Wallflowers

Exit Wounds

NEW WEST The prodigal son returns.

It’s been almost 10 years since 2012’s beatoriented Glad All Over album – and that one came after a seven-year gap – so it’s clear that Wallflowers albums are to be savored as the rarities that they are.

The Butch Walker-produced

Exit Wounds features Shelby Lynne on four tracks, so expect a countrified air for much of the proceedings. In fact the bulk of the album radiates melancholic Americana, particularly heartbreakers like Darlin’ Hold On and The Daylight Between Us. There are more spirited moments, however, including the perfect West-Coast poprock of lead single Roots and

Wings and the raucous rave-up

Who’s That Man Walkin’ Round My Garden. Best of the bunch is the tender roots-rock of Maybe Your Heart’s Not In It Anymore, a ballad worthy of the band’s salad days.

It’s been a while, but Jakob ‘Son Of Bob’ Dylan continues to make some of the sweetest and most self-assured AORinflected power-pop going. ■■■■■■■■■■ Sleazegrinder

Five. Guldemond’s powerful but eccentric delivery brings another layer of charisma, most potently on the hammering pomp of For Eternity.

With this astutely paced and sonically murderous album, Burning Witches will continue to cast a spell over discerning metal maniacs. ■■■■■■■■■■