Music Reviews

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  Guess who’s back: Slim Shady still has the power to disgust, but the inspiration seems tired

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  Short and sweet… Kasabian’s seventh chart-topping album marks a daring new chapter

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  John Meagher

  Arcade Fire at Malahide Castle: Power and mystery of Funeral on full display in rousing performance

• Barry Egan

  Kings of Leon at Marlay Park: Royal reception from 25,000 fans mesmerised by ecstatic set

  

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  Hozier review: The rain did little to hinder the atmosphere as the skilled musician cycled through the hits

  

• Review Magazine

  Poetry and poverty sit side by side in A Lazarus Soul album that will snare any listener

  

• 3Arena

  Stevie Nicks gig review: An ethereal evening of storytelling, capes and nostalgia

  

• Barry Egan

  Leo Varadkar gives the good word: ‘It’s a great weekend for Dublin: we’ve got Pride and Taylor Swift’

  

• Taylor Swift

  ‘A gig for the ages and one that will enter Irish live music lore’ – A music critic and his 12-year-old daughter review Taylor Swift at the Aviva Stadium

  

• John Meagher

  Forgotten Paul McCartney and Wings sessions reveal a band finding their feet and having fun

  

• 3Arena

  Review: Nice one, sorted, as Liam Gallagher on top form for Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary concert

  

• Latest News Ticker

  Gig review: Take That deliver mighty Malahide Castle show with all of the hits on display

  

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  Pink at Aviva: Aerial displays are breath-taking but it’s the anthems that have Dublin crowd eating out of her hand

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  Gig review: CMAT’s sold-out career highlight makes for the ultimate party

• John Meagher

  James Vincent McMorrow engages with songs that crave simple pleasures and pose big questions

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  Barry Egan: All killer no filler as Las Vegas’s finest lift the roof at the 3Arena in Dublin

• Gig review: Ethel Cain more than able for sold-out Dublin set despite feeling under the weather

• John Meagher

  Neil Finn is reborn after stint with Fleetwood Mac to deliver best Crowded House album in years

• Review Magazine

  Albums to hear this week: Niamh Regan packs a confessional punch while Paul Weller grows old gracefully

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  Barry Egan review: Girls Aloud give the crowd exactly what they want, hit after hit with nothing but brilliance

• John Meagher

  Kings of Leon turn to Harry Styles’ ­producer to rekindle a sense of fun

• Bruce Springsteen

  Bruce Springsteen review: Epic show puts all retirement chatter to rest on first night of European tour

• Taylor Swift

  Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department review: fans going to Dublin gigs have a new wealth of riches to look forward to

• Review Magazine

  Eddie Vedder claims Pearl Jam’s new album is their best yet — and it’s certainly their strongest since the 1990s

• Vampire Weekend’s dizzying love letter to New York serves plenty of surprises

• John Meagher

  Albums of the week: Kacey Musgraves plays it safe with a stripped-back sound while Ariana Grande delivers bangers aplenty

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  Inside Nirvana’s last ever show: Kurt Cobain, power outages and a prophetic declaration about the band’s end

• Barry Egan: Lyra brings dance music salvation to adoring fans in Dublin’s 3Olympia

• John Meagher

  Idles break new ground on big, bold and brash new album Tangk

• John Meagher

  Vultures 1 review: Kanye’s talents appear to be spent as we hear more verbal diarrhoea from a man with little to say

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  Super Bowl 2024 review: Usher can flex his comeback, but it was really the Taylor Swift show

• John Meagher

  Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes hits it out of the park with her second album What Now