Album: The Streets - None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive

★★★★ THE STREETS - NONE OF US ARE GETTING OUT OF THIS ALIVE Casually pulled together mixtape turns out to be some of Mike Skinner's finest work

A casually pulled together "mixtape" turns out to be some of Mike Skinner's finest work

Given the collaborator list on this album, it should be a bit of a mess. Brit punks IDLES, Aussie woozy pop auteur Tame Impala, pumping bassline house producer Chris Lorenzo turning his hand to drum’n’bass, as well as Ms Banks, Dapz On The Map, Oscar #Worldpeace and a host of other UK rap talents all add their distinct musical personalities to the mix.

Albums of the Year 2019: Imperial Wax - Gastwerk Saboteurs

Ex-Fall guys top the year with vicious rockabilly and razor-sharp guitars

No-one needs to be told that 2019 was a year which saw the UK, USA and many other countries looking somewhat at unease with themselves. Inevitably, this filtered down into much of the music that was produced under these conditions. Even Peter Perrett – a man not known for his political pronouncements – sang of how “The so-called Free World stands for evil incarnate” on the storming “War Plan Red” from his superb second solo album, Humanworld.

Craig David, BBC Radio 2 review - what's your flava?

★★★★★ CRAIG DAVID, BBC RADIO 2 Sweeter than sweet

Sweeter than sweet

My friend, let’s call her Kit, is having a rubbish time. Kat (that’s me) is too. If life’s got a flavour, it’s a shade darker than 99% cocoa. Kit and Kat are bitter. But if life is akin to boxed chocolates (or even foil-wrapped), there’s an entire world of tastes out there. What better than to add some sweetness, stir in some sugar? That’s where Craig comes in. Oh, Craig! Who in the world could be more delicious than this honey-tongued, smooth-talking lady charmer?

theartsdesk at Red Rooster Festival 2019 - bustling Suffolk stately home hoedown

★★★★ RED ROOSTER FESTIVAL Bustling Suffolk stately home hoedown

Three sunny days of well-curated Americana and boozy relaxation

Only those who’ve just popped in from an early 20th century Tennessee cotton field will have recently observed more pairs of dungarees in one place than at Red Rooster. It’s a festival that prides itself on a rich diet of Americana alongside a defiantly retro aesthetic.

Best Albums of 2018

THE ★★★★★ ALBUMS OF 2018 SO FAR You need to hear these

theartsdesk's music critics pick their favourites of the year so far

Disc of the Day reviews new albums, week in, week out, all year. Below are the albums to which our writers awarded five stars. Click on any one of them to find out why.

 

Baxter Dury, Etienne de Crécy and Delilah Holliday - B.E.D. ★★★★★ A small but perfectly sleazy work of sweary, cynical brilliance

CD: Oh Sees - Smote Reverser

★★★★ CD: OH SEES - SMOTE REVERSER Prog excellence walks line between mastery and excess

Prog excellence that walks the line between mastery and excess

Oh Sees have been perennial festival favourites for over 15 years now, releasing 21 albums under seven different band names. The change of name usually indicates a new direction, with previous records ranging from alt Americana (OCS) to lo-fi garage (Thee Oh Sees).

The Best Albums of 2017

THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2017 We're more than halfway through the year. What are the best new releases so far?

theartsdesk's music critics pick their favourites of the year

Disc of the Day reviews new albums, week in, week out, all year. Below are the albums to which our writers awarded five stars. Click on any one of them to find out why.

SIMPLY THE BEST: THEARTSDESK'S FIVE-STAR REVIEWS OF 2017

Alan Broadbent: Developing Story ★★★★★  The pianist's orchestral magnum opus is packed with extraordinary things