Ice Age - Plowing Into A Field Of Love

Field of Love is a frenetic album however you get the sense that Iceage are restraining themselves for something fast and rawer to come later on in the album however it never comes. This all builds to an anticipation throughout the album that is dealt with in bursts rather then one all out punk extravaganza. Now on their third album Iceage seem to have gone for a sense of grandeur over their existing punk roots. With an ethos spouted by lead singer Elias Ronnenfelt "if it needs a piano, we will add a piano". In the end it all works out and this is a great album but it could of used more of the Iceage we are used to seeing.

Caribou - Our Love

Caribou's sixth album is a grown up album. He has a wife and kids now and it shows. This is not an out and out love epic but you can feel the love in the album though every sample or synth wave. Its quite majestic when you listen to it. Songs on this album lift you up rather then bring you down. It can almost be assured that you will be smiling while listening to this album. However don't think that it is all sappy loves songs this album also has some 'get up and dance' in it whether it be from the songs or just being so dam happy.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

Neutral Milk Hotel hit a winner with this album. Not commercially but in what they wanted to create. This album was never a big success but critics loved it. Maybe because the public didn't understand it, who knows but it's a perfect coming of age soundtrack with the mood changing seamlessly every track . This is the sort of album you play at a dinner party and someone will come up to you after its finished and ask who they have just listened to because they liked it so much. It can however become a bit to deep if you don't sit back and enjoy the music because it is about growing up and the hardships faced along the way.

The Replacements - Tim

This album rocks. Plain and Simple. Its a good old fashioned rock and roll record and let it be said it is a classic. That's no misprint this album deserves to be up there with some of the best rock albums of all time. There is no weak link on this album because every song is well written, well played and well produced. The best part about this album is that not many people actually know about it as it was not a real commercial success. It starts with the rocking "Hold My life" and samples parts from various genres. Such as the slow dance inducing jam "Swingin Party". If you do not have this album I implore you please change that and download it or steal it from your parents it really is a treat for your ears. 

Childish Gambino - STN MTN/Kauai

If you are looking for the soundtrack to your summer holidays look no further then the latest Childish Gambino release. He has released two separate mixtapes about a character who is having a dream about going mainstream and so the first few tracks of the mix sound like they could be on a top 40 chart unlike his early eps. As soon as the dream is over however Gambino is back to his best making you laugh with his rhymes and making you dance with his beats. Every song is different from the last and that works so well for this mixtape given the concept behind it. This mixtape is a must have for any fan and some tracks such as “Sober” and “Late Night in Kauai” will be on high rotation at parties across the globe.

Slint - Spiderland

Beautiful chaos. That is how to describe this album. In fact it is the only way to describe such an angst filled album. It has everything from spoken word in songs to random pieces of feedback halfway through a song. Spiderland may seem messy and unhinged but this is a beautiful album musically. Every song tells a different story and you can feel every pluck of the guitar string and every smash of a drum as if Slint were practicing in your garage. When listening to this album you can understand where most of the bands in the "emo" boom got their inspiration from. Sure Spiderland is a masterpiece in a dead genre but it is still an amazing album that anybody with feelings will enjoy.

Savages - Silence Yourself

Allow me to begin with this warning this album will not sound like any punk album you have heard in a while. its not all fast paced power chords with a vocalist tearing at their vocal chords.....its better. This album musically is fantastic with every musician showcasing their talent but that major hat tip goes to the vocalist and face of Savages, Jehnny Beth who vocals are passionate and convey a true sense of frustration at the world. Like all great punk albums this too has a message they are trying to express and fro this album it is simple. Silence yourself and buckle down and get to work.

SBTRKT - Wonder Where We Land

Three things became clear whilst listening to this album. The first is that SBTRKT makes good music. He has again evolved his sound from his previous albums which contained the dancefloor hit "Wildfire" to a more refined sound that sounds like nothing else around at the moment. His collaborations with Sampha which a strewn all through the record are the highlights with the songs sounding much more organic and natural then others. SBTRKT calls upon star collaborators such as Jessie Ware, A$AP Ferg and Ezra Koenig to feature on songs and they all hit a home run with Ezra Koenig's track NEW DORP. NEW YORK being the closest thing to this albums "Wildfire"

Jon Hopkins - Immunity

Jon Hopkins fourth album hits you hard. It gets you pumped but at the same time allows you to drift off with the heavy sounds in to a sort of sonic bliss and then pump you up with some ambient minimalist sounds as well. I can say I have never heard an album like this. There are times when there is a driving bass with a huge synth over the top and other times when there is only a small glitch type sound over the bass. This is an album for lovers of anything dancey and a little bit heavy but is still perfect to put on in the background as you go about your day or you are cleaning the house.

alt-j - This Is All Yours

This album is really quite good. It does not have a single weak track on it but does lack the stand out tracks from their previous work such as "Breezeblocks" and "Tesselate" which are their most popular and simply best songs. However it does seem as if alt-j have simply followed the same formula as their debut and I mean why not? It worked pretty well for them and it has worked well for them again with my personal favourite song being "Bloodflood pt:II". A must listen for all alt-j fans and fans of good music.