An assured, worthy debut from a band with an already near-masterful pop instinct - albeit an instinct that they ought to challenge more.  Full text...

The spiky guitars and juddering rhythms are all in place, and, like the Futureheads, they have turned to Gang of Four's Andy Gill to produce their first full-length album.   Full text...

Voices of Animals and Men is a decent debut - it's well constructed and promising, and brilliant in places, although guilty of toploading when it comes to the tracklisting.  Full text...

One of the finest debuts this year.  Full text...

This year's most eccentric pop buttons they might be, but don't underestimate The Young Knives' might. You're not supposed to hit men in spectacles, but as this debut constantly reminds us, there's nothing to stop them from flooring you.  Full text...

Sometimes they're witty and inspired, running off with a manic stream of consciousness to fresh, new territory. And at other times, they're juvenile and annoying, about a tenth as talented as they think they are and suffused with smarmy ego where there really should be some charisma.  Full text...