New releases last eight weeks: Pop

Review: A live concert recording of the penultimate date on Kate Bush's first and only ever tour: The Tour of Life. As part of this run, Bush performed three nights on the trot at the Hammersmith Odeon in West London and the middle date was broadcast, thus immortalising one of the most innovative shows of that era or any era since. Hot off the heels of the release of her debut album The Kick Inside and the follow up Lionheart - both released in 1978 - the setlist draws heavily from said albums and she turned the songs from those albums into a visual spectacle. The full-blown theatrical appearance came at a time when Bush was the most photographed woman in Britain and had a megahit in the shape of her debut single 'Wuthering Heights' and soAit's a truly defining era that's on record. Kate Bush's mystique and a goddess-like aura may have been nurtured through her emphasis on visual art and theatre but delving into the music alone and drawing your own pictures to go with it, aided by her mesmerizing voice, is equally enthralling.

Review: On her ambitious ninth album, American pop queen Miley Cyrus delivers a genre-spanning collection that highlights her desire to constantly evolve and challenge convention. Something Beautiful blends soulful ballads, shimmering 80s pop and dancefloor-ready anthems, all pop which are anchored by her unmistakable, raspy vocals. From the emotionally rich title track to the high-energy sparkle of 'Every Girl You've Ever Loved,' the album brims with dynamic songwriting and bold sonic choices. While its conceptual aspirations sometimes feel abstract, the music is polished, confident and often euphoric. With strong collaborations, vivid production and a clear love for performance, the record reaffirms Cyrus as a fearless pop innovator exploring new emotional terrain.

Review: Who can forget Maneskin's triumph for rock on the Eurovision stage as they brought the win for Italy in 2021? In Damiano David, the Italian band have a natural born frontman who is now having his Harry Styles moment and stepping out on his own and forging a distinctive solo career to rival the day job. Despite being labelled a glam rock outfit, Maneskin's pop element always shone brightly and so for his debut solo album David has tapped more heavily into that side of his. David's embraced co-writes and in terms of the production he has thrown the kitchen sink at it to get a massive sound. 'The First Time' has more hooks than a fisherman's tackle box and a sweeping epic Sprinsteen-esque feel. Another highlight 'Next Summer', lets David's vocals star, but the arrangement is unexpectedly massive. Despite its sparse beginning it turns into an orchestral showstopper indicative of the seemingly vast resources the label have had to craft this beauty.

Review: Cosmic disco and spaced out Brit funk and pop fusion outfit Jamiroquai celebrates 20 years of their landmark Dynamite with a new limited edition reissue of what was their sixth studio album. Originally released in 2005, the album fused their signature funk, disco and electronic flair into smash radio hits like 'Feels Just Like It Should,' 'Seven Days in Sunny June' and '(Don't) Give Hate a Chance.' This anniversary edition comes pressed on exclusive coloured vinyl and also included is a replica promo CD sampler featuring pre-release single versions, an extended mix of the title track, and 'Black Devil Car.'

Review: Lady Gaga's latest album is as bold, chaotic and emotionally charged as you would expect of the singular artist as she returns to her pop roots. Blending electro-grunge with theatrical flair, Gaga embraces fame and identity across 14 tracks that span snarling anthems like 'Perfect Celebrity' to raw love songs like 'Blade of Grass.' Along the way are nods to Bowie, Nine Inch Nails and disco, which all bring many layers of intrigue next to the vulnerability and bombast of the vocals. To that point, Gaga's voice shapeshifts from snarling to purring to belting as she examines fame's toll and personal transformation. Though maximalist to the core, MAYHEM never loses its heart and is messy, loud, and thrilling proof Gaga is still defining pop on her own terms.

Review: Here, celebrating its 40th anniversary, Level 42's World Machine returns with a special reissue of the 1985 album that launched them to global fame. Departing from their jam-based roots, the band embraced a more structured songwriting process and also set to work producing the album themselves with engineer Julian Mendelsohn. The result was a polished, pop-funk breakthrough led by the hit single 'Something About You' which of course became a Top 10 hit worldwide, including in the U.S. Follow-up singles like the emotive 'Leaving Me Now' and the infectious "'World Machine' cemented the album's success and helped mark a major turning point in the band's career and 80s pop history.

Review: Addison Rae's debut album has been long-awaited by fans and is finally here via Columbia Records and marking the bold step into full-fledged pop stardom many have expected for a while. Featuring previous fan-favourite singles like 'Diet Pepsi,' 'Aquamarine' and 'High Fashion,' the album showcases Rae's evolution from viral sensation to polished pop artist. It was co-written and produced with Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjard, and pairs bright, glossy production with playful, high-glam energy that is sure to cut through all summer long from festal stages to car radios. The latest single 'Headphones On' embodies the album's confident tone - it's fun, flirty and unmistakably self-assured. A surprisingly self-aware debut full of chart-ready appeal.

Review: British singer-songwriter Shura has spent some serious time, effort and thought on I Got Too Sad For My Friends. Six years, in fact. During that period, she's clearly learned at lot about life, love, loss, and whatever other L-word you can think of that means 'maturity' to those in the know. The result is a spectacularly accomplished collection that reveals an artist at their creative peak. To date, anyway. Cornerstone of the record, and the very first single, is 'Recognise', and this is perhaps the strongest case in point. From whispy and whispered opening, through full, cacophonous bloom, it's a track that keeps us in a beautiful dark until its monumental, joyful reveal. Elsewhere, 'Ringpull' and 'The World's Worst Girlfriend' betray a clear penchant for classic 1980s pop, while the likes of 'Online' seem to float in on a serene cloud of gentile pianos and hovering strings.

Review: To mark its 30th anniversary, Take That's iconic 1995 album Nobody Else gets the deluxe treatment with its first-ever vinyl release. Packed with beloved pop-hits of the era like 'Sure,' 'Back for Good' and 'Never Forget,' this reissue brings new life to a classic 90s gem by including exclusive extras such as the rare Japanese bonus track 'All That Matters to Me,' electrifying live recordings from the 1995 Nobody Else Tour, and a brand-new remix of 'Hanging Onto Your Love' by Howard Donald, who later went on to DJ in his own right. It makes for a nostalgic yet updated celebration of a defining era in British pop.

Review: Not all Record Store Day releases are created equal, and if you ask us, this is one of the best ever: Golden is a limited-edition gold vinyl compilation featuring all of The Wombles' singles, remastered and presented in chronological order. Originally released in 2024, this version celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Wombles' 1974 UK chart success and includes hits like 'The Wombling Song' and 'Remember You're A Womble' alongside rather more rare tracks such as 'Wombling USA.' The group was a total pop phenomenon in the 1970s and enjoyed chart-topping success with three songs in the UK charts simultaneously in 1974. This nostalgic pressing is a great reminder of those magical times.

Review: US coutntry rockers The Wreckers - or Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp - were only around for three years, but in that time they did manage to chalk up a couple of massive singles, 'Leave The Pieces' and 'My, Oh My', as well as this album, which went on to sell in excess of 850,000 copies after it emerged in May 2006. Harp has gone on to have success as a solo artist, but the updated country sound and close harmony simplicity of this album, now reissued, is yet to be eclipsed by either.