The first of this week’s scorchers is You’ll Be Alright, Kid, which shows off Alex Warren’s vocal prowess and evolving sound, bringing his rawest and most authentic energy yet on tracks such as ‘Carry You Home’ and ‘Burning Down’, along with his earth-shattering smash hit single ‘Ordinary’ and newest release ‘Bloodline (with Jelly Roll)’. Known for his vulnerable pop melodies, passionate vocals and lyrical candour, Warren has won over fans globally with his powerful, personal brand of pop.
Dog Eared is a warm, rich and textured record that bristles with confidence and self-belief. Billie Marten is embracing change while staying true to her core self. It’s a left turn from her previous recordings, albeit a subtle one, taken with a deftness of touch. There’s a certain strength of conviction here with which Billie calmly posits herself at the top of the tree of not just British contemporary folk artists but British songwriters at large.
I Beat Loneliness sees Bush – frontman Gavin Rossdale along Chris Traynor, Nik Hughes and Corey Britz – returning to top form, delivering a sonic evolution that fuses their signature grunge-laden intensity with bold new textures and themes. Exploring despair, individual struggles and mental health, themes that have become increasingly important for the band, imbues the album with a sense of urgency.
After a long legal dispute with Easy Jet and an enforced name change from Easy Life, Onion is the long-awaited return of Hard Life. The new record showcases a more personal side to frontman Murray Matravers’s storytelling and touches on parting ways with a previous band member, the break-up from his long-term partner, his new creative direction, moving to Japan and the fall-out with Easy Jet.
The first notes from Sam Fason’s guitar on Air Between Us hit like a blast of sea air to the face. In just seconds, you’re soaring, in equal parts under the sky and above the sea. It’s in this in-between where Coral Grief thrive, as they construct elaborate webs of double meanings across this tribute and eulogy to their city and community. Singer and bassist Lena Farr-Morrissey and Fason are linked by the psychic chemistry that can only be unlocked by playing together for years.
Our release of the week is Breakthrough, which captures blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa at the height of his creative powers. Expanding his signature sound while staying true to the deep blues roots that launched his storied career, the album promises raw emotion, blistering guitar work and fresh sonic twists. With this album, Joe Bonamassa proves yet again that he’s not just keeping the blues alive – he’s driving it into the future.
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