Republic 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: It should take about two seconds to realise, if you didn't already know, that Eddie Vedder is the voice of Pearl Jam, one of the finest rock bands to come out of the US in the late stages of the 20th Century, and one of the outfit's four (yes, four) guitarists. Ranked by none other than Rolling Stone magazine as the seventh finest lead singer of all time, it's safe to say he's the kind of pedigree you want to venture out as a soloist.

Now four albums in his own name deep, Earthling may not be rewriting any rule books or pushing boundaries and our perception of what's possible, but it is an incredibly well conceived and executed heavy rock 'n' roll album, showcasing a man with seemingly infinite creative energy, here unleashing a combination of heartfelt alt, breakneck garage-grunge, and searing big room stuff that you'll struggle to forget after hearing just once. Songwriting and guitar work at their finest.

Review: Conan Gray has spoken openly about the catalyst for Found Heaven - an ill-fated toe-step into the murky world of relationships and, then, love, followed by painful heartbreak. The American singer-songwriter was still processing the fallout when the first promo interviews for this record hit the presses. That he says the trauma was worth it speaks volumes about who he is, and the mindset that feeds into his music. It might also be due to the fact Found Heaven is a glorious beast. A thoughtful curveball thrown by a man whose reputation for melancholia is well-known, this is almost like the musical version of what happens to us all after an intense emotional experience - transformation. So, think power balladry, synth-soaked anthems and a kind of 1980s nostalgic experimentation. It's weird and wonderful.