Review: CD releases

Brian Fallon – Painkillers:It may be his first solo album since The Gaslight Anthem announced an indefinite hiatus last year, but it’s very much business as usual for the New Jersey rockers’ frontman Brian Fallon on Painkillers. Fallon’s distinctive gravelly vocals and heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics sound as sincere as ever, and while the punk edge of Gaslight’s early days has all but gone, the classic all-American songwriting influences of Springsteen and Petty have never been more apparent. The country-tinged rock of A Wonderful Life and Nobody Wins are the most memorable tracks on a consistently good album, the only dud note being the hackneyed stomp of Mojo Hand. Whether Painkillers gains Fallon any new fans remains to be seen, but followers of his old band will find it all reassuringly familiar. Daren francis

M Ward – More Rain: The Oregon singer-songwriter returns with an excellent eighth solo studio album. Inspired by the world’s ability to “process unending bad news on page one and then go about our lives the way the style section portrays us”, the album is a bundle of contradictions – opening with the captured sound of a rainstorm, but offering uplifting moments like You’re So Good To Me, closer I’m Going Higher and the “doo-wop sha-la-la-la” backing vocals on Little Baby. Guest musicians include k.d. lang and Neko Case, while ex-R.E.M. axeman Peter Buck adds to a heftier guitar sound than is typical of Ward’s work, most notably on Temptation and Time Won’t Wait – reminiscent of Richard Hawley’s psychedelic rock diversion on Standing At The Sky’s Edge. Tom White

Polica – United Crushers: Since 2011, Polica have been consistently making one of the best cases for synthetic beauty I’ve heard, but on their third record, United Crushers, the band are trusting more than ever to the power of Channy Leaneagh’s vocals. Yes, Ryan Olson’s production values are still there, but she’s punching through so much more, her clear, high voice knocking back the electronica. Summer Please has hints of Feist to it, Someway quivers and jitters, while Lately is yearning. There is an epic current to the record. Admittedly, nothing on it compares to their first single Dark Star, off Give You The Ghost (it is near perfection), and much is an extension of 2013 record, Shulamith, without much reinvention, but still, it’s hard to get enough of Polica. Ella Walker

Treetop Flyers –Palomino:It’s been three years since Treetop Flyers’ debut album, The Mountain Moves and on the face of it, Palomino is a very pleasant album. The band specialises in a brand of folk rock that keeps the mood and vigour of each genre, while bringing in harmonic elements from country music. Everything is well paced without being too raucous; it’s controlled enthusiasm and that in turn displays a welcome maturity in the band’s sound. The tempo keeps things exciting, while the vocal harmonies show off a synergy and quality that’s refreshing, and backed up by excellent guitar work. However, it doesn’t quite hit the mark as an LP. For all the warm, lilting sounds and smart, poetic lyrics, it’s not quite concise enough. It’s a slow burner, but it’s not a classic. Liam Sheasby

English Songs: Ben Johnson, soloist in tomorrow night’s Leeds Town Hall concert, is one of the most gifted English tenors to emerge in the past fifty years. Here he turns the clock back to the early 20th century when ballads by Edward Elgar, Eric Coates, Arthur Sullivan, Edward German, Vaughan Williams and Charles Villiers Stanford were much in vogue Mainly sentimental in content, such as Bird Song at Eventide, I heard you singing and Ah, moon of my delight, Johnson has that ability to float notes on air to create a world akin to German lieder. The disc is made doubly valuable by the impeccable piano accompaniment from the equally young, James Baillieu (Opus Arte OA CD9032D). David Denton