Reviews / Album

An Ear To The Earth is exactly what you want from an artist – a record that shows they’re stretching themselves, expanding their art and reverentially experimenting with the great art of songwriting.

Diplo, now the only ‘real’ Lazer left after Switch’s departure in 2011, has come up with a masterpiece here. Let’s hope the third is not so delayed.

If you’re partial to a bit of global mobilisation, then Strength To Survive is the only soundtrack you’ll need to stay strong.

If they’d stop trying to be everything to everybody and leave that job to Maroon 5, this could have had the longevity to put them amongst the elite, with Black Stones being tagged as one of the best albums of 2013.

There are a number of fine examples of Marr’s guitar greatness, but none more so than on Say Demesne.

The production is pristine (thanks to veterans Wayne Connolly and Tim Whitten), which allows the band to step out beneath the shoegaze banner they’ve proudly waved in the past and truly embrace every excellently-paced element of the band’s functionality.

In their most honest and original release since 2005, Alkaline Trio have injected new life into the band.