SOUND BITES

On their second full-length album, UK buzz band Wolf Alice remains resistant to idling in one place; as such, the record finds bandleader Ellie Rowsell guiding the group through a wide variety of sonic terrain. Among moments of blissful new wave-inspired indie ( Heavenward, Don't Delete the Kisses, Sadboy ) and radio-ready stadium rock fare ( Beautifully Unconventional, Planet Hunter, Space & Time ) are moments of bloody seething rage ( Yuk Foo, Formidable Cool ). The absolutely crushing eight minute title track closer, meanwhile, throws in all of the above while adding a little psychedelia into the mix, which assures us that there are still more tricks up their sleeves. The testament to Wolf Alice's prowess is how easily these many faces are worn, and there doesn't seem to be a single moment where the listener is convinced the band has bitten off more than it can chew or made the wrong decision for the song. Rowsell emerges as a true tour de force here, as effectiv...

Usually, as spring gives way to summer album releases dry up. In 2015, however, it didn't really feel like the case. Sure, there were less albums released than in the spring but pretty much every week in June and July saw something worthwhile hit the shelves. Plus, there are a couple from July 10th, which is the date all new releases shifted from Tuesdays to Fridays. This batch of nominees also represents a nice cross section of new and emerging bands, established acts and long dormant bands breaking long silences. Our third set of Song of the Year Nominees are:

If the debut album by Londoners Wolf Alice feels impressively accomplished for a first record, it's likely because My Love Is Cool follows a pair of EPs and comes five years after the group's formation. Moaning Lisa Smile , the current single doing damage on North American radio, was actually from the second of those EPs, released over a year ago; in fact, unless you're in North America, it's not even on the album. Tellingly, My Love Is Cool remains a thrilling, intense and diverse record even without Moaning Lisa Smile on the tracklist; it certainly doesn't lack in ideas or commanding performances. That said, it's not like leaving out Moaning Lisa Smile overseas was an act of distancing themselves from the past; after all, their first ever singles (the noisy, sultry Fluffy and the cool, Cranberries-esque Bros ) are both included. The new material ranges wildly; there's the slash-n-burn fury of current UK single You're a Germ , the volcanic...