Columbia Vinyl & CDs

Review: Beyonce continues to redefine genres with her latest album, Cowboy Carter. Building on the momentum of her previous releases, she fearlessly ventures into country music territory, infusing it with her signature style and social commentary. The album's opener, 'Ameriican Requiem,' starts strong with its pointed lyrics and references to country music controversies. Throughout the album, Beyonce showcases her vocal strength and versatility, seamlessly blending elements of country, rock, and trap. Tracks like 'II Most Wanted' featuring Miley Cyrus and 'Tyrant' offer dynamic collaborations and infectious beats. Cowboy Carter is a fantastic romp through various styles of pop music. Beyonce's bold approach reaffirms her status as a trailblazing artist, delivering yet another classic album. With its depth, diversity, and undeniable artistry, Cowboy Carter will be an enduring impact on popular culture.

Review: Beyonce's Cowboy Carter marks a departure from her typical genre-hopping approach, focusing specifically on country music while still infusing it with her signature style. Through tracks like 'Blackbiird,' Beyonce pays homage to the past while celebrating the contributions of Black artists to the genre, shedding light on trailblazers like Linda Martell. Despite its country focus, Beyonce's hip-hop and pop sensibilities shine through, resulting in a sprawling and ambitious album that explores themes of authenticity, roots, and legacy. Tracks like 'Just for Fun' and '16 Carriages' showcase Beyonce's storytelling and a glimpse into her interiority and the complexities of pop stardom. Cowboy Carter seamlessly blends traditional country sounds with contemporary elements, creating a unique sonic experience that transcends boundaries.

Review: Leon Bridges' fourth album, simply titled Leon, is his most intimate and powerful release yet. Across 13 tracks, the Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, and producer crafts a deeply personal narrative, weaving together his signature soulful storytelling with a seamless blend of genres. The album takes listeners on a journey through the streets of his hometown, Fort Worth, exploring the places and people that have shaped him. With rich instrumentation and a timeless quality, Leon feels both nostalgic and modern, showcasing Bridges' unique ability to meld influences from gospel, r&b, blues and more. Each track is a love letter to the moments and memories he holds dear, making this his most poignant work to date.

Review: Cult American hip-hoppers and legendary stoners Cypress Hill played live at San Francisco's iconic Fillmore on August 16, 2000. Now available on vinyl for the first time, the set captures the legendary group's explosive live energy as the band were in top form and delivering raw, high-octane renditions of their biggest hits. What better way to relive classics like 'Insane in the Brain,' 'Hand on the Pump,' 'Cock the Hammer' and 'I Wanna Get High' than on vinyl? Those gems sit alongside deeper cuts such as 'A to the K,' 'Riot Starter' and '(Rock) Superstar' making this a great blend of those for singing along to and those for the head.

Review: "Nature's first green is gold. Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So Dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." Robert Frost's 1923 poem about the noble art of letting go and accepting that life is about ebb and flow, impermanence, comings and going formed the jumping off point for Swedish duo First Aid Kit's third LP. And it certainly catalysed some big thinking for the folk-leaning pair. Released in 2014, Stay Gold was their most ambitious and grand work at the time, both instrumentally and thematically. Dealing directly with their life experiences, making themselves more vulnerable than ever is commendable, while the movements, melodies, and musical ideas move us almost beyond the band's folk roots, into stadium-sized leagues.

Review: Gesaffelstein's fourth album, GAMMA, marks a departure from his previous work, embracing camp over cool. With influences ranging from seventies electro-punk to synth-pop, the album is a riot of overdriven synth-pop and vintage rock'n'roll. Singer Yan Wagner's oily baritone adds depth, channeling Dave Gahan's toughness with a humorous twist. The album's eccentricity shines through in Wagner's deranged lyrics and unpredictable delivery, injecting humor and unpredictability into the mix. Tracks like 'The Urge' and 'Hysteria' showcase Gesaffelstein's knack for crafting sharp hooks and infectious grooves. Clocking in at concise lengths, each track contributes to the album's charm, focusing on thrusting hips and sharpened hooks rather than lofty concepts. GAMMA is a refreshing departure from Gesaffelstein's previous sound and a exciting new direction.

Review: It's safe to say Happenings is the least Kasabian sounding record we've ever had, although realising that makes you start to wonder what Kasabian ever really sounded like. Experts at hybridity, they've built an enviable reputation - and huge following - from mixing a kind of lager indie rock with more experimental elements, nodding to synth, post punk, electronica, even nu rave at times. But we can't think of many times they've come as close to sugar-coated MGMT territory as on 'Darkest Lullaby', the second track on this latest outing. Things don't stay there, though. 'GOAT' is a strange mash up of grit and candy floss with guitars and keys blazing, 'Passengers' threatens to take flight with its soaring (and decidedly sing-along) pop chorus, 'The Hell Of It' introduces growing bass music tones, 'How Far Will You Go' approaches a kind of jump up nu-metal.