I have a friend who described The Kings Of Leon’s latest album as ‘different’ - but what does he know about music?

Only By The Night has to be one of the 00’s (noughties, as in 2000 - 2009) greatest albums - no exaggeration. It has been majestically written and produced by a band that constantly steps up to the plate to deliver quality records.

I am, admittedly, a huge fan - but that doesn’t add anything to my critique.

The first single from the album, Sex On Fire, really sets the tone for what you can expect from the other tracks e.g. energy, some times dark and altogether great, catchy music.

The album continues with Use Somebody which could easily be the next single.

It was supposed that the bands 2007 release Because Of The Times would see it at the peak of its powers - but I can’t help but feel that they are just starting to get into their groove now with Only By The Night.

This band can be as big as they want to be and it will only be the “settling down” mentality that will see it dwindle.

Key tracks:

• Absolutely all of them

Track Listing:

1. Closer
2. Crawl
3. Sex On Fire
4. Use Somebody
5. Manhattan
6. Revelry
7. Seventeen
8. Notion
9. I Want You
10. Be Somebody
11. Cold Desert

One year ago Lady Antebellum were signing their first record contract, Capitol Nashville. The band have just released their self titled debut album. It has entered the Billboard Country chart at number 1 and number 4 in the main chart - quite the achievement for the trio.

The album kicks off strongly with ‘Love Don’t Live Here’ and ‘Lookin’ For A Good Time’ - the latter being my favourite on the album as it is a fun song. ‘All We’d Ever Need’ takes the album into ’serious thought’ territory. It picks back up with ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is’ - another favourite on the record.

Overall - a good solid album which should have longevity.

Favourites: Lookin’ For A Good Time, Home Is Where The Heart Is, Love’s Lookin’ Good On You.

(3 votes, average: 4 out of 5)

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Track Listing

1. Love Don’t Live Here
2. Lookin’ For A Good Time
3. All We’d Ever Need
4. Long Gone
5. I Run To You
6. Love’s Looking Good On You
7. Home Is Where The Heart Is
8. Things People Say
9. Slow Down Sister
10. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
11. One Day You Will

Damien Rice picks up where he left off with his first album “0″ with 9. Just as much drama and thought is sewn into 9 that you feel anyone of its songs would have been comfortably at home on the “O” record. It’s just such a natural extension.

The orchestras are back and the edge that the violin has really helps to give this album the power that it needs and thrives on. It’s fair to point out that the album seems very pointed - as in directed to one mentality. I think this is one aspect of Damien’s writing that he has room to work with. His Irish counterpart Paddy Casey has a knack of producing positive lyrics. If Rice could take those lyrics and add his phenomenal ability for soft to powerful delivery then he would be a massive hit - not that he isn’t already but he is currently pigeon-holed in one bracket.

Solid album. Key tracks: 9 Crimes, Elephant, Me, My Yolk, and I and Grey Room

(5 votes, average: 4.4 out of 5)

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Track Listing

1. 9 Crimes
2. The Animals Were Gone
3. Elephant
4. Rootless Tree
5. Dogs
6. Coconut Skins
7. Me, My Yoke, and I
8. Grey Room
9. Accidental Babies
10. Sleep Don’t Weep

Its a bit dramatic to start a review of with : This album is brilliant - but it is. Yes it is a greatest hits compilation but I could list numerous “greatest hits” albums that have a maximum of 5 good songs. Keith Urban has drawn the best from his last 5 albums and put together a special line up of music - and no, I am not being paid to say this.

Favourites: Romeo’s Tune, Got It Right This Time, Better Life, Your My Better Half

Some die-hard country fans may discard the album as not being country and they may have a point. Its definitely not fully POP - so I am slotting this one in as POP/Country - hows that for slipping out of a sticky situation.

If you want pop country - this is your album.

(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Track Listing

1. Romeo’s Tune
2. Got It Right This Time
3. I Told You So
4. Stupid Boy
5. Better Life
6. Making Memories Of Us
7. Once In A Lifetime
8. Tonight I Wanna Cry
9. You’re My Better Half
10. Days Go By
11. But For The Grace Of God
12. You’ll Think Of Me
13. Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me
14. Raining On Sunday
15. Where The Blacktop Ends
16. Your Everything
17. Somebody Like You
18. Everybody

The Cost is the first Frames album to be released on a full distribution cycle through a record company.

The first song to hit you is Falling Slowly. The song floats relentlessly and is a beautifully written Frames classic. To understand the band is to understand this song. It stands with Red Chord and Fitzcarraldo as one of the best. From here the album drifts into melodrama. “True” starts slow and develops into a powerful song. The title song “The Cost” delivers a message but fails in its impact as the tune doesn’t kick enough - something that the Frames can be blamed for but then maybe I am forgetting the type of music these guys create.

Often times the band partially deliver on their albums and save their energy for the stage. Live, this band are hard to beat and play with great energy - empowering the crowd to react in similar gusto.

This is a solid album for the Folk/Rock lovers.

(7 votes, average: 3.14 out of 5)

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Track Listing

1. Song For Someone
2. Falling Slowly
3. People Get Ready
4. Rise
5. When Your Mind’s Made Up
6. Sad Songs
7. The Cost
8. True
9. The Side You Never Get To See
10. Bad Bone