Sony Vinyl & CDs

Review: Remarkably, the last Foo Fighters retrospective dropped way back in 2009, so this career-spanning 'best of' is undoubtedly well overdue. As a starting point for exploring their catalogue - or, for confirmed fans, having all the band's best bits in one place - The Essential Foo Fighters does an excellent job. There are naturally plenty of grungy, high-energy, guitar-laden alternative rock smashers present - 'Rope', 'Monkey Wrench' and so on - but also nods towards the more classic rock-orientated end of their work ('Cold Day In The Sun', the Beatles-esque 'Big Me'), punky and funky indie club anthems ('All My Life') and a smattering of acoustic and semi-acoustic gems ('Waiting On a War' and a wonderfully sparse, folksy take on 'Everlong'). Like Ronseal products, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Review: .Three years on from the release of his hugely successful third album, Big Conspiracy, J Hus continues to make all the right moves. Now a genuine superstar of British music, the London MC has aimed even higher on Beautiful & Brutal Yard, enlisting the vocal talents of none other than Drake on 'Who Told You' (a Latin-tinged chunk of r&b slinkiness), as well as an impressive array of fellow MCs and beat-makers across an album that consciously pulls grime in a variety of accessible, radio-friendly directions. Lyrically, there are naturally some hard-hitting moments, but for every reflection on inner-city life and wider social issues there's a dose of loved-up sweetness and weary reflections on relationships. As a result, it's an impressively balanced and impeccably produced collection.