Album Reviews Album Reviews: Stray Sparks is the sound of a band sticking to their gunsFourth album from The Walls is an array of songs from band’s earliest recordings to the studio sessions for their last album Stop the Lights
Album Reviews Lankum push the boat out with seafaring themes and otherworldly tunesSongs about treachery and suicide and life’s disappointments see the hard-to-pigeonhole group provide a masterclass in fusing traditional music with avant-garde, ambient and drone add-ons
Interview Breaking the mould: Gemma Hayes on clashing with record labels and rediscovering her creative sparkA less than positive experience working with a major label, then having children, drew singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes away from the music scene – but she’s back with a philosophical album of ‘what life’s all about’
Album Reviews Surrender to it: Bono and the Edge have another go at back catalogueSongs of Surrender reimagines 40 songs from U2 with a mostly acoustic, ambient and mellower approach
Album Reviews Gorillaz’ eighth album draws out the serenity in AlbarnThe frontman of Gorillaz and Blur and solo performer continues to reinvent himself, while the best thing about Cracker Island is his vocals, which range from desultory and languid to solitary and spaced out
Album Reviews Album reviews: Pink stretching parameters of pop with mix of song stylesTrustfall lacks any real killers songs but the enduring singer’s convincing and relatable lyrics lends her songs an air of authenticity and personality
Album Reviews Never mind the Bono thing, Inhaler’s second album is functional at bestThe Elijah Hewson-led band are a decent enough rock/pop outfit, but there’s nothing on Cuts & Bruises that you haven’t heard before
Album Reviews Master songsmith Ron Sexsmith still forging own path with songs of love and lifeThe Canadian singer-songwriter is on his 17th album and while large commercial success has evaded him, his turn of lyrical phrase and innate melodic sensibilities make his folksy pop songs always worth listening to
Album Reviews Shania Twain’s new album: Feels like the woman’s done it again with Queen of MeThe singer’s first album in six years shows she’s lost none of her knack for writing enduring country/pop melodies
Album Reviews Coxon and Dougall making Waeves with compelling debut albumBlur guitarist Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall’s collaborative effort has produced a collection of intriguingly textured songs incorporating a variety of styles
Interview ‘There isn’t a song I’ve written that isn’t about love’ – Ailbhe ReddyThe pandemic almost derailed Ailbhe Reddy’s career, but the battle-weary and defiant singer songwriter is back with a new album and tour
Music A mid-career classic from Dylan revisited 25 years onInstalment of Bootleg Series features fresh remix of 1997’s Time out of Mind as well as unreleased out-takes, live recordings and more
Album Reviews The Price is right for a move to more complex C&W tracksSongwriter Margo Price’s new album signals a shift away from simplicity to edgier work
Album Reviews Iggy’s latest shows there’s still rage in this Pop machineThere’s a nice balance in Pop’s latest album with propulsive punk rock numbers to more easy listening accoustic ballads
Culture Succession, Oppenheimer, and Barbie: Looking forward to the cultural highlights of 2023The highlights of the year to come as chosen by writers Ben Haugh, John Walshe, Andrea Cleary, Tony Clayton-Lea, Sara Keating and Jordan Mooney
Music Now that’s what we call music 2022: our top 10 albums of the yearFrom career bests from Irish artists to superstar turns from abroad, Tony Clayton-Lea compiles the ten best albums of 2022
Album Reviews Original and brave voice to the fore in Marc Almond’s solo collectionNearly 150 tracks on ten discs covers the electro pop superstar’s solo career as well as some Soft Cell material
Music Transformer: Lou Reed’s transgressive masterpiece at 50Tony Clayton-Lea talks with two Irish musicians for whom Lou Reed’s 1972 album has had a pivotal influence: Gavin Friday and Keeley Moss
Album Reviews Bono among galaxy of stars shining on festive charity albumRecorded in St Patrick’s Cathedral last year, this vinyl album features songs from the likes of the U2 frontman, Damian Rice, the Frames and Lisa O’Neill
Album Reviews Stormzy mellows out after a period of retreat and repairThe British rapper’s latest album after time out from social media is more subtle and low key than earlier collections