Capitol Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Indie darling Beck has been 'Thinking About You' on what is his first new music in some time since he dropped his GRAMMY-winning Hyperspace album. This single gets pressed up to a limited edition golden-brown 7" to mark the much-loved artist's birthday and it is a sublime bit of prime and emotional Beck as his heart-tugging best. The ballad has some sombre harmonica, acoustic guitar lushness and was recorded in the same room as his classic 'Sea Change'. On the flip side is his GRAMMY-nominated cover of Neil Young's 'Old Man' which is a wistful sound with rich tones.

Review: Now 21 years into a hugely successful career, you'd forgive Kings of Leon for resting on their laurels. That they've not done that with Can We Have Fun, their ninth studio album. Instead of dialling in alt-rock-tinged American rock anthems - their stock-in-trade - they've instead delivered a set that's as spiky, unpredictable and infectious as their earliest work, while also making space for moodier, slower and more atmospheric songs. So, on one hand you have recent single 'Mustang', an infectious slab of garage-rock funkiness, and the weighty Foo Fighters riffs and booming bass of 'Nothing To Do'; on the other the slow-motion beats, effects-laden ambient textures, soft-burn guitar solos and dreamy sonics of 'Split Screen' and the country-goes-indie flex of 'Actual Daydream'.

Review: You and we alike know Kings of Leon have been around forever - but they keep on serving up hit rock albums with plenty of character, soul and just the right amount of grit. This special CD release Can We Please Have Fun (Live In Wrexham Edition) captures the raw energy and dynamic performance of the band in a live setting. Recorded during their electrifying show in, yes, Wrexham, it features everything from their signature anthemic rockers to intimate ballads. Each track draws you into the electrifying atmosphere of the concert with their trademark blend of heartfelt lyrics and powerful instrumentation, meaning this album shows why they're revered as one of the premier rock bands of their generation.