The results profit from the technical restrictions, with spiders' webs of guitar- and banjo-picking gently bolstered by subtle string arrangements, and Thomas singing quietly so as not to wake their flatmates: the effect of her hushed delivery of REM's "The One I Love" is to temper the song's meanness with regret, or even shame.  Full text...

When Sufjan Stevens announced his intention to record an album each about all 50 of the States of America, a collective raised eyebrow could probably be sensed around the globe. Even given Stevens' relative young age, you're looking at two or three albums a year to achieve that goal - even Ryan Adams couldn't achieve that, surely?  Full text...

Taking a step away from the pressures of the studio seems to have worked for Thomas. And co-habitating and co-writing with her friends proved to be a fine move as well, resulting in arguably the best Rosie Thomas record so far.   Full text...

The title track, a fun, lo-fi chorus round at the end of the album, is the only moment of enjoyment here: it's a quiet, sunny blues artifact that, while still superficial, still retains an element of novelty.  Full text...