MUSIC

The After love

James Blunt

“If you thought 2016 was bad,” the self-effacing star tweeted last year, “I’m releasing an album in 2017”.

The You’re Beautiful singer has had four hit albums already. This one is polished but uninspiring.

Lead single Love Me Better was his lowest-charting in almost a decade, peaking at 43 – and, it must be said, deservedly so. Follow-up Bartender is no better.

Not bad by any means, but unlike his Twitter feed it’s far from great.

OUR VERDICT 5/10

Brand New Day

The Mavericks

If you had to label The Mavericks, then dance band would be a far more suitable one than country, especially since returning in 2013 after a 10-year layoff.

The accordion-heavy Brand New Day follows the same splendidly wayward path as their previous album, Mono, veering from the Roy Orbison-like title track and old-timey Goodnight Waltz to the ’60s pop of Easy As It Seems.

It’s all infectiously good-natured and beautifully sung.

OUR VERDICT 7/10

Salutations

Conor Oberst

A companion piece to last year’s Ruminations sees those 10 sparse tracks and seven more fleshed out by an all-star backing band of The Felice Brothers and drummer and co-producer Jim Keltner.

Alcohol abuse, introspection and damaging insomnia are recurring themes and yet much of the album has a soaring sound.

The darkness remains, but the reworked set casts light upon some of Conor Oberst’s strongest songs in some time.

OUR VERDICT 8/10