A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation. We try and pick out a cross-section of albums that reflect the range of genres reviewed at the website. The star rating will be at least ****

SELWYN BIRCHWOOD – Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues

It’s a well crafted, emotively sung and self produced masterpiece from a young blues artist who explores deeply felt, socially relevant blues songs on 10 tracks that push his tour band to the peak of their abilities.

The album strikes the perfect balance between rock, blues, funk, gospel and a hint of psychedelia on deft arrangements and inspired playing which merits the colourful album title. *****

Review by Pete Feenstra

TYKETTO Closer To The Sun

It’s an extremely diverse album with the odd moment which will not be to everyone’s taste, but also a very strong one, justifying Danny Vaughn’s faith in the revamped line up and leaving them strongly placed to kick on with their recent revival. **** 1/2

Review by Andy Nathan

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Future Soul

Whilst the year is in its infancy, it would be hard to imagine many albums coming close to the sheer class and power of this release and with it, the Tedeschi Trucks Band have cemented their reputation and standing as one of the few bands worthy enough to follow in the footsteps of stadium fillers like the Eagles and aforementioned Fleetwood Mac.

Magnificent. *****

Review by Paul Monkhouse

BLACK SWAN – Paralyzed

the band give it all they’ve got, offering equal parts excitement, heft and lyrical content. ****1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

JEFF AUG – Interim

…this is a quite wonderful, uplifting, instrumental album.

Lovers of beautifully played acoustic guitar unite. *****

Review by David Randall

BIG BIG TRAIN – Woodcut

Woodcut is, quite simply, a perfect, magnificent, triumphant, masterpiece. The band, as a whole, have produced something extraordinarily special here and I tip my hat to them. Bravo, Big Big Train, bravo! *****

Review by Neil Pudney

Albums of the Month (main index)