SOUND JUDGEMENT

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

COURTNEY BARNETT

– MTV UNPLUGGED (LIVE IN MELBOURNE)

★★★★★ STRIPPING back to basics and showcasing the songs only works if they are strong enough – ideal for Courtney Barnett, who is currently in a class of her own.

Live and acoustic in her home city, backed by her usual band and a cellist, she includes some of her best-loved songs including Sunday Roast, Avant Gardener and Depreston. Best of all is a sloweddown piano-led version of her anti-misogyny anthem Nameless, Faceless.

Essential for those who are already fans, and a fine introduction for those who are not yet, but will be after listening.

OZZY OSBOURNE – ORDINARY MAN

★★★★★

FULL of life and full of surprises, the 71-year-old former

Black Sabbath frontman is in storming form on his 12th solo album.

Opener Straight To Hell finds Ozzy in full ‘Prince of Darkness’ flow – and ensures the first album he says he has made while sober opens with the lyric “You’re flying higher than a kite tonight” – and it sets the tone for at least the early going, highlighted by Goodbye.

Things take an unexpected turn as none other than Elton John guests on the superb title track – which is, essentially, an Elton John song, with Ozzy impressively living up to his illustrious company in the vocal stakes. Duff McKagan, Slash, Tom Morello, Chad Smith and Post Malone all make appearances.

BTS

– MAP OF THE SOUL: 7

★★★★★ THE Seoul superstars are on track to crown a breakthrough 12 months with their first number one album.

Its title nods toward the group’s seven members as well as the number of years they have been together. And its slick hip hop and pop content charts their individual stories in a highly-referential style.

It’s no small task unpacking the Boys’ varied career in a single album and the album suffers from an abundance of ideas. Often it feels overstuffed and underexecuted, even when colourful melodies and bold ideas abound.