SOUND JUDGEMENT

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

JOE JACKSON FOOL ★★★★★

JACKSON is a singer and composer whose output has never followed a conventional course.

Now, with his 20th album, he has taken his basic touring four-piece and come up with a set of completely new songs based around themes of comedy, albeit dark, and tragedy. Stylistically varied throughout, a track like Dave harks back to his early period, while Friend Better has a Steely Dan feel. The title track is a rocked-up folky tune with sharp comments about power and leaders. Alchemy is a lushly orchestrated ballad that closes the album with delicacy and tenderness. This is a very impressive album.

BRING ME THE HORIZON AMO ★★★★★

SHEFFIELD rockers Bring Me The Horizon are really bringing it with what is arguably their most diverse album yet. Experimental and varied, sure, but weird? From atmospheric opener, I Apologise If You Feel Something, to tracks such as the drum and bass-flecked Ouch and Sugar, laced with elements of their heavier sound, there is nothing here to scorn at. This is the product of a band who are in the middle of an enlightening journey, and good for them for breaking out and trying something different.

RUDIMENTAL TOAST TO OUR DIFFERENCES ★★★★★

THE pied pipers of pop are back.

Rudimental prepare to storm the charts with a cabal of up-andcomers, established rappers and has-been chart-toppers in tow.

It starts with a salvo of decent pop fodder. The eponymous first track has a pleasing bop to it, while Let Me Live with the soon-to-gostratospheric Anne-Marie conjures brighter days. Some of these 16 songs have been around for years. Sun Comes Up with James Arthur was released in June 2017. Rita Ora’s Summer Love sounds as evocative as it did on its first release via Ora’s November album Phoenix. Rudimental have done some recycling here.

The album plays out as you would expect – lots to enjoy but not a lot to unpack. Instead, listen to it as a catalogue of future stars.