Liverpool Arts: Spector – Enjoy It While It Lasts

SPECTOR'S debut album Enjoy It While It Lasts will take the east London quintet (Christopher Burman, Fred Macpherson, Thomas Shickle, Jed Cullen and Danny Blandy) beyond comparisons to The Strokes, The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs. There are clearly nods to their indie peers, with pompous choruses and geek-chic attire, but unexpected touches, more reminiscent of seventies glam-rockers Roxy Music and eighties' New Romantic acts, help the hotly tipped band break the mould. First single Never Fade Away sets the tone with its sharp synths, playful percussive clapping and Macpherson's broad delivery.

Tracks such as Chevy Thunder and Celestine introduce a Bruce Springsteen machismo to the record. With songs like these, Spector should see themselves climbing up festival line-ups in the year ahead.

Rating: HHH

Arcane Roots – Left Fire

ARCANE Roots first sparked interest with a reinvented, modernised cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit after being asked to feature on Kerrang! Magazine's Nevermind Forever covers album while unsigned. Andrew Groves, Adam Burton and Daryl Atkins' progressive approach to the Nirvana classic is an insight into the experimental ability of the up-and-coming band.

The Surrey-based trio uniquely blend several genres into one, proving to be a sensational combination of rock, pop and metal, with harmonising vocals and intense guitar riffs that are immensely heightened in their live performances. You Are, Rouen and In This Town Of Such Weather are stand-out tracks.

Rating: HHHH

Of Monsters And Men – My Head Is An Animal

HAILING from the bastion of artistic endeavour that is Iceland, Of Monsters And Men are the new indie darlings, gathering momentum and garnering global acclaim with their debut album. My Head Is An Animal is a cheery-sounding collection, with catchy singles such as Dirty Paws and Little Talks. Despite comparisons to US band Anathallo and London group Fanfarlo, the raw talent from the six-piece – members include Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir, Ragnar Thorhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson, Arnar Rosenkranz Hilmarsson, Arni Gudjonsson and Kristjan Pall Kristjansson – for infectious, organic songwriting is clear. They just need to be given the time to develop and find their niche.

Rating: HHH

Roxy Music – The Complete Studio Recordings 1972-1982

FRONTED by Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music are one of the finest bands this country has produced, beginning as a blistering art-rock combo with a taste for the avant-garde, thanks to the presence of synthesiser Brian Eno.

Their back catalogue is to be admired greatly, with only the odd exception here and there. But there is nothing this package contains that could convince Roxy Music die-hards to part with their money again. The two discs of singles and B-sides are padded out to the extreme – many tracks are duplicated with only minor differences and the remastering of each studio album adds little to the original mixes. This re-release doesn't get the effort it so rightly deserves, but is a must-have for any loyal collectors.

Rating: HHHHH