W/e 10/01/25 - Gumshoes, Im a Monster, Roro, SAULT, The Rolling Stones

Well, we are certainly back with a bang, or a groan maybe.

Sault are our first winners of 2025 - liked, if not loved by nearly everyone. They also have the TOTW.

I Am Monster has already set a very low bar for the year, and is straight into our overall bottom 4 propped up by only (deep breath) Danny LH, Mozart Estate and J-Hus.

Justin kicks off 2025 with our 😀. Sam and Adam share the first ☹️. Sam had his lowest scores for over 18 months. Adam awarded his lowest set so far.

Erol dished out only his 2nd ‘1’ , the first being Kendrick - as Andy still gets the shivers about.

Sam on the other hand has now dished out 5, following his disgust for Alt J, Youngboy.., The Streets and Mr Hus.

The Rolling Stones were consistently enjoyed and sit mid table on the classics, alongside The Enemy and The Housemartins.

Happy new year!

Guy

Gumshoes – I was optimistic about this one as it was billed as ‘Indie Pop’ but it felt more like the soundtrack to a kids film. The subject matter (apparently a concept album about how different insects will feel about an impending Apocalypse or some such) is beyond nuts. Lots of the tunes are very ‘musical theatre’ which I hate. That said, the bloke is clearly a good musician as I think he plays all this himself, and Settle Down and Playing Pretend are decent with a bit of a Brilliant Corners sound to them. – 5.5

Im a Monster – Didn’t find anything in this one to get excited about. For Hip Hop it lacked any decent samples / tunes behind the rapping. The latter wasn’t particularly great either. – 4

Roro – The first Argentinian act we’ve reviewed I believe. I thought it was a bit of a mess. You could positively claim it was eclectic as an album but I’d say disjoined. The more house orientated bit were not of sufficiently high standard and lacked any catchy tunes – 4.7

SAULT – Got to be one of the most prolific bands we’ve reviewed. The quality of their output is always really high too. Once again this is a strong offering. Although I enjoyed it and it was by some margin the best album of the week, this sort of R&B / Soul music is not really my sweet spot otherwise it’d have scored higher – 7.5

TotW – Someone to Love You - SAULT

The Rolling Stones – Any Rolling Stones album is going to be positively received by me. This probably isn’t my favourite of theirs but is a great slice of blues rock. There’s some standout tracks and a dynamic feel to the whole album. Sounds like they had fun making it - 8

Andy

Gumshoes - Way to start the year with a bit of landfill indie. Basic and relentlessly smug 4

I'm A Monster - Poor man's Kendrick beats and homeless man's Kendrick bars 3

roro - I quite liked this, in an ultimately forgettable way, kept waiting for it to go all hyperpop. No surprise to see Spotify play a bit of Charli XCX when it ended 5

SAULT - They're reliable, whoever they are. This is a bit jazzier than I like but that might be reflective of the time of year these wacky lads decided to release it. I can very much see me revisiting by a pool with a nice cool drink in the summer 6.5

Totw - Signs by SAULT

Rolling Stones - Lovely bit of blues based rockin' and rollin' 7

Phil

Gumshoes 5.5

Reminded me of the Wombles. Catchy but pitched to an uncertain audience. Is that audience kids? Who knows. But the album has its charms. Little things is quite catchy. Alexandria is more thoughtful and less relentlessly cheesy than a lot of the other tracks. I think Sam Sparks is underselling himself here and is capable of something a bit weightier. Continuing in this vein isn’t likely to win him many more fans.

I'm a Monster 5

A thoroughly weird record. Frequently hard to make out the words which, for a rap album, seems rather self-defeating. It’s a pity because the beats and samples are quite inventive. You’re not a monster you’re just a bit weird.

Roro 2.5

The good news : this lasted for just 19 minutes. The bad news : it was borderline unlistenable. More like techno than straightforward rap and that gave the listener – me – even less than usual to engage with. In the words of the late Mark E Smith “Roll on, roll off!”

SAULT 7.5

SAULT are probably my favourite UK music act right now so any new music from them is great news. The first four tracks here, presented more or less as a suite, could, if one was being uncharitable, be described as background music but WHAT background music! There’s a smoothness, and effortlessness to all of their music and what in other artists’ hands would seem bland they make uplifting. The second half is more varied with the picks for me being The lesson is over and Signs.

TOTW – SAULT – The lesson is over

Rolling Stones 8

Although Let it bleed is my favourite Stones album, this comes a close second and is the one on which they become the definitive 70s rock’n’roll band. Without Exile on Main Street, there is no Black Crowes. It doesn’t all work – I personally hate Sweet Virginia, and Torn and frayed ain’t much better – but the opening one-two of Rocks off and Rip this joint are hard to beat and there are further gems throughout. Let me roll it, indeed.

Jim

Gumshoes 4

At best quirky but mostly too twee and saccharine. Blugghh

I Am Monster 3

Tuneless mumbling nonsense . The very rap opposite of Snoop's offering.

roro 7

Enjoyed this deep, dark techno with some Crystal Castle intensity. Shame it came to an end so soon.

Sault 6

Debut was a breath of fresh air, but I don't think they've maintained their USP so whilst pleasant this felt unremarkable and a tad light

TOTW roro: Expensive

The Rolling Stones 8.5

Not listened to this before and thought it was a terrific set of fun, blues rock tunes. Simple stuff done extremely well.

Simon

Gumshoes: couldn't get excited about this - jaunty enough in a Divine Comedy sort of way but I found it more irritating than anything else. 5

Im a Monster: no idea what this is supposed to be - the music sounds like it was knocked together in 5 minutes and who knows what he's mumbling on about. All a bit pointless if you ask me. 3

Roro: not much in the way of substance to this but the sludgy electroclash-style beats kept me moderately entertained for a while. 6

SAULT: like Guy, this isn't the sort of music that usually flicks my switch but enjoyed this more than expected, there's always something a bit different going on with this lot although I preferred the grittier Nine album that we reviewed a couple of years ago. 7

Rolling Stones: classic blast of bluesy rock n' roll from the Stones, although given its reputation it didn't wow me as much as I thought it might (that's probably more my bad than the album's). 7.5

TotW: SAULT - The Lesson Is Over

Erol

Gumshoes - it was quite fun at first but I got bored towards the end. Moderately entertaining from a musical perspective. 5.5

I’m a Monster - mumbling nonsense accompanied by someone learning to play a Bontempi. Painfully pointless. 1

Roro - some pretty decent murky techno beats kept me happily engaged throughout this surprisingly short listen. 6

Sault - enjoyable soul-jazz sounds but I can’t help feeling there was little new here, both in terms of their output and the genre more generally. 6.5

TOTW - Faux, Roro.

The Rolling Stones - what a belter. A cracking performance of blues and rock and roll, all rolled into an irresistible package. It’s remarkable that the boys from Dartford were able to pull off this Deep South vibe with such fizz; it’s even more remarkable that it still sounds so good some 50 years on. 9

Adam

Gumshoes

Going to borrow the ‘landfill indie’ (love this phrase) for this one. Not much love and album felt like once you’ve listened to one, you’ve done em all. 4

I’m a Monster

Couldn’t get into this drilly/rap album. Bit too jarring and missing the fun of my usual West Coast classics. Sure you’ll find the youth popping around to this or similar in Finsbury Park come summer. 3

Roro

Had my grumpy old man one with this one. I’m sure young uns will like this - both sonically and for their attention spans. But if this is the direction of electronic music I despair. 3

SAULT

Cool grooves on this one - silky smooth disco/electro/jazz and soul layered throughout. A saving grace amongst my grumpy view that the music world was coming to an end. Felt like it was going to go into a Maribou State/Elder Island direction from the starting track but didn’t get that dancy. 7

TOTW - I look for you - SAULT

Rolling Stones - nice shout on the classic. Never listened to this more bluesy work before. Inspired to go elsewhere in the back catalogues. 7

Mark

Gumshoes - the guy clearly has an ear for a tune and it wasn't all terrible but it was a bit Noah & The Whale / Divine Comedy twee - 5.5

I'm A Monster - dreary tuneless sludge, bleak and mercifully short - 3.5

Roro - I didn't mind this, some decent banging confrontational techno, pushing the envelope more than most dance acts these days - 6

Sault - more lovely gospel soul from the mysterious mavericks, obviously more suited to July than January but a most pleasant listen, beautiful lush production and gorgeous vocals - 7

TOTW - Someone To Love You by Sault

Annette

Gumshoes: 4.5

I'm a Monster: 3

Roro: 5.5

Sault: 7

TOTW: Sault - signs

The Rolling Stones: 7.5

Justin

Gumshoes - more twee than standard indie landfill although a few tracks had a bit of the wonderstuff about them and nothing unpleasant listening to the whole album 5.9

Im a monster - couldn't understand what he was saying. On the plus side no lazy samples and the background beats/sounds were definitely different. Actually listened a few times as found it all quite intriguing. 5.9

Roro - Enjoyed this. Banging techno rap. Moved along at a steady pace. Would enjoy live. 6.9

Sault.- all smooth, wafted over you as you listened. No standout tracks. 6.8

TOTW Expensive - Roro

The Rolling Stones - Not an album I have listened to before. Totally nails the blues rock sound 8

Matt

Gumshoes - I initially quite liked the Ben Folds Five quirkiness and there's a catchy likeable quality but that's not quite enough to sustain an album. 6.2

I'm a Monster - Are you now? Well I'm a grumpy fucker who just listened to your plink plonk mumbling so watch it. 3

roro - I love the fact I've just listened to Argentinian techno/house/rap referencing Blur. Hi energy enjoyment. 7.

Sault - a prodigious output, always interesting, always polished. Definitely a more jazzy feel but that ain't bad. I felt all grown up listening to it. 7.5

Totw - Signs, Sault

Sam

Gumshoes : Odd mix of clever lyrics and fun tunes and annoying twee nonsense: 6.

I’m a monster : no you are a mumbling talentless fool . Go away : 1

Roro : parts of this got me to shake my booty but it was patchy . 6

Sault : I don’t like jazz . Great voice but very much not my bag . 4

TOTW : was there one ? Ok Bugs Forever by Gum Shoes

Rolling Stones : jam packed with songs that could be hits . Loose, fun blues rock . Excellent. 8.4