This Week's Releases

The Rolling Stones — Blue & Lonesome (Universal)

Recorded live in just three days — with a feature from Eric Clapton — Blue & Lonesome makes it obvious that "they've got the blues and that's alright by us". Charlie Watts shows off with "sparkling, dynamic cymbal flourishes and thunderous drum rolls" while we can see "Keith Richards' shit-eating grin at all times" in our mind's eye. The Stones' synergy is second-to-none — we gave it four-and-a-half stars and Album Of The Week.

John Legend — Darkness & Light (Sony)

"Timeless deep soul vibes, burning a flame of love, peace and happiness" encapsulates Legend's Darkness & Light. He avoids the "usual tropes of the [R&B] genre to produce a timeless yet distinctly contemporary soul sound", with features from Kamasi Washington and Miguel. Legend "[shakes] up his penchant for old school soul and [takes] us to familiar yet surprising new places". We gave it three-and-a-half stars.

Peter Doherty — Hamburg Demonstrations (BMG/Liberator)

Doherty's second solo outing arrives with a showcase of "the cheerful, playful side of Doherty", as well as more sombre tributes to Amy Winehouse and the Paris 2015 attacks in Flags From The Old Regime and Hell To Pay At The Gates Of Heaven respectively. "Doherty's songwriting skills are incredible; his emotions are left on his sleeve as he opens up with no regrets" — we gave it three stars.