David Bowie's Blackstar album: 'An unexpected left turn that deepens the mystery' – first-listen review
Alexis Petridis
Blackstar doesn’t carry quite the same element of surprise as The Next Day – but it is the sound of an unknowable artist steadfastly ignoring his own past
Ryan Adams's take on Taylor Swift's 1989 – first listen track-by-track review
The indie troubadour has covered the blockbusting album in its entirety, stripping out most of the zip and sparkle that made it alluring in the first place
Prince – HITNRUN Phase One first listen review: 'His most experimental and shapeshifting album in years'
Prince inhabits familiar characters, from sensualist to dreamer to campaigner and even humorist. Could this be the enduring classic we’ve been waiting for?
Dr Dre – Compton first listen review: 'This is not someone coasting on reputation'
Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr Dre has been delayed for so long even hardcore fans might have had doubts. But it’s a stunning comeback that cements the rapper’s place in history
