Kanye West

Albums of the week... Following 2011's massively successful collaborative album with Jay-Z 'Watch The Throne', Kanye West makes a return with a new solo effort entitled 'Yeezus'. He proves yet again that he is one serious hip-hop artist as he introduces a brand new edge to his sound that has not failed to engage his devoted fans with a number one spot on six charts including the US, the UK and Canada. As Joe Wilde summarises, 'This may be his best album to date and is probably his most discussed one too, but one thing it definitely is, is a Kanye West album and no-one can do anything quite like what he can do.' Read the Yeezus album review here. 

Another album that's gaining some serious attention is everyone's favourite Icelandic rock band Sigur Ros, whose seventh album 'Kveikur' has not left any disappointment in the wake of its highly anticipated release. Their sound remains familiarly ambient as on 2012 offering 'Valtari', though has definitely become noisier and a little darker. Our reviewer Jim Pusey had only good things to say, revealing, 'Despite all the darkness to be found here, Sigur Ros have managed to create one of their most compelling albums to date by embracing that darkness and quite literally shining a light on it.' Read the review of Kveikur here. 

Frankie & The Heartstrings have certainly not failed to impress this year with their second album 'The Days Run Away' which landed a UK chart spot - a major improvement on debut 'Hunger'. However, it seems they have stuck to their guns and kept up their own music formula without too much change in direction. According to our critic Dom Gourley, 'From the quintessentially English doo wop pop of opener 'I Still Follow You' through to the sensual semi-acoustic duet with Let's Buy Happiness chanteuse Sarah Hall ('Light That Breaks') that closes the album, 'The Days Run Away' represents a masterclass in patience and dexterity.' Read the review of The Days Run Away here.

Releasing his first solo album in seven years, Elton John reveals that he feels like he's starting again making records. 'I have to go back to go forward again', he muses in the trailer for his new record 'The Diving Board'. You'll have to wait until September 2013 for it but he gives us a little preview in the form of his nostalgic new track 'Home Again'. Watch the preview of The Diving Board here.

Duck Sauce 'It's You' Cover

A week in music videos... Maintaining their comic edge to some contrastingly serious dance beats, Duck Sauce will soon be unveiling their debut album 'Quack'. Last year saw them win an International Dance Music Award for their single 'Big Bad Wolf' and now they are looking at yet more recognition with another ridiculous but slightly disturbing music video for 'It's You'. Watch the video for It's You here.

If anyone's had a whirlwind of a career it's Imagine Dragons, whose debut album 'Night Visions' became a worldwide hit on its release in 2012 and has now been certified platinum. They recently performed an electric set at this year's Isle of Wight festival on the BT Infinity Big Top stage where they played their latest single 'Radioactive'. They are now confirmed to appear on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' on July 26th 2013. Watch the live video here.

Cattle & Cane received much praise from their EP 'Sold My Soul' and their single of the same name, and their handful of acoustic radio sessions have no doubt launched a growing fanbase. Now these four siblings release a similarly impressive summery single 'I Will Rise' with spine-tingling vocal harmonies that make them a breath of fresh air for the folk rock genre. Watch the video for I Will Rise here. 

Robyn and Snoop Dogg teamed up for the former's quirky new urban track 'U Should Know Better' from her highly-lauded mini-album 'Body Talk Pt. 2'. The video is even quirkier, and could be the first time you've ever seen Snoop in lipstick! Robyn says, 'Decida came along for a part of the European tour I was doing, we had dinner, drinks and laughs with Decida´s friend Pernilla and we were talking about how much Pernilla looks like Snoop. It was there and then that Decida and I decided to pursue our idea of making a video for 'U Should Know Better' where Snoop and I switch gender. All we needed to do was to find a 'little Robyn', a year later we did. Tyler came to a casting we held in London and I felt like we had found our guy right away. Even though 'U Should Know Better' was released a couple of years back on Body Talk Pt 2, I wanted to make this video now anyway because the song is still banging and we had too much fun with this video idea to just sit on it.' Watch the video for U Should Know Better here.

Glastonbury 2013

In the news... The Rolling Stones became the heart of Glastonbury 2013 as they made their debut at the UK's biggest music festival. It was definitely marked down as one of the best Glastonburys in history with more exuberant sets from the likes of David Bowie, Azealia Banks, Rita Ora and Nick Cave. Not gonna lie though; there wasn't a lot that could over-shadow the eternal Stones. Read the full story here.

The BET Awards saw Charlie Wilson, Nicki Minaj, Gabrielle Douglas and Jamie Foxx all bag impressive accolades. Charlie landed a coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, Minaj became overall Best Hip-Hop Artist, Olympian Gabrielle won yet more prizes with Sportswoman of the and the Young Stars Award and Jamie Foxx, of course, landed Best Actor notably for his landmark role in Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained'. Read the full story here.

Hard Rock Calling 2013 was another festival that exceeded already high expectations. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park venue was jam-packed with music fanatics desperate to see the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Kasabian and The Jam perform. The Boss was certainly the highlight performing with his E Street Band and playing the whole of his most-loved, diamond-certified album 'Born In The USA'. Read the full story here.