Band

Gorgeous fourth album from the subtlest band in Britain

Woad-caked, ultra-heavy rock from the West Country

The shoegazing revival starts here. Apparently

What a long strange trip it's been. Again

Life-affirming swan song from Carter Family matriarch

Those folky solo years of the late Face

Ex-Golden Rough mainman Walker is backed by a full band of buddies on his second solo album, Ashes & Wine, and sounds like someone snug in his own skin. Here he draws on his carpetbag of honky-tonk tricks ("Helpless Guy"), Stonesy strut ("Dissatisfaction"; "Letdown") and the rough-diamond rattle of early Son Volt ("Please Save Your Tears"). Walker's voice is equal parts whiskey and gravel—classic rawk and bottom-of-the-glass country-blues -somewhere between Jagger and Steve Earle. Expressive, literate and ballsy stuff.

Greatest hits from their major-label years

Limpid nocturnal longing on seventh album from shifting collective

Mesmerising chamber-metal ambience