Soundgarden
Soundgarden: Live from The Artists Den
POSTHUMOUS releases are the most difficult to get right. Soundgarden must have known this following the death of frontman Chris Cornell, who took his own life in Detroit in 2017 aged only 52. Live From The Artists Den is a three-time Emmy-nominated series with a history of chronicling gigs by stars including Mumford & Sons and Ringo Starr. As an overarching document of the Seattle band's 35-year career, Soundgarden's offering is unparalleled. Recorded in February of 2013 at the Wiltern Theatre in LA, it captures 29 songs across two-and-a-half hours and provides a much-needed document of Cornell in his late career pomp. The deluxe box contains an impressive, if totally unnecessary, number of extras. Bonus interviews, four black vinyl LPS, CDs, a 40-page photo book and replica artist all-access pass from the night. Superfluous to most, but essential to those keen to ensure Cornell is not soon forgotten.
9/10
Alex Green
Kaiser Chiefs
Duck
IT'S hard to believe that it's been around 15 years since indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs burst on to the scene. Duck is the Ricky Wilson-fronted Leeds combo's seventh album. But has the itch set in? From the first strains of People Know How To Love One Another, which has been all over the radio giving it 'early anthem' status, it's obvious that this isn't your usual Kaiser Chiefs record. Lyrically, however, there is still a hint of the early days. The personable lyrical style of Never Miss A Beat and Everyday I Love You Less and Less are evident here once again. Golden Oldie has all the life questions about settling down and actually growing up, whereas the catchy Wait is all about FOMO and mental health in the modern world. Kaiser Chiefs have put together another grower of an album filled with great indie pop songs.
8/10
Rachel Howdle
Iggy Azalea
In My Defense
IT HAS been five years since Iggy Azalea released her debut album The New Classic and electro-pop single Fancy, during which the Australian star has faced claims of 'cultural appropriation' and feuds with the likes of Azealia Banks and Snoop Dogg. Azalea hits back at the controversies and more in Clap Back, a track from the long-awaited In My Defense. The bass-heavy battle bars have a promising start but, lyrically, it fails in actually clapping back and is disappointingly unoriginal. This theme continues throughout the 12-track album: Spend It and Just Wanna have potential but lack originality and personality. Hoemita, featuring Lil Yachty, just about brings the album back from the brink – it feels like Azalea is enjoying herself with a fresher sound. Although it's an ambitious comeback album and her first as an independent artist, In My Defense fails to actually defend anything.
6/10
Emma Bowden
Lykke Li
Still Sad Still Sexy EP
DESPITE its name, Lykke Li's fourth full-length record, So Sad So Sexy, saw her venture away from the 'sad pop' sound that earned her a cult following with an R&B-inflected dance record that was more akin to her fellow Swede, Robyn. Still Sad Still Sexy is an EP of reworkings from last year's record that's arguably most notable for featuring the dreaded words 'Skrillex remix' (though the reworked Two Nights, Two Nights II, is actually not as terrible as fans might have feared). While the pared down rendition of Deep End strips away the original's trap beat to reveal a soulful, powerful indie piano ballad that's reminiscent of her very finest work, for the most part this EP is really a bit of a throwaway best reserved for devotees only.
5/10
Steve Jones
