SNOW PATROL- "A HUNDRED MILLION SUNS".

Without a doubt the one noticeable difference between ‘AHMS’ and Snow Patrol’s previous releases is that singer Gary Lightbody appears to have found his ‘happy place’. His lonely tales of unrequited love and empty nights spent watching traffic have been replaced by sickly sweet stories about his love for his city, his lady, and, well, everything.

Unfortunately, they were far more exciting when they were miserable.

Still, ‘…Suns’ isn’t bad, it’s…nice. ‘Nice’ meaning agreeable but somewhat unremarkable. Another thing you notice about it, however, is its inconsistency. For every dull, samey track there’s a truly tender one, or, failing that, a lively, joyous moment, more reminiscent of ‘Spitting Games’ from breakthrough album ‘Final Straw’.

‘Crack The Shutters’ and ‘Take Back The City’ are ‘AHMS’ most upbeat, content songs; the former finding Lightbody in a private, intimate moment (“Your hills and valleys/ are mapped by my intrepid fingers”). ‘Set Down Your Glass’ and ‘The Planets Bend Between Us’ keep any die-hard ‘Chasing Cars’ fan happy, with their dainty guitars and simple but beautiful lyrics: ‘Your freezing speech bubbles/ seem to hold your words aloft’.

This record isn’t dreadful, just different. It seems the band’s optimism takes some getting used to.

BLOC PARTY- "INTIMACY"

What with Radiohead’s controversial ‘pay what-you-like’ release of ‘In Rainbows’, and now Bloc Party following in their footsteps with a download-only version of third album ‘Intimacy’, these days it seems that when it comes to releasing a new record, unconventional is the new conventional.

The physical release of ‘Intimacy’, coming almost 2 months after the download, has the added bonus of new single ‘Talons’, which, with its impossibly catchy chorus of ‘And when it comes it will feel like a kiss’ makes you want to dance around with your arms around the people you love.

When it comes down to it, ‘Intimacy’ is an incredibly personal break-up album, which, at times, is so poignant and open that it’s almost unbearable. ‘Zephyrus’, with its delicate and honest chorus, is ’Intimacy’s saddest moment but possibly the best thing Bloc Party have made since ‘Banquet’.

Other album highlights include ‘Mercury’, which is both a vibrant and triumphant start to the album, the calm ‘Signs’; a haunting, subtle love song, ‘Better Than Heaven’ which is 2008’s ‘This Modern Love’, and the desperately strong ‘One Month Off’.

Throughout, this album is indeed intimate, involving and beautiful, but it’s a heartbreaking journey all the way.

KINGS OF LEON: "ONLY BY THE NIGHT".

Lets start by pointing out a slightly obvious, but nonetheless important fact: Kings Of leon are an incredible band, and one of a very select few who have grown quietly (almost silently) massive. In the UK, at least. America is still yet to appreciate the Followill's remarkable talent. Just wait until they hear this.

Their fourth album has taken the band in two opposite directions simultaneously. On one hand, 'Only By The Night' is noticeably more stripped-down and minimal than their previous three albums, none more so than on album closer 'Cold Desert', which includes the heartbreakingly honest line 'I never ever cried when I was feeling down/I've always been scared of the sound'. On the other hand, however, this album is, quite frankly, huge.

First single 'Sex On Fire' is, as you'll undoubtedly already know, a fabulous rock 'n' roll party tune, but it's not the only one. '17', 'Crawl' and 'Notion' all have the same 'magic formula' as said single, making it impossible to not sing along and shuffle your feet a little. It is, however, the softer tracks that really stand out. 'Revelry', 'I Want You' and the aforementioned 'Cold Desert' all, despite Caleb's confident vocals, emphasise their vulnerability, and it's fascinating to hear.

This album will make Kings Of Leon huge. The only problems their fans may have is sharing their heroes with the rest of the world.