Back catalogue: Pop

Review: McCartney III was the18th solo album by legendary musician and former Beatle Paul McCartney. Imagined is the remix version that came digitally back in April and now lands on vinyl. The artists chosen to remix were all selected by McCartney himself and are said to feature "friends, fans, and brand new acquaintances." The record has picked up plenty of positive reviews already and that should be no surprise given the heavyweights included. The likes of Beck, Khruangbin, Dev Hynes, Ed O'Brien, Damon Albarn, Josh Homme, Anderson .Paak, Robert Del Naja, and Idris Elba all make for a contemporary mix with diverse results.

Review: You could probably write a dissertation, if not full thesis, on the symbolism of this album. The biggest name in British chart pop compilations, NOW, turns its hand to spotlighting less obvious tracks from the decade that gave birth to the entire franchise. What this reflects, in terms of what constitutes 'popular' music today, and the questionable relevance of the UK Top 40, is a fascinating train of thought.
Musically speaking, the curators have done a decent job in selecting a broad range of artists, bands and sounds from the fertile grounds of the 1980s. Plenty here are household names - The Stranglers, Devo, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Smiths, Eurythmics, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. Nevertheless, you won't find 'Sweet Dreams' on the track list, and instead rarer archive material is allowed to shine: 'Vicious Games' rather than 'Oh Yeah' by Yello, The Cure's stunning 'A Forest' - we could go on.

Review: NOW - Millennium 2006-2007 celebrates the brilliance of post-millennial pop with a collection of back-to-back hits. This double album set features 31 unforgettable tracks from these two standout years in music, pressed on stunning opaque orange and white vinyl. LP1 begins with Amy Winehouse's iconic 'Rehab' from her Back To Black album, followed by Gnarls Barkley's massive hit 'Crazy.' Nelly Furtado's collaboration with Timbaland on 'Maneater' and LL Cool J's 'Control Myself' with Jennifer Lopez keep the energy high. The Black Eyed Peas' 'Pump It' and the Scissor Sisters' 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin' lead into tracks by Robbie Williams and the Pet Shop Boys. Other great hits include Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars,' Britney Spears' 'Gimme More,' songs by Keane, The Killers, Fall Out Boy's 'Sugar, We're Goin Down,' and The Zutons' 'Valerie.' P!nk and James Morrison set the stage nicely for the relaxed vibe of Corinne Bailey Rae's 'Put Your Records On.' Hit after hit, enjoy the years most popular tracks of 2006 and 2007.

Review: 2023 smash hit Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 finds Peter Quill still reeling from the loss of Gamora but rallying with his crew in an attempt to defend the universe. Should they not succeed it will prove a fateful mission and the dream of all this is captured in this original soundtrack. It features plenty of high-octane cuts, futuristic curveballs and even some rock and r&b from Alice Cooper and Faith No More respectively. Beastie Boys bring the heat with their classic 'No Sleep Till Brooklyn' and Florence & The Machine has still rarely bettered 'Dog Days Are Over.'