Opinion: Top Five Albums Of 2012

From dazzling debuts to critically-acclaimed comebacks, this year has seen the release of some truly terrific music. With an eventful 12 months nearing their end and the New Year now in sight, Mark Butler picks out the Top Five albums of 2012.     Band Of Horses – Mirage Rock Having ghosted into the big-time with 2010′s internationally-successful Infinite Arms, it’s pleasing to see Band Of Horses follow-up that acclaimed... Read More

Music News: Alt-J Win The 2012 Mercury Prize

Cambridge-based quartet Alt-J were the bookies’ favourites to take this year’s Mercury Prize – and they did indeed scoop the award at the Roundhouse tonight, despite tough competition from the likes of Plan B and The Maccabees. ‘An Awesome Wave’ received a 5-star review from us when it was released back in May, with our editor describing it as “strikingly original”. The art-rockers, who have been... Read More

Music News: Bookies Tip Alt-J’s ‘An Awesome Wave’ To Win This Year’s Mercury Prize

It may be a month until the nominees for the Mercury Prize are released, but Paddy Power have already opened betting on what will be named the ‘Album of the Year’ this time around  – and it’s Alt-J who look the favourites.  ‘An Awesome Wave’ currently has odds of 6/4, making it the resounding front-runner, with closest competitors Richard Hawley, Sweet Billy, Django Django and Florence & The Machine... Read More

Album Review: Alt-J – An Awesome Wave

Could Alt-J be the most unlikely breakthrough act of 2012? Mark Butler delivers his verdict on the art-rockers’ extraordinary debut, out May 28th.  They’ve been hailed in some quarters as the heirs to Radiohead, and although the comparison is only sporadically accurate it’s easy to understand why. Alt-J are about as far away from your typical rock band as it’s possible to get. The unconventional quartet are named after the Mac keyboard... Read More