ALBUM REVIEW

All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade

Of Monsters and Men

After their electro-pop LP Fever Dream, OMAM explore cinematic folk rock, but fail to find real inspiration.

By David Rea

11 October 2025

Album cover of All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade by Of Monsters and Men.

THE WEEKLY MIX

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’ONE TO WATCH’ INTERVIEW

Singer-songwriter Sarah McQuaid sitting cross-legged on the floor holding a fern leaf.

Sarah McQuaid: ‘I’d call out song requests to mum’

The singer-songwriter on her musical childhood, listening to the Beatles on her Mickey Mouse turntable and how her mother's death sent her in a new creative direction.

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INTERVIEW

Singer-songwriter Emma Swift in a red dress surrounded by falling flowers.

Emma Swift: An analogue baby in a digital dream

Since her last album, Emma Swift has been to hell and back. She told us about her breakdown and the stunning album which came out of it.

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ESSAY

Mother nature's son's: How the Beatles regenerated after the split

It's a long journey home from the end of the 1960s. Around the time of the break up, Lennon, McCartney and Harrison moved closer to the countryside. David Rea looks at how their new homes impacted their album artwork and wonders how far they influenced their solo music.

LYRIC OF THE WEEK

‘Happiness comes and goes like buses’

Read our review of Shapes Like People's album here

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PLAYLIST

Secret Friends: the September collection

Your portal to the best new music. This month: Shapes Like People, Sarah McQuaid & Paul Garside

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LIVE REVIEW REWIND

Robyn Hitchcock: Transcendence in London

One year on, revisit our review of Hitchcock’s transcendent live show.

FEATURES

Interviews, opinions, rankings, playlists

THE BIG IDEA

TAYLOR’S VERSION

How Taylor Swift can save the music industry

With the imminent release of her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift is poised to become bigger than ever. Meanwhile the music industry is in existential crisis. But can all-conquering Miss Americana do something about it?

Words by David Rea

27 September 2025

Taylor Swift live on stage looking left and holding her hand out.

Born to Run: Could Springsteen run for president in 2028?

THE BIG IDEA

In the era of the celebrity politician, does Springsteen have the backstory, brand and star power to run for president?

PLAYLIST

A playlist curated by Sleaford Mods

At nearly 16 hours long, the collection includes singer-songwriters, 1960s British folk, ska, New York punk, Billy Nomates, Grace Jones, Cate Le Bon and David Bowie.

THE ‘ONE TO WATCH’ INTERVIEW

Sarah McQuaid: ‘I’d call out song requests to my mum in the next room’

The singer-songwriter on her musical childhood, listening to the Beatles on her Mickey Mouse turntable and how her mother's death sent her in a new creative direction.

Questions by David Rea

11 October 2025

Chrome

PLAYLIST

The October Collection

By David Rea

4 October 2025

MORE FEATURES

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Something for the weekend?

Wake up every Saturday morning to a new issue of State of Sound!

NEWS

All the latest from the world of music and beyond

NEWS

Sleaford Mods release new single, ‘Megaton’, and announce 2026 UK tour

Listen to the new track and see the tour dates here.

NEWS

David Byrne shares wedding playlist

Talking Heads founding member, David Byrne has shared his wedding playlist. Listen to it here.

Bruce Springsteen announces release of new box set

NEWS

Listen to a ‘punk rockabilly’ outtake of one of Springsteen's most famous songs here.

ESSAYS

Cultural connections, historical perspectives

‘The sixties are our heritage’: how the Jam invented Britpop’s ethos

ESSAY

Critics couldn't take the Jam seriously at first, claiming they were just a bunch of gimmicks. But their ‘hail your heroes’ ethos was entirely authentic, setting the blueprint for Britpop two decades later.

by David Rea

20 September 2025

Members of the rock band The Jam (Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler) drinking tea in a café.

Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney in Scotland looking into the distance with a dog,

ESSAY

How the Beatles regenerated after the split

Around the time of the break up, Lennon, McCartney and Harrison moved closer to the countryside. We look at how their new homes impacted their album artwork and wonder how far they influenced their solo music.

COMING SOON

ESSAY

The great myths about the Kinks’ masterpiece

It has long been seen as an album out of time, but it says far more about the late 1960s than we think.

REVIEWS

Independent opinion, informed criticism

ALBUM REVIEW

All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade

Of Monsters and Men

After their electro-pop LP Fever Dream, OMAM explore cinematic folk rock, but fail to find real inspiration.

Words: David Rea

4 October 2025

ALBUM OF THE MONTH

Emerge, Return

The Bookshop Band

When Pete Townsend got in touch with the Ivor Novello-nominated duo, it seemed certain something special was about to happen.

Words: David Rea

4 October 2025

Definitely Maybe, 30th anniversary review

ALBUM REVIEW REWIND

As the Oasis reunion tour continues, revisit our 30th anniversary review of Definitely Maybe.

ALBUM REVIEW

Ticking Haze

Shapes Like People

Carl Mann has a rare gift for a harmony-sweetened pop hook and his partner, Kat, a warm, ethereal voice. This is us, the album says, this is a document of our journey through the middle of our lives.

MORE REVIEWS

PLAYLISTS

Lovingly curated song collections

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A playlist curated by Sleaford Mods

From Davy Graham to David Bowie

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Britpop Acoustic

From the Jam’s ‘Fly’ to Doves’ ‘M62 Song’

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Leonard Cohen's deep cuts

From ‘Teachers’ to ‘Darkness’

REGULARS

Series about the music that matters

COMING SOON

HOW THEY WROTE THE SONG

YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE, CANDI STATON

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COMING SOON

MAKING A MASTERPIECE

THE STONE ROSES

COMING SOON

LIFE-CHANGING ALBUMS

RATTLE AND HUM, U2

THE WEEKLY MIX

FEATURES

Something for the weekend?

NEWS

ESSAYS

‘The sixties are our heritage’: how the Jam invented Britpop’s ethos

REVIEWS

PLAYLISTS

REGULARS

MOST POPULAR

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