Album

Sumptuous debut from Liverpool octet

Magnificent evocation of life beyond Detroit Rock City

Hip Bard meets Hard Bop on soundtrack

Definitive comp of Windy City vocal-group soulsters beloved of Tony Soprano

Filmed on his final 1976 tour, before he became Yusuf Islam and rejected music, Majikat finds the artist formerly known as Cat enhancing the simplicity of songs such as "Moonshadow" and "Father & Son" with a show featuring live magicians and a stage set of Floyd-style grandeur. Less precious than on record, he proves to be a surprisingly engaging performer.

Sparky, angular second from luckless young Brit-rockers

Stripped-down follow-up to 2000's Mercury-winning Stories From The City...

Dreamy debut from tender contenders

Italian dance music old and new

Diamond Dogs is often cited as the beginning of Bowie's cocaine psychosis period. In fact, it was recorded before he started giving Hitler salutes at railway stations and aggravating Eastern European customs officers with the books on Goebbels he carried in his rucksack, and now presents something of a field day for hindsight-lovers.