JACK WHITE – ENTERING HEAVEN ALIVE
THE second album from the polymath in just three months, Entering Heaven Alive is a very different beast to Fear Of The Dawn.
While its predecessor was notable for the humongous guitar riffs reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, this one is its gentler cousin, all acoustic guitars, strings, retro keyboards and a lot of piano.
Tracks like opener A Tip From Me to You and Help Me Along take inspiration from late 60s British psychedelia. Love Is Selfish, a single released back in January, is the simplest on the album with strummed acoustic guitar and plaintive lyrics.
I've Got You Surrounded (With My Love) takes a turn towards prog rock, with complex instrumentation while the single If I Die Tomorrow is melancholy country folk. Queen Of the Bees has a flavour of the Small Faces and Please God, Don't Tell Anyone a hint of Bob Dylan – but most of all they sound like White, his voice as distinctive as ever.
RATING: 4/5
TY SEGALL – HELLO, HI
IF YOU'VE heard anything by the prolific Californian Segall, you'll probably have noticed he has a fondness for the squall of a distorted guitar.
On his latest album he wrongfoots us from the off by opening with two tracks featuring little more than acoustic guitars and his own multi-layered harmonies.
The lyrics on Cement reveal a debt to Radiohead through their dystopian perspective: 'We can make you feel alright / You won't feel the rain', but there's also a nod to the quirky melodic approach of early T. Rex.
Even more Bolan-esque are the quivering vocals on the album's only cover, Don't Lie.
By the time we hit title track Hello, Hi, Segall has revived his signature crunchy instrumentation and we're back in the grunge style familiar from his hit 2010 album Melted or his 2014 song Feel, but with meaty drum parts unlike anything he's done before.
RATING: 4/5
LIZZO – SPECIAL
LIZZO delivers a joyous fourth album packed with catchy tunes and empowering lyrics, which is sure to delight her many fans and win plenty more.
It's virtually impossible to feel down while singing along to songs like the hit single About Damn Time and title track Special.
As you'd expect, these hip hop, disco and pop-influenced songs aren't about a glossy, unreal celebrity life. The personal lyrics of Break Up Twice are delivered with heart and soul while the emotional Coldplay cleverly samples Yellow to great effect.
Lizzo is unapologetically herself and her straight-talking personality and body positivity shines through track after track, from the seductive ballad Naked to Everybody's Gay, a tribute to dance floors where everyone can be themselves.
A special album indeed from a special artist.
RATING: 4/5
VANDERWOLF – 12 LITTLE KILLERS
MAX Vanderwolf's Twelve Little Killers is a confident, breezy collection that spans classic blues, folk and pop, all tied together with a dusting of psychedelia.
It's no coincidence that the musician is also an events programmer who has worked for London's Meltdown festival, which has been curated by musical icons like Bowie, Massive Attack and Patti Smith.
Some of these tracks date back to 2001, but were collated and recorded amid lockdown.
The Laurel Canyon-evoking campfire folk of album opener, I Am Not A Mountain, points towards the prevailing retro sound.
Vanderwolf sounds like a glam-rock Jack Bruce on Ain't Gonna Hurt – bolshy but fragile, while Stand By Your Fool is pure Ziggy Stardust.
Solid songwriting that unfolds upon repeat listens is mixed with just the right amount of eccentricity.
This is an accomplished album with clear melodies and an even clearer sense of identity.
RATING: 4/5
