Twenty years on from the release of “Step Up” – Samantha Jade’s glossy, Diane Warren–penned introduction to the pop world – it’s striking how aptly that title has come to describe her career. Again and again, Jade has stepped up: into new creative arenas, back into an industry that repeatedly underestimated her, and into her…
Few artists have reshaped popular music as decisively as Britney Spears. From the moment she debuted in 1998, she redefined what a pop star could look like, sound like, and represent. Her influence is embedded in the DNA of modern pop – in vocal styles, production trends, choreography, and the marriage of image and music….
Writing tributes isn’t standard fare for the team at the AU review, but the untimely passing of Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst demanded an exception. Several of the team were lucky enough to get to know Rob and his family over the years, and we wanted to take a few moments to reflect upon and honour…
At the turn of the millennium, Victoria Beckham‘s debut solo album arrived carrying an unfair amount of baggage. By 2001, the post-Spice Girls landscape had already begun sorting its winners and footnotes, and “Posh Spice” was too often framed as an image-first participant in pop rather than a musician with something to prove. Listening back…
After more than a decade away from releasing a full-length studio album (the last being 2015’s Breathe In. Breathe Out.), Hilary Duff is rejuvenating her place in pop music with Luck…or Something – a record that feels less like a nostalgic throwback and more like a necessary evolution. Scheduled to arrive on February 20th, via…
When J.Lo arrived at the turn of the millennium, Jennifer Lopez was already famous – but fame and longevity are not the same thing. Released as her sophomore album, J.Lo carried a weighty question: was Lopez a genuine pop force, or merely a celebrity moment stretched into a record deal? Twenty-five years later, the answer…
When Willa Ford announced amanda, her first album in over two decades, it didn’t arrive with the bombast typically expected of a pop comeback. There was no algorithm-chasing single, no irony-soaked Y2K cosplay, no attempt to rewrite history as if the last 25 years hadn’t happened. Instead, what she offered was something far rarer in…
If Britney Spears were to perform in Australia, these are the stages that would make sense. When Britney Spears recently captioned an Instagram post with the words “I will never perform in the U.S. again…but I hope to be sitting on a stool…performing with my son…in the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon,” it was inevitable…
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…
