Review
★★★
The Veronicas
The Veronicas’ new album has high points but doesn’t leave a lasting impression
This week, music writers and critics review four new albums, including The Veronicas’ much-anticipated fourth studio album.
- by Martin Boulton, Craig Mathieson, John Shand and Kish Lal
Latest
Liz Phair reclaims her sound from Indie-imitators plus Crowded House
Liz Phair out of retirement, Crowded House’s Dreamers Are Waiting, Arthur Grumiaux’s Complete Philips Recordings and The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Time OutTakes.
- by Kish Lal, Craig Mathieson, John Shand and Barney Zwartz
★★★★
Music
The dream isn’t over: no duds on Crowded House’s ‘perfectly formed’ new album
It’s fair to say the state of the world circa 2021 has lured Neil Finn to a darker turn of mind. The future’s so bleak he needs Crowded House. Turns out so do we.
- by Michael Dwyer
Music reviews: CHAI, Martha Marlow, Omar Sosa and Yulugi
Martha Marlow’s Medicine Man, Yulugi’s Chasing Stars to the Mother Tree, CHAI’s Wink and Omar Sosa’s An East African Journey.
- by Kish Lal, John Shand, Barnaby Smith and Eugene Ulman
Music reviews: You Am I, The Chills, Johanna Samuels and more
Johanna Samuels’ Excelsior!, Jon Armstrong Sextet’s Reabsorb, You Am I’s The Lives of Others and The Chills’ Scatterbrain.
- by Barry Divola, Craig Mathieson, John Shand and Barnaby Smith
★★★½
Live Music
As fresh as ever, MSO’s Four Seasons delights young crowd
A capacity crowd at Hamer Hall enjoyed a performance of the Vivaldi classic that avoided sounding hackneyed.
- by Tony Way
★★★★★
Spectrum
Sweetly soaring and escapist, this perfect Australian album demands attention
Get Lost showcases Queensland singer Mardi Wilson’s confidence, heart and serious songwriting chops, evoking Mumford & Sons and Passenger.
- by Jessie Cunniffe, John Shand, Barnaby Smith and Barney Zwartz
Review
Spectrum
She talks in beauty: Faithfull lends husky tone to Byron, Keats, Wordsworth
Marianne Faithfull’s collaboration with Warren Ellis delivers a brilliant new take on Romantic poems, while Australian Art Orchestra plays personal perspectives of war.
- by Jessie Cunniffe, Barry Divola, Bruce Elder and John Shand
Music reviews: Cecilia Bartoli, London Grammar, Cory Hanson and more
Cecilia Bartoli’s Queen of Baroque, Cory Hanson’s Pale Horse Rider, Tani Tabbal Trio’s Now Then and London Grammar’s Californian Soil.
- by Kish Lal, John Shand, Barnaby Smith and Barney Zwartz
Standout stars: Joe Strummer, AJ Tracey, Vikingur Olafsson and more
AJ Tracey’s Flu Game, Vikingur Olafsson’s Debussy/Rameau, Joe Strummer’s Assembly and Berardi/Foran/Karlen’s Haven.
- by Barney Zwartz, Kish Lal and John Shand
★★★★
Music
Jack River brings power and passion to Opera House’s first gig back
Holly Rankin had large ambitions for this night, which is admirable, and she pretty much pulled it off, which is impressive.
- by Bernard Zuel