"Better Off Without You" - Mallory Knox, Single Review

Above: album artwork for "Wired" the upcoming Mallory Knox album (@malloryknoxband/Instagram)

Taken from their forthcoming studio album "Wired", Mallory Knox have dropped a new track and hold nothing back. 

Referring to front man, Sam Douglas' personal experiences surrounding mental health issues, this song is incredibly powerful. Lyrically, it is moving and is an undeniably emotional listen. But "Better Off Without You" is more than that - it is a song with a very high quality of music too. The composition of instruments on this single is the perfect blend and exceeds the expectations you may hold in terms of this genre.

If this track is anything to go by, the anticipation for the album is deservedly high. The rawness and calibre of this song has left everyone eager to hear what their album will hold.

Rating: 8/10

You can pre-order "Wired" on iTunes and get two tracks immediately here or you can check out the audio for the track on YouTube here.

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"I See You" - The xx, Album Review

Above: album artwork for "I See You" (The xx/Spotify)


January 13th saw the release of The xx's third studio alum, "I See You". The London based band dropped this indie pop record after four years since the release of their prior album "Coexist".

"I See You" shows an agreeable development from their previous releases and delivers all you could want from music of this genre. With relaxed vibes throughout, this album is lyrically very good with a musical force to match. The three-piece are an extremely talented trio and this album encompasses that very well; but there is little about the record which is particularly moving. That said, it has elements of emotion in just the right tones and doses to prevent the album from becoming a heavy listen.

This album progresses in exactly the way you would expect and is a great listen. The standout tracks include "Say Something Loving", "On Hold" and "Test Me". "On Hold" particularly emphasises the impressive vocal talents within this band.

Rating: 6.5/10

You can get hold of "I See You" via iTunes here and can listen on Spotify here.

What do you think of this album? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews?

"Night People" - You Me At Six, Album Review

Above: album artwork for "Night People" (@youmeatsix/Twitter)

January 6 2017 saw the release of You Me At Six's fifth studio album, "Night People". Breaking away from the band's usual alternative rock sound, this album's heavier sound reflects how the band have grown.

This record is guitar-driven but the talent of drummer, David Flint, is clear as the LP has a very high-quality percussive element. Lyrically, this is an easy, fun listen but it's safe. Granted, it is a step away from the music You Me At Six normally make but it isn't trying anything new - they haven't branched out excessively. Perhaps it would have been nice to see them experiment a bit more on this album but the way they've evolved seems natural.

The track "Can't Hold Back" stands out for it's musical finesse. The composition of it is incredible; the instrumental side of this song is outstanding and the lyrics are just as good. You Me At Six wrote this song with Crispin Hunt. It's upbeat manner is followed by "Spell It Out" which is a track with a dramatic flair highlighting the always impressive vocals of front man Josh Franceschi.

Overall, "Night People" is an excellent album and is perfectly consistent with You Me At Six's previous releases. It would have been nice to see the band experiment a little more on this album but the three year wait was certainly worth it. 

Rating: 7/10

You can get hold of "Night People" via iTunes here and can listen on Spotify here. 

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"Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect" - Sundara Karma, Album Review

Above: album artwork for "Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect" (@sundarakarma/Instagram)

On January 6 2017, the Berkshire quartet Sundara Karma released their highly anticipated debut album. Prior to this, the indie band had released three EPs entitled "EP I" and "EP II" in 2015 and "Loveblood" in 2016.

This record is filled with catchy guitar riffs and melodic tunes from start to end. In this LP, Sundara Karma achieve the perfect blend of upbeat rhythms and powerful lyrics. What they lack in experience, Sundara Karma make up for in experimentalism and stepping out of the box which is always refreshing to see. "Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect" is the type of album which makes you want to get up and dance but also makes you want to think: the way this four-piece have mastered it is something special. 

Standout tracks include "Vivienne", "Watching from Great Heights" and "Happy Family". The musical talent of the quartet is highlighted throughout the album with the vocals of lead singer, Oscar Pollock, in "The Night" shining through. This concluding track brings the album to the perfect end, finishing with just the right tone.

It's evident that these young musicians have significant amounts of talent and chemistry as they have produced such a high quality debut album. Sundara Karma are fresh on the scene and give off the impression that what they care about is making music - something we need more of in the industry. The combination of raw talent and diligence this band hold is exceptional. But this is just the beginning; the standard of this album leaves very high expectations and intrigue as to how further experience will dictate their sound. If they continue like this, big things are sure to come for Sundara Karma.

Rating: 8/10

You can get hold of Sundara Karma's album via iTunes here and can listen on Spotify here.

What do you think of this album? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews ?