I’ve not really been a fan of First Aid Kit in the past, mostly seeing them pop up on festival streams and usually switching over to another stage. But I figured it was time I gave them a proper go and a new album is always a good opportunity. It was actually pretty good - nice songs, good vocals, a sort of weird country-alternative hybrid. I can’t say it completely won me over but maybe next time they appear on a festival stage, I’ll give them more of a chance before reaching for the remote.

This is a great album. It took me a minute to adjust to it because I was stupidly expecting something more like Halsey. But this is more dance, and I really like it. Grapefruit is such an important song. However, it’s not all perfect, I don’t enjoy the one that samples Popcorn because how annoying is that? There’s never a reason to put Popcorn in any music. But otherwise, a good listen, great beats, fab vocals.

The way artists release music is continually changing and evolving and so I keep adapting the ‘rules’ of this album adventure to try and keep up. I don’t think in the past I would have even considered listening to EPs, but these two were branded as the first and second half of a singular album, so I’m saying it counts. In terms of the music, it’s just good solid nice country pop music - nothing hugely groundbreaking and not the big focus on storytelling like some of the other country singers, but enjoyable songs that are nice to listen to.

This album came out of nowhere for me, I wasn’t expecting it at all and it’s come right at the last minute for the album adventure. And I loved it! So, so, SO GOOD. Every song is an absolute tune and it manages to try lots of different styles without being too much of a ‘just pick one and pipe down’ hotchpotch of things. There’s a bit of George Ezra, Imagine Dragons, Sam Smith, all sorts in there, but it’s also its own thing with Sam’s incredible vocals. A contender for the top five, right at the last minute!

This is an ok pop album - I was worried Olly was going down a bit of an early easy-listening vibe recently but this brings it back a bit. The songs are fine musically, but I have to admit I didn’t really take to the lyrics. They’re just a bit… judgemental, a bit mean, a bit arrogant even? Marry Me is very demanding. I Hate You When You’re Drunk comes across really rude. I don’t know, I’m reading too much into it, I’m sure, but I just didn’t like it.

This is a great album from Stormzy, a credible follow up to the heavy headed previous release. It takes quite a while to get going, Fire + Water is a slow start to any record, but once it ramps up, it has that soulful vocal warmth. I did find it, as a whole, a bit depressing, there’s a lot of pleading and please this, please that, which I get… there’s a lot to beg to be better in this world (and seriously, please do just leave Meghan alone) but it just left me feeling a bit blue.

I really liked this album. I don’t know if I was expecting great things particularly but it came as a nice surprise. It’s that kind of grown up pop that is really easy to listen to, but without being boring. It has some strong melodies that don’t stick in your head particularly but are wonderful to listen to - and nice themes, good lyrics, plenty to like!

I was really looking forward to this and maybe I should have tempered my expectations a little because, although it’s good, it was a bit of a disappointment. It was like an easy listening album, and only a couple of times I thought the album was going to pick up and start going somewhere, but it never did. There was no huge hit or anything to grab at you, like Twisted or Girlfriend, but it’s still a nice album to listen to and you can’t fault the talent on display.

This is a good album, nice sounds, very 1975 from start to finish. It’s not going to stick in my mind, particularly, I don’t know that there’s a standout song in there, but as an album to listen to, it’s perfect. The only real complaint is that the title doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in relation to the rest of it. But I’m sure there’s something I’m missing.

I’m going to say straight off that I’m not a fan of the moustache. People can make their own choices but oof. However, while listening to the album, I can’t see the moustache and it was a real hit! Great songs, it’s the middle-of-the-road kind of pop that’s great not boring, and other than Are You Looking for Billy which has some odd choices in, I could listen to it over and over.