Ten albums you cannot miss this month – September 2013

Arctic Monkeys – AM

The long-awaited fifth studio album by the English indie rock band not only lives up to the band’s previous work, but also it completely obliterates it. With beautiful falsetto vocals and the unique lyrics that only front man Alex Turner could provide (“I wanna be your vacuum cleaner, breathing in your dust.”), this is the most talked about album of the month.

Ariana Grande – Yours Truly

Constantly hailed as this generation’s answer to Mariah Carey, Grande’s debut provides all of the sleek production and delicate vocals that featured on the record’s lead single The Way, released to much acclaim earlier this year. Ariana plays it safe from start to finish – clearly wanting to maintain her young fanbase – so the record can sometimes feel boring and forced. However, despite its lack of experimentation, Yours Truly is a solid first shot from the 90’s loving teeny-bopper, leaving a lot more to be explored on further releases.

Kings of Leon – Mechanical Bull

Grammy award-winning American rock band Kings of Leon deliver yet again, in their sixth release since their debut in 2003. Mechanical Bull provides us with the kind of hard rock popularised in the 80s, balanced out with the jazzy funk found in the 70s (in this case slightly beaten to the punch by Daft Punk’s Get Lucky earlier this year). Irresistible and entrancing, Kings of Leon rarely venture from their past releases – but then again, why would we want them to?

The 1975 – The 1975

Manchester-based alternative rock band The 1975 carry on providing us with the mellow, stripped down tracks that we already know and love them for. Despite its lengthy track list (16 tracks), its grip on the listener never loosens. With infectious R&B beats and sleek guitar riffs, it’s not hard to see why the band beat out veteran rock band Nine Inch Nails to the No. 1 spot this week.

Kodaline – In a Perfect World

Irish indie-rock quarter Kodaline’s debut is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Filled with uplifting melodies and hard-hitting choruses, In a Perfect World is everything we want it to be.

Filled with tear-jerking moments and killer hooks, Kodaline’s debut is emotional and fun, despite sometimes feeling lacking of original ideas.

Tom Odell – Long Way Down

Mop-haired heart-throb Tom Odell delivers with an album full of romance and piano ballads. Winner of this year’s Critics Choice Award, Odell lives up to the hype, but never quite seems to surprise us. Elton John’s influence is obvious on this record, with emotion pulsating through every track. With lead single Another Love soaring high on the charts, Tom Odell is a name to look out for this year.

Nine Inch Nails – Hesitation Marks

American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails return with their first album in five years, returning with a slightly more reserved and smooth edge than previous releases. With its techno beats and grinding production, Hesitation Marks is firmly rooted in the now, rarely taking influence from past decades. Another bonus is the band’s decision to release four separate album covers, allowing fans to use the artwork they like best.

Janelle Monáe – The Electric Lady

Most famous for her feature on Fun.’s smash single We Are Young last year, the American soul singer’s second effort is a burst of different genres and experimentation. With a feature from the legendary Prince and Grammy Award-winning Esperanza Spalding, Monáe’s sophomore release is an R&B based force to be reckoned with. 

Goldfrapp – Tales of Us

The English electronic music duo’s sixth album is just as out-of-the-box as ever, ranging from haunting ballads and delicate piano figures. Experimental throughout, the listener is enticed from start to finish and is taken on a whirlwind journey through the duo’s back catalogue. Featuring lead singer Alison Goldfrapp’s sensual, breathy vocals, the album somehow makes a method to the madness, and finishes up as a solid record fit for even the most conservative music lover.

Katie Melua – Ketevan

Set for release on the singer’s birthday – 16^th September – Ketevan, Melua’s sixth studio album, is just as enchanting as ever. Filled with the mature lyrics that were missing on past releases, the Closest Thing To Crazy singer tries a mellow approach to much success. Ketevan is the kind of album played in chilled-out coffee shops throughout the land, and any bluesy-rock fans should grab their copy while they still can.

Jack Whitfield