A Love Surreal – Bilal – This is neo-soul? The D'Angelo of post-soul 21st century soul music throws down his first album in 9 years and it lives up to it Coltrane nod in the title -or almost. There are moments of free floating beauty, "Slipping Away" and moments of Princely funk "The Flow"/ and jazz with the masterly pianist Robert Glasper on "Butterfly". There isn't a mistake in the lost ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A
The Next Day – David Bowie – The problem is, once the hype is over you are left with the album and the album is his best of the 21st century Which means there is a lot of stuff which he doesn't manage to pull off, a whole chunk bang in the middle, and some that works very very well. The "yi yi yis" on "How Does Your Grass Grow" don't make a Bowie song any more than a reference to Berlin on "The Next Day" makes "Always Crashing In The Same Car". Yes, I love it any way, but that is in no way a value judgment – B
Mala – Devandra Bernhardt – Devandra isn't as bad as I claim (he couldn't be) and he knows how to write a pleasant minor key melody. But he is as boring as I claim and this tasteful drowsy album is worst than bad, it is an entirely forgettable sleepwalker – C-
Old Sock – Eric Clapton – Good ol' Eric is allowed to record an album of sentimental journeyish covers like "Born To Lose" in his dotage. He has earned. And I am allowed to note that the album is as bad as its title – D-
Strike Gently – The Virgins – A coupla years ago the Virgins were riding on a Strokes meets the Stones circa Some Girls vibe. Now they are riding on their lead singer – C
Real To Reel – Sound City – I would claim Grohl is responsible for McCartney's worst song but really, "My Valentine" is worse. This is just the fucking pits egocentric doodley daddily has been club of musical tedium. Except for McCartney, but we covered that – D
The Secret – The Airborne Toxic Event – Middlebrow rock and roll band, not Gaslight Anthem but that's the best you can say – C+
Return Of The Bionic Bass line – Paul Blackford – Until someone proves otherwise, I am gonna assume Blackford is God and God loves his bass fixes. Relentlessly brilliant bass lines overwhelm everything else. The most pragmatic album in the world. Damn straight it is an: A
Opposites – Biffy Clyro – If you think big songs with big choruses are easy they really aren't. And when they are not quite happening, they never do with this Scottish, it is faintly embarrassing. Like some girl you don't really fancy expressing her undying love. All a little uncomfortable – C
What About Now – Bon Jovi – I preferred it when they were discovering Darius Rucker – C-
180 – Palma Violets – I haven't bought into a Brit rock band in years and years. They all bore me. But these guys are the exception that prove the rule and some of this, "Days Of Wine And Roses" are just brilliant Brit pop – B
For Professional Use – araabmusik – Damn good week for electronic bass line fixes. This is so good. A vicious danceable feast of hard thrills worthy of Trouble And Bass at its best. No dubstep here, it is all electronic house blasts of pure energy – A