Home > Album Reviews

Album Reviews

Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten - Album Cover

Album Review: The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

5th September 2012

The Gaslight Anthem are a New Jersey punk rock 4 piece band, first appearing in 2007 with the album Sink or Swim. That was followed byThe '59 Sound in 2008 and American Slang in 2010. Now we have the band's fourth album, Handwritten, and the first on a major label, Mercury.

Album Review: Conor Maynard - Contrast

21st August 2012

Contrast is the first album by 19 year old Conor Maynard from Brighton. His rise to fame and a recording contract is a very modern story and is representative of the current music scene i.e. first create interest via YouTube and then wait for the offers to flood in.

Album Review: Plan B - Ill Manors

14th August 2012

In 2010 Plan B enjoyed huge success with his soul album The Defamation Of Strickland Banks, a UK number one and a multi Platinum winner. He has now followed it up with Ill Manors which is based on the soundtrack of his recent feature film of the same name.

Jeff Wayne's - The War Of The Worlds - Album Cover

Classic Album Review: Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds

7th August 2012

With a completely new version of this concept album being recorded for a November 2012 release, perhaps now is a good time to look at the original edition that first came out in 1978. Has it stood the test of time or does it really need to be 're-imagined'?

Album Review: Justin Bieber - Believe

9th July 2012

Having burst onto the music scene in 2008 at the age of 14 and enjoying amazing global success, Justin Bieber now has the difficult task of growing up and entering the next phase of his career. His 3rd studio album Believe is clearly his adult calling card, and an effective one it is.

Alexandra Burke - Heartbreak On Hold - Album Cover

Album Review: Alexandra Burke - Heartbreak On Hold

13th June 2012

It's been well over 2 years since Alexandra Burke topped the charts with her debut album Overcome. During that time Alexandra has completed her first headline concert tour, signed a £3M recording contract with RCA, and while in Los Angeles she attended a song writing camp. The result is her new album Heartbreak On Hold.

Tom Jones - Spirit In The Room - Album Cover

Album Review: Tom Jones - Spirit In The Room

24th May 2012

Following the huge success of his 2010 album Praise & Blame Tom Jones has just released a new one called Spirit In The Room. Once again Tom has worked with producer Ethan Johns (son of the producer Glyn Johns) and the end result is very similar, stripped back readings of mainly other peoples songs. If you liked Praise & Blame you will like this.

Lana Del Ray - Born To Die - Album Cover

Album Review: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

1st May 2012

One of the most hyped, and yet reviled, artists of late, Lana Del Rey has recently released her album Born To Die to much acclaim and high sales. It immediately topped the UK album charts and will most likely go back up there following her live appearance on The Voice last weekend.

Olly Murs - In Case You Didn't Know - Album Cover

Album Review: Olly Murs - In Case You Didn't Know

24th April 2012

Olly Murs has just announced another UK tour. His second album, In Case You Didn't Know, is now going back up the charts, having gone straight in at No. 1 on its release last November. There is no doubt that the boy is on a winning streak right now. So why is he so successful?

Album Review: Madonna - MDNA

29th March 2012

Expectations are always high when a new Madonna album is announced. She is known for being a leader and not a follower and is constantly evolving. MDNA is her 12th studio album and her first to be released by Interscope Records, having previously been with Warner Bros.

Paul McCartney - Kisses On The Bottom - Album Cover

Album Review: Paul McCartney - Kisses On The Bottom

1st March 2012

What do you do at the age of 69 if you were in the world's greatest rock group, have then had a highly successful solo career, written some of the most well known songs ever (there are apparently over 2200 recorded versions of Yesterday), sold more records than anyone else, and remain a huge live draw? If you are Paul McCartney you record an album of old time songs with a jazz group.

Elton John - The Captain And The Kid - Album Cover

Classic Album Review: Elton John - The Captain & The Kid

23rd February 2012

To date Elton John has made 29 solo studio albums. The first was Empty Sky in 1969. The Captain & The Kid is the latest, having been released in 2006. In between there have been a number of great albums, mainly in the early years, which are now considered classics. A pleasant surprise that at the age of 59 he should produce another one of this standard.

Album Review: Rebecca Ferguson - Heaven

3rd February 2012

Oh no, I hear you say, not another album from an X Factor contestant. Surely it's going to be the usual glossy pap we've come to expect from this source. Well, here's a pleasant surprise. Heaven by Rebecca Ferguson is in fact rather good and deserves its early popularity.

Florence And The Machine - Ceremonials - Album Cover

Album Review: Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials

30th January 2012

We are a little late in reviewing this album. It has already been to the the top slot in the album charts (and is currently No. 10) and has recently been nominated in the BRIT Awards 2012 category of Best British Album Of The Year. Now, does it justify this early success?

Album Review: Tribes - Baby

23rd January 2012

Tribes is a 4 piece guitar band from Camden that arrived on the scene last year in a blaze of hype. Now the lads have released their first album, Baby, and the big question is, does it live up to expectations? Well, you can rely on your 'BIG Live Acts' reviewer to put you right!

Album Review: The Wanted - Battleground

3rd January 2012

Battleground is the second album from the boy band The Wanted. It follows on from the first album, The Wanted, which reached No. 4 in the UK charts and spawned 3 hit singles. Since its release Battleground has sold well and has so far reached No. 5 in the charts.

Album Review: JLS - Jukebox

8th December 2011

If you want to know where hard work and talent will get you in the music business then look no further than JLS. In 2008 they came 2nd in The X Factor. They went on to release 2 top selling albums, JLS and Outta This World, and have now released their 3rd one, Jukebox, which looks set to follow the same winning path.

Album Review: Michael Bublé - Christmas

30th November 2011

In the world of rock and pop Michael Bublé is a hugely successful throwback to the era of crooners and big band music. He seems to have created a niche market all to himself. His last album, Crazy Love from 2009, refuses to leave the charts and is a multi-million seller. Now we have his latest album - Christmas.

Classic Album Review: Paul McCartney - Band On The Run

17th November 2011

Following his time in The Beatles, Paul McCartney went on to have almost as successful a time with his band Wings and subsequently as a solo artist. At 69 years of age he still records and tours more enthusiastically than most musicians half his age. What's more the quality has been maintained throughout. A remarkable achievement.

Album Review: Matt Cardle - Letters

2nd November 2011

The winner of the 2010 X Factor final, Matt Cardle, has released his first album. In a nutshell, if you liked his winning song and first single release, When We Collide, then you will like Letters. The single sets the tone for the whole album.

< Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next >