Features

When Blackout arrived in October 2007, it felt less like an album release and more like a cultural reset. Britney Spears – the most photographed woman in the world, trapped in an aggressive media cycle – walked into one of the most turbulent years of her life and somehow delivered a record so forward-thinking that…

A new artist to the AU, Georgia Scarlett steps forward today with the publishing of her debut album, Rhythm of Life, a tender, time-shaped journey through heartbreak, healing and self-discovery. The Meanjin/Brisbane singer-songwriter leans into country-pop and folk storytelling to chart an emotional landscape shaped by change, resilience and the quiet clarity that comes with…

Twenty-five years after its release, the Spice Girls’ third album Forever has returned to turntables with a celebratory anniversary vinyl edition – an event that has inspired a wave of reassessment from fans and critics alike. It’s fitting that this reissue has sparked renewed conversation as Forever has long lived in the shadow of its…

Earlier this week we kicked off our first ever count down of the Best Australian Albums of All Time. And today we reveal the top 20 as voted by the AU review’s contributors. With a broad diversity of ages in our contributor base, this list of 40 albums reflects that. Covering multiple generations of Australian…

With Australian Music Month upon us, and the ARIAs taking place tomorrow, we thought it would be the perfect time to delve into our contributor’s favourite Australian albums of all time. It’s the first time we’ve ever put a list like this together on the AU. With a broad diversity of ages in our contributor…

With the highly anticipated Oasis Australian tour starting today, and massive tours like Lady Gaga on the horizon, we wanted to look back at the last few months of Summer touring in the northern hemisphere and talk about the tours that have impressed us the most. This list only reflects the shows that our team…

Emo icons The Used head into the final week of the Aussie leg of their massive 25th anniversary tour. It’s been a true throwback run, with the band performing their first three albums in full – one each night, in each city. Dates sold out fast, venues were upgraded, and new shows were added, and…

2025 marks ten wonderfully wild years of Beyond The Valley, and its showing no signs of slowing down. Once again, it’ll be taking over the beautiful Barunah Plains on Wadawurrung Country from 28 December – 1 January. This year’s lineup may be one of the most genre-bending yet, with headliners Dom Dolla, Addison Rae, Kid…

Brisbane/Meanjin’s Call the Mourning recently dropped single “Break“, an angsty musing on obsession and the last release ahead of their upcoming EP. Today we’re excited to be premiering the accompanying music video exclusively here on The AU Review. Call the Mourning consists of Constance Grafos (vocals/guitar), Dominic Willimott (drums), and new addition Kai Giovanni (bass),…

It’s been 25 years since Nine Days‘ “Absolutely (Story Of A Girl)” first wormed its way into our ears, with a new generation of listeners falling in love all over again when it appeared in the Oscar winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, reimagined by songwriter John Hampson. To celebrate this massive milestone – as…

Last month, Canadian-born and now Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Brian Campeau released his latest record, Brian Campeau Presents Jo Dellin And The Bone Spurs. You may well wonder who Jo Dellin is. Well, once you give the record a listen, the penny drops. Brian is a brilliantly creative and talented singer, songwriter and musician. Great vocals with…

Naarm/ Melbourne-based queer pop artist POLLY has bared her soul on her new EP, Daddy Issues, which has been released today. It’s a tight collection of four tracks, bound together by luscious big nostalgia-drenched synths, rich vocals and heart-felt lyrics. The renowned producers Ben Oldland and Liam Quinn (Ruel, Peach PRC), added their magic to the mix. The tracks…

This week, Naarm singer/songwriter Hassall released her long-awaited debut album, the niftily-titled Means More To Me Than It Does To You. It’s a collection of songs that chronicle the experiences and thoughts of a gifted songwriter. From an intense dislike for noisy eating, to love and love-lost and all that is important to her generation….

Kaurna/Adelaide noise-rock outfit Placement have today released their long-awaited debut album, Insect. It’s a beautiful guitar-led album. Sometimes a little grimy, othertimes upbeat and bright, but never dull. With a nod to the 90s, it’s thoughtful and refreshing. The irresistable eerie and magnetic vocals of lead singer Malia Wearn are captivating.  It might be dark at…

Last Friday, Liverpudlian Michael Robert Murphy, frontman and songwriter of The Wicked Whispers and Whiskey Headshot, released his debut solo album, Chaos Magick. The album was produced by Liam Power (By The Sea and lifelong Bill Ryder Jones Collaborator) and Michael himself, and features some of Liverpool‘s finest musicians including Echo and The Bunnymen’s Will Sergeant…

It’s been a big week for Melbourne/Naarm-based artist REDD. Last Friday, they released their debut mixtape RAUNCH., and shared the official video for their smoking new single “BAD DAYS.”. They also announced a RAUNCH. Mixtape Tour, including free headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney next month. We’ve got the lowdown on the mixtape, the tour,…

Emo pioneers The Juliana Theory are just a few weeks away from returning to Australia, teaming up with The Spill Canvas for a co-headline tour. They’ll be celebrating the 25th anniversay of their album Emotion Is Dead and, ahead of the tour, we asked guitarist Joshua Fiedler to share the tracks that helped craft that…

Meanjin/Brisbane petalcore outfit Torizon have just released their emotionally charged new single “Bloom“, following characters Luna and Sam as they navigate a harrowing miscarriage. Produced and mixed by Kalen Austin, and mastered by Mike Kalajian, Rogue Planet Studios (Bad Omens, Windwaker, Papa Roach), the unfolding narrative is bolstered by razor-sharp riffs, synth flourises, and frontwoman Mish Sharma‘s dynamic vocals. Packed with grief-laden…

Hailing from Meanjin/Brisbane, Jo Davie delivers indie folk/pop masterpieces. She has been teasing out singles from her upcoming EP, Nothing Comes Free, including “Colder”, Throw me a Rope” and “Sandcastles”, each song showcasing her consumate songwriting and warm intimate vocals. When we saay ‘upcoming’, indeed the time is upon us. It will be released tomorrow,…

It’s less than three weeks before The Great Escape festival kicks off in Brighton.  As always, it’s stacked with Australian artists. There are currently thirty on the lineup. For the past fifteen years, Sounds Australia has put together showcases at the festival, featuring Aussie artists, and this year the tradition continues. On Thursday, 15th May,…

Xani Kolac is a violinist, composer, and improviser with a seemingly endless list of ideas and directions for her work. With a focus on contemporary compositions, Xani is prolific and dynamic in her output. 2025 is proving to be a milestone year for Xani. She will be releasing two albums, a live improvised recording from…

Going into last weekend’s Coachella (the first of its two planned weekend events), it seemed that Lady Gaga was inevitably going to steal all the expected focus.  And, certainly, the Grammy-winner did the most, with a near-20 song set that largely celebrated her new album (Mayhem), but served as a memory lane stroll for her…

There has been a massive influx of Australian bands surging through listening platforms over the last few years. Many bands however, aren’t receiving the recognition they deserve despite the brilliant songs they are creating. This is why I’m here to bring you my current top four up-and-coming Australian bands you should know about. I’ve taken…

Pop-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire, Majelen, has today released her formidable debut album Stuck With You. The songs on the album have been inspired by love and relationships, and her passion for the Australian landscape. The album was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, where they were able to capture her incredible…

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 10 years since Soundwave Festival collapsed into a sinkhole of debt, doubt and dirt. Yes, really. And the only serious contenders to threaten to take its place have been Good Things and Knotfest. Sure, they scratch an itch, but none last longer than twelve hours, and neither did…

Perth raised and Melbourne based singer-songwriter Peter Bibby released debut album Butcher / Hairstylist / Beautician back in 2014, a collection of honest lyricism tuned to underground rock. Beginning his musical career as a busker in Perth, then later becoming part of the group Frozen Ocean, Peter has performed on stages around the world, touring with…

The 16th annual AU review countdown of the 40 best albums of the year has arrived. This year, as always, our contributors bring together a mix of artists from Australia and around the world. Hopefully your favourite album(s) made the cut – and maybe you’ll discover a few new ones along the way, too. Read…

Music is much more than just art. It’s a neuroscientific tool that you can use to pocket memories, elevate moments and add magic to the mundane. Some elicit stronger bouts of nostalgia than others simply because of how they’re produced and written. But the process of music digging into our souls and helping us find…

Australia is known the world over for its vibrant festival culture – how lucky are we? From our electrifying bush doofs to more laid-back affairs, our country is home to over 500 music festivals. Our festival scene is also so unique that it attracts music lovers from all corners of the globe, making Aussie music…

November is Ausmusic Month, and with Ausmusic T-shirt Day – Thursday 28th – just around the corner, Support Act is raising money for this country’s abundant creative talent and giving back to the precarious sector with our help. ABC have announced a packed programme of television and radio events in support of the cause and…