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Review: We've had more Neil Young compilations thrown our way over the years than many of us care to remember, but only one really sticks in the mind, and it's this one. Originally released in 1977 and chronicling the period in which Young went from being a simple member of Buffalo Springfield to one of the most heralded North American songwriters of the late century, and comprising work from that band alongside Crosby Stills Nash and Young, it's studded with delights aplenty. From the extended guitar sprawl of 'Down By The Ocean' and 'Cortez The Killer' to poignant balladry like 'After The Goldrush' and 'Helpless', no-one captured the dreams and hopes of the hippie generation in quite the way Young did, and this collection is a magnificent testimony to his most fertile and heartwarming era.

Review: Warner are in the midst of a massive reissue project that sees them remaster some of New Order's biggest tunes from the Abbey Road master tapes. Power Corruption & Lies (Definitive Edition) is one of the bigger ones as it offers up the iconic group's 1983 studio album across 180 gram vinyl, two CDs, two DVDs, and a 48 page book with obi strip. It is a completists dream with unreleased writing session material and the band's 1982 John Peel session, gigs captured live at The Hacienda and Kilkenny, plus all manner of rare photos and new essays to enjoy next to the music.

Review: If you're going to re-release a Deftones album with stacks and stacks of bonus material, including remixes by artists ranging from The Cure's Robert Smith to Squarepusher, then White Pony was always going to be a solid choice. First unveiled in 2000, the band's third album marked a major turning point in their career and sound, bringing in far more experimental ideas to the already-alternative metal of their early output.

Two decades on and the original work still holds up to significant scrutiny - the kind of scrutiny bands like Deftones are used to, having created legions of highly obsessed fans during their time on the road and in studios. What makes this revisitation so compelling, though, are the bits and pieces that weren't included with the record first time round, which should keep you busy for quite some time.

Review: Many a music lover will have gone through a rebellious teenage rock phase, and if so there is a good chance that for a short period at least they were well into Linkin Park. The stadium-sized rockers were a seminal act in the naughties and their ground-breaking second album Meterora was released in March 2003. It now gets a special 20th-anniversary reissue and comes with global hit singles such as 'Somewhere I Belong', 'Faint' and 'Numb' all of which have the big energy riffs the band became known for. This 4 x 12" bumper pack comes with some extra rare and unreleased material.

Review: The Spotlight Kid was Captain Beefheart's sixth studio album and one, landing a mere three years after the legendary Trout Mask Replica classic, sees him continuing his avant-garde brilliance. Initially released in 1972, it stands out as the only album credited solely to Captain Beefheart, even though it does feature much of his Magic Band prominently. The material, integral to the band's repertoire, highlights Beefheart's eclectic musical vision and experimental spirit, taking raw blues as its starting point but then twisting into it hithertoo unrecognisable shapes and psychedelic distortions. Reissued for Record Store Day 2024 as a deluxe double LP set in a gatefold jacket with milky clear vinyl, this edition revitalises the album's enigmatic charm for contemporary audiences and reminds us all of its magnificent blend of blues, rock and avant-garde elements.

Review: Orville Peck's Stampede Vol. 1 is a choice blend of duets, marking his third album and the first part of a multi-part collection. The album opens with a serene rendition of 'Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other,' featuring Willie Nelson, setting a sweeping and airy tone. The pace picks up with 'The Hurtin' Kind' alongside Midland, an intense, rhythmic track with moaning steel and fervent harmonies. Elton John joins Peck for a scorching reimagining of 'Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting),' adding a vibrant energy. The Spanish-language 'Mienteme' with Bu Cuaron stands out, blending Peck's country style with traditional Banda music, honoring Mexican rancheros. 'Chemical Sunset,' featuring Allison Russell, evokes a 40s bar atmosphere with muted trumpet accents, while 'The Hurtin' Kind' references Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game,' fitting its heart-wrenching lyrics. Noah Cyrus's 'How Far Will We Take It?' is a twangy ballad, and 'Conquer The Heart' with Nathaniel Rateliff is a hazy, guitar-led tune. While the seven-track album leaves listeners longing for more, Stampede Vol. 1 is a powerful showcase of Peck's collaborative and evolving sound.

Review: The Flaming Lips commemorate the 25th anniversary of their classic album The Soft Bulletin with a limited-edition 2LP. This special edition features eye-catching Zoetrope designs by Drew Tetz and Wayne Coyne, along with new sleeve artwork and an insert with text by Coyne. Originally released in 1999, The Soft Bulletin marked a pivotal moment in the band's career, transitioning from alt-rock obscurity to festival headliners. The album includes standout tracks such as 'Race for the Prize,' 'Waitin' for a Superman,' and 'Feeling Yourself Disintegrate.' The new 25th Anniversary Vinyl is a visually and sonically enhanced experience, showcasing the Flaming Lips' evolution and enduring impact on the music scene.

Review: Say what you will about Green Day's career resurgence record but 2004's American Idiot slaps far more than any hater will have you remember. While many still bemoan the band's shying away from the slacker college rock of 2000's Warning, it's impossible to deny the massive staying power that came from the ludicrous hit singles of the title-track as well as 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams', 'Holiday' and even the nine minute opus 'Jesus Of Suburbia'. Leaning further into concept and theatricality than ever before while essentially serving as the torch bearer album that saw Green Day be passed from Generation X to the millennials of the 21st century, it's easy to understand why American Idiot has become a victim of its own success in the two decades since release, but that doesn't excuse the selective amnesia for how potent of a record it truly was upon arrival and just how prevalent Green Day became in the cultural rock music zeitgeist for an entirely new generation of anxious kids. This 20th anniversary expanded edition arrives in a 4xCD box set complete with a bonus 2xBlu-ray.

Review: Talking Heads proudly reintroduce their iconic debut album, Talking Heads: 77, with the extensive Super Deluxe Edition, available in a comprehensive 3xCD + Blu-ray + Book format. This edition features a fresh AAA remaster cut directly from the original master tapes, ensuring that the album's unique sound is presented in the best possible quality. This release documents the evolution of the band, originally formed by David Byrne, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth and later expanded with the addition of Jerry Harrison from the Modern Lovers. From the outset, Talking Heads: 77 distinguished itself within New York's vibrant CBGB scene, characterised by Byrne's distinctive, high-pitched vocals and the band's tightly wound yet dynamic instrumentation. Key tracks like the haunting 'Psycho Killer' and the upbeat 'Pulled Up' stand out. Spanning nearly three hours, the Super Deluxe Edition includes many rarities such as outtakes and unreleased alternate versions, along with a never-before-heard recording of their final CBGB performance on October 10, 1977. The accompanying Blu-ray features an immersive Atmos mix and various remastered formats. Housed in an elegant 80-page hardcover book, this edition includes new liner notes and rare photos, celebrating the band's influential legacy.

Review: This second posthumous album from the late Mac Miller dropped in 2018 after being recorded but never released back in 2014. In some ways, it joins the dots between his early career style - an earnest rapper with plenty of attitude - and the more thoughtful songwriter he became in later life. There is still plenty of sadness and melancholy hidden between the beats and amongst the lines of these tunes which are built on keys, drums and bass with only the subtlest of production tweaks. 'Do You Have A Destination?' is a richly layered sound with fragment vocals, 'Stoned' is woozy and deep with gorgeous guitar licks, 'Funny Papers' showcases Mac's unique vocal stylings over more trad beats and 'Manakins' is another smudged late night sound with a heartfelt undertone.

Review: With the untimely and tragic passing of Chester Bennington in 2017, it was the natural presumption that Californian nu-metal turned alt rock megastars Linkin Park would cease to exist. Surprising their avid fanbase by announcing news of their reformation with Dead Sara vocalist Emily Armstrong, as well as new drummer Colin Brittain (Rob Bourdain opted not to join the reunion), From Zero offers a nod to their original band name Xero whilst simultaneously ushering in their new era. Sonically, the band are doing their utmost to both pay credence to their heavier origins while naturally rerouting towards their newfound vision. Serving as follow up to 2017's pop-oriented and critically panned One More Light, the understandable decision to re-embrace aspects of their nu-metal motifs is commendable, whilst modifying and building upon their past sonics to craft comfortable musical bedrock for the new voice of their band. Comparing to prior albums may be inescapable for diehard fans with the material owing humble countenance to the Linkin Park of yesteryear, while this deluxe edition expands upon the original version's somewhat succinct (or rushed) 11 tracks over 30 minutes with an additional three bonus cuts as well as five live versions.