a supergroup, made up of members of Limerick bands Tooth, Windings, Giveamanakick and Japanese Jesus. Their self-titled release is […]
Fontaines D.C. – Romance – Album Review
Fontaines D.C. – Romance – Album Review by Killian Laher There are high expectations for the fourth album from the Fontaines D.C. The last number of years have made it clear that […]
Dakota Suite and Quentin Sirjacq – Forever Breathes The Lonely Word – Album Review
Dakota Suite and Quentin Sirjacq – Forever Breathes The Lonely Word – Album Review by Killian Laher Chris Hooson who records as Dakota Suite has returned to recorded music, collaborating with French […]
The Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei – Album Review
The Smashing Pumpkins – Aghori Mhori Mei – Album Review by Killian Laher The Smashing Pumpkins c/o Billy Corgan are back with album number 13, and the band elected not to release […]
Belong – Realistic IX – Album Review
Belong – Realistic IX – Album Review by Killian Laher At last, the long-awaited return of American experimental duo Michael Jones and Turk Dietrich, otherwise known as Belong. This is their third […]
No More Workhorse 