Broken Bells is the new project of two maverick pop talents, restless musical spirits James Mercer and Brian 'Danger Mouse' Burton. Burton's varied enterprises – from Gnarls Barkley to Gorillaz – are well-documented; while no sooner had Mercer's band the Shins finally achieved success with 2007's Wincing The Night ... more

Valleys Of Neptune is the opening salvo of what we're promised is a "monumental" 2010 Hendrix Catalogue Project, involving various reissues of the original studio albums and, doubtless, several more ransackings of the tape vaults like this. Heralded as representing the foundations for the follow-up to Electric Ladyland, all ... more

Vocals: Van Morrison

He's just a great singer. A voice like a saxophone, unique and fierce. I wasn't always into Van – it's a new thing. I have a friend who always plays Astral Weeks at his house parties and it has seeped into my soul now. I ... more

U2, Slane Castle, 25 August 2001

* Elevation
* Beautiful Day
* Until The End Of The World
* New Year's Day
* Kite
* A Sort of Homecoming
* I Will Follow
* Sunday Bloody Sunday
* Wake Up Dead Man
* Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
* In A Little While
* Dancing in ... more

The Chieftains feat Ry Cooder

San Patricio

Concord

4/5

This is how the Chieftains see their music folding into the tropes of Mexico, rough-riding on the story of the Irish 'San Patricio Battalion', who fought in the US/Mexican war of 1846, initially on the American side before defecting ... more

Boyzone

Brother

Polydor

3/5

It's like they've never been away. Which, given the continuing existence of Westlife, they arguably haven't. Their first album in 12 years, and first since the death of Stephen Gately (who still features on two tracks), carries on where they left off ... more

Sierra Maestra
Sonando Ya
World Village
4/5

Sierra Maestra started out in the early 1970s as a group of engineering students wanting to surf the then-fashionable Brazilian wave, but were persuaded to play son instead, and became a hit. Five of the original members remain, and the basic sound ... more