Music Round Up

As promised, three reviews of three albums from the last few months.

First, Coexist, the second album from the Mercury Prize winning The xx.

From the first strains of the echoey guitar strings, this album proves to be a case of more of the same. This isn't a bad thing; the eerie sounds of The xx still push them apart from many others on the scene. But, as with their first, arguably better self-titled album, the style of the music they play starts to make all the songs sound a little samey. While their lyrics are still hauntingly beautiful, towards the end you begin to yearn for something a little more. Then again, this is still perfect chillout music.

7/10

In terms of second albums, Ellie Goulding's Halcyon is a revelation.

While Lights, her first, was full of catchy tunes and hopeful optimism, this second album is very open and honest; there's a lot more of an electronic feel to this than in her previous work, yet her gorgeous soprano vocals still cut through and soar: perfect example being "Hanging On". It then towards the end of the album changes gears into a more ballad, piano led atmosphere; the song "I Know You Care" in particular is lovely.  It's a beautiful triumph that just gets better with every listen.

9/10

When it comes to defining a feel of an album, The 2nd Law by Muse proves difficult, for the simple, brilliant reason that every track sounds and feels different.

From the Bond theme-esque opening to the glorious, over the top "Survival"; the funky kick of "Panic Station" to the moody, magnificent "Madness". If ever there wasa showcase for the talents of this band, this album is it. Towards the end the songs are soaked in dubstep, but refreshingly this does not invade the majority of the rest of the album.Muse are the perfect hybridor even, if you want, lovechild, of Queen and Radiohead. Excellent.

9/10