BEST OF THE REST

Other new releases out this month.

Tom’s Diner)

Wild Side.

(Luka,

Boston Manor

PURE NOISE

Glue

Aiming for hitherto uncharted peaks of intensity, the Blackpool poppunk five-piece have road-toughened beyond their identi-Emo origins to attain a formidably muscular grunge-tinged melodic fury. 8/10

The Reverend Shawn Amos & The Brotherhood

PUT TOGETHER MUSIC

Blue Sky

Originating at the bluesier end of Americana, LA’s Reverend Shawn (a formidably soulful harp-toting vocalist) infuses a classy traditionalism with sharp R&B modes and full-tilt rock. 8/10

The White Buffalo

SNAKEFARM

On The Widow’s Walk

An assured collection from Jake Smith. Shooter Jennings’s production perfectly spotlights the rare stylistic strength in Smith’s vocal while accentuating the weighty emotive maturity in his material. 8/10

Gaye Bykers On Acid

Sodium Sun/Back On Track EP

LIQUID GURU

After 30 years lost down the back of the cultural sofa, near-legendary Leicester grebos return with a way-too-brief sci-fi-psych EP reliably OTT in its punkoid car crash of remixed-up shooting for the stars. 7/10

Suzanne Vega

An Evening Of New York Songs And Stories

COOKING VINYL

Captured intimately live at Big Apple boho Mecca Cafe Carlyle, Vega (born Santa Monica, made NYC) revisits Gotham-based hits

and Lou’s timeless 7/10

The Electric Mess

SOUNDFLAT

Electric Mess V

The New York quintet’s fifth collection melds deliciously dark influences from 60s psych to 70s punk. Pop hooks, old-school organ riffs, swirling garage band tropes. A stone groove. 7/10

Wendy James

Queen High Straight

Written, produced and mixed by (ex-Transvision Vamp) Wendy James fronting a strong band and dabbling in a dizzying variety of styles. Lacking cohesion and quality control, it’s a desperately mixed bag. 5/10

Mike Tramp

Second Time Around

TARGET

Despite White Lion/Freak Of Nature frontman Tramp’s Danish origin, this collection of re-recorded versions of some of his more overlooked songs fits the bill perfectly as an archetypal American driving record. 7/10

Rocket Dolls

The Art Of Disconnect

SELF-RELEASED

Brighton’s Dolls wrangle moods dexterously on this long-awaited second set. With genre-fluid compositional chops (immense title track, killer lead single Enthusiasm And Fumes) the trio’s precision power invariably hits its target. 8/10

Diet Cig

Do You Wonder About Me?

FRENCHKISS

Three years on from a widely-championed debut, the NYC duo return bereft of edge and inspiration. 21st century neediness, directionless dirges, post-pop indie rock at its drabbest. 4/10

The Dream Syndicate

The Universe Inside

Always the most ambitious Paisley Underground scenesters, the LA collective stretch toward Miles territory on The Regulator’s 20-minute psych-grooved, jazzoid journey through NYC’s wild side. Stunning. 8/10

Katatonia

City Burials PEACEVILLE

Their metamorphosis from doom-laden death to meticulous prog-metal complete, the epic Swedes return with a dazzling work of triumphal melancholia. Deft arrangements, vintage heaviness, classic power. 8/10