DEA MATRONA, FOR YOUR SINS

Childhood friends, Orláith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn began busking on the streets of Belfast when they were teenagers. This led to playing in some local pubs and music venues. Along the way they began performing under the name Dea Matrona which translates to "divine mother goddess"in Celtic mythology. As their popularity grew so did anticipating for a debut album. And now it has finally arrived to great fanfare in their home city and country of Ireland. Over 12 catchy songs the duo get to showcase their talent for all to hear...and there is a lot to hear. With so many great moments, For Your Sins is a great listen all the way through.

VILLAGERS, THAT GOLDEN TIME

Conor O’Brien can do no wrong. Since his Mercury Prize-nominated debut Becoming the Jackal, O'Brien aka Villagers, has delivered one outstanding album after another. On his seventh release, That Golden Time, O’Brien explores the tension between romanticism and realism with a softer, more reflective approach. The songs feel unhurried and intimate, with delicate arrangements and poignant lyrics that linger long after they’re heard.

This is one of O’Brien’s most beautifully crafted albums, leaning into simplicity and emotional depth. Where past works pushed boundaries, That Golden Time draws inward, offering a quiet, understated album that reaffirms his brilliance as a songwriter. 

KINGS OF LEON, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE FUN

I remember so clearly the thrill of listening to Kings Of Leon's debut album, Youth and Young Manhood, way back in 2003. It was a hotrod of an album with songs that just exploded with energy, rawness, and swagger. Then the band started 'maturing.' I was with it through Because of the Times. Then the band lost me for a few albums and years. With 2013's Mechanical Bull, the band returned somewhat to their earlier form, but I had to finally acknowledge that this was who the band was now. Fast forward eleven years and three albums, and the band seems to have found a nice balance between what was and what is with their latest album Can We Please Have Fun. I've been enjoying it a lot and glad to see that Kings Of Leon still have some edge.