Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

Hot on the heels of Coldplay's triumphant South African shows, their latest album arrives in our shops, and it's an excellent addition to a discography already brimming with brilliance. Chris Martin's songwriting muse continues to deliver, and Mylo Xyloto is packed with memorable songs which vary from sweeping and epic to spare, beautiful ballads. Through it all Martins sense of melody shines through, as does the accomplished instrumentation of his bandmates. Coldplay have been one of the biggest bands on earth for the last decade and they once again prove why on Mylo Xyloto - it's because they are a group of supremely talented musicians fronted by a man with the voice of an angel and songwriting skills to die for. In a world where popularity seems to be determined by hype and outrageous behaviour, it's extremely comforting to find a band that have achieved global superstardom by nothing else other than being very, very good at what they do.

Top Tracks: Paradise, Us Against The World, Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
Rating: 8/10
Release Date: 24 October 2011

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

Since the implosion of Oasis a couple of years back, we have been waiting patiently to see what Noel Gallagher does next. Would his new band sound like Oasis or would Gallagher Snr., freed from the constraints of his old band, go out on a limb and try to do something more experimental? It's probably to our benefit that Noel doesn't get too experimental on us with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, but rather delivers a set of well crafted pop-rock songs. There are certainly echoes of Oasis on the album, and why wouldn't there be, seeing as Noel wrote most of that band's material? ...High Flying Birds is mellower than Oasis though, with less bombast, screaming and guitar soloing, and more finesse and melody. The songs are strong and, although he is no Liam, Noel is in fine voice throughout. ...High Flying Birds is a very good, mature album by a 40-something artist with nothing left to prove to anyone, and it's a fine addition to Noel Gallagher's already impressive back catalogue.

Top Tracks: Dream On, If I Had A Gun..., The Death Of You And Me, AKA...What A Life!
Rating: 7/10
Release Date: 17 October 2011

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

In the late 90's and early 00's, Ryan Adams was the poster boy for the alt-country movement, his albums with Whiskytown and as a solo artist earning gushing critical acclaim and leading to Adams being crowned the greatest musical talent of a generation. Then his star faded. Whilst Adams remained extremely prolific throughout the 00's, his albums became uneven, inconsistent affairs, with Adam's seemingly believing that every single thing he put to tape deserved to be released on an album. So it comes as a surprise that Ashes & Fire is as good as it is. It is full of the type of heartfelt alt-country ballads Adams made his name with and does so well. He is in fine voice too, every line filled with an emotion that lends weight and feeling to this set of stripped back gems. Whilst Ashes & Fire does hark back to Adams classics like Heartbreaker and Gold, it stands on it's own feet as one of the best albums of Ryan Adams' career.

Top Tracks: Ashes & Fire, Come Home, Kindness
Rating: 8/10
Release Date: 11 October 2011

Evanescence - Evanescence

It's been five years since Evanescence's last album, and Amy Lee is now the sole surviving original member of the band with all other members having been replaced. The time and line-up changes really haven't done too much to change Evanescence's sound though; the buzz-saw guitars and Lee's wailing over the top of it all with that half goth, half opera voice of hers are instantly familiar. The album is less dark and murky than previous Evanescence releases, maybe due to the change in producers, but the core Evanescence sound remains. It's almost as if the last few years of Lady Gaga and her elctropop takeover never happened and we are back in a music landscape dominated by Limp Biscuit and their nu-metal cronies. That's not to say this album is bad - it's not. There are some good tracks here and Lee's voice is awesome at times. But a bit of progression would not have gone amiss.

Top Tracks: What You Want, The Change, My Heart Is Broken
Rating: 6/10
Release Date: 11 October 2011

Roots Manuva - 4everevolution

Roots Manuva, the godfather of British hip hop and still it's most distinctive and original voice, is nearly 40 now, and yet his creativity still burns so bright that 4everevolution is the best album of his career. The album is a mix of hip hop, reggae, dub, electronica and pop that could have sounded unfocussed in hands less assured than Manuva's. He manages to make it sound like the most natural thing in the world; nothing seems out of place here. Lyrically, he is also right on top of his game, displaying the searing social conscience and wit that are his trademarks, and managing to convey a mass of meaning into each succinct line. Roots Manuva may be an elder statesman of hip hop now, but if he carries on like this he will be relevant for a long time to come still.

Top Tracks: Here We Go Again, Watch Me Dance, Wha' Mek?
Rating: 8/10
Release Date: 26 September 2011

Wilco - The Whole Love

Wilco have been around for well over 15 years now and The Whole Love is their eighth full length release, so they could be excused for having settled into the mediocrity that so many bands their age do. Wilco are apparently different, however; The Whole Love is, from start to finish, absolutely fantastic. It manages to be experimental, melodic, deep, and a whole lot of fun, all at the same time. For a band that has released such seminal albums as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Summerteeth to try to live up to their phenomenal back catalogue must be a daunting prospect indeed, but Wilco have done it here with seeming ease. There are plenty of upbeat pop-rock gems on the album, and a couple of heartfelt, beautiful ballads, and every song here oozes the class that Wilco long ago proved they possess. The Whole Love is a worthy addition to the formidable Wilco cannon.

Top Tracks: I Might, Dawned On Me, Born Alone, Standing O
Rating: 9/10
Release Date: 27 September 2011