Any decent music? We review the reviews. You get the final word

Julien Baker & Torres  Send A Prayer My Way

As Julien Baker and Torres put on their cowboy hats for Send A Prayer My Way, something doesn’t connect Far Out

Julien Baker & Torres  Send A Prayer My Way

A heart-bursting record that underlines the power of unity in a fractured world. A must-listen Dork

Elton John & Brandi Carlile  Who Believes In Angels?

Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s team-up becomes more than an excuse for two friends to get together, and instead turns out to be a vital part of their discographies Spectrum Culture

Florist  Jellywish

Far from being the work of a troubadour speaking to the times, Jellywish strives for something more eternal Spectrum Culture

The Horrors  Night Life

The British post-punk aesthetes take a darker, more digital turn, but still serve up plenty of the fundamentals Spectrum Culture

Momma  Welcome To My Blue Sky

Momma’s songwriting is stronger and more confident, and the production is summer-ready, begging you to put the windows down and crank it up PopMatters

Julien Baker & Torres  Send A Prayer My Way

A resounding testament to resilience and tentative hope DIY

Julien Baker & Torres  Send A Prayer My Way

TORRES and Baker's music elevates our shared experience to a level of catharsis akin to sitting on the stoop, sharing a lone dart with a friend as the sun goes down on another long day Exclaim

Valerie June  Owls, Omens, and Oracles

American darling Valerie June’s sunny nature is woven into her M. Ward-produced Owls, Omens and Oracles, making listening an uplifting experience Spectrum Culture

Craig Finn  Always Been

Always Been is a collection of character-driven vignettes and occasional one-off detours that’s for the most part set to Springsteen-influenced heartland rock that’s lent verisimilitude and gravity by weaving in both Finn’s real life and his deeply familiar hang-ups surrounding faith and love into the proceedings Spectrum Culture

Black Country, New Road  Forever Howlong

While technically impressive, Forever Howlong most often comes off like music school playtime, effortful and failing to take root in the mind like the band’s earlier work Spectrum Culture

Julien Baker & Torres  Send A Prayer My Way

Indie singer-songwriters write their own stories into the genre on the excellent Send a Prayer My Way Rolling Stone

Julien Baker & Torres  Send A Prayer My Way

A gentle, spartan album overflowing with straight-forward songs and harmony vocals, which evoke Emmylou Harris as much as Margo. Print edition only Mojo

Julien Baker & Torres  Send A Prayer My Way

"Dirt" and gentle gut-wrencher "Showdown", on which Baker takes vocal lead, boast the same sparse, clear-eyed lyricism of her 2021 album Little Oblivions, while Scott's earthy alto is the perfect foil, whether campfire storyteller or wisecracking sidekick. Print edition only Uncut

Julien Baker & Torres  Send A Prayer My Way

In general, the album lacks defiant stories with cultural counter-punches. And aside from a few exceptions, Prayer lacks the riffs and big choruses needed for dependable airplay Northern Transmissions