Linkin Park - The Hunting Party

Recommended by Bex:

As mentioned earlier this month, Hybrid Theory is one of my favourite albums of all time. I remember listening to it non-stop when at school, and even now I put it on from time to time.

Reviewers tend to describe The Hunting Party as a step back towards where they started from. It is a lot heavier than anything the band have produced since Meteora, with a more hard rock feel to the album.

The artwork for this release is also top notch:

Jack Off Jill - Clear Hearts Grey Flowers

Recommended by Bex:

I get to see them live in October! I'm seeing them live! *Breathes*

Linkin Park - Living Things

Recommended by Bex:

Listening to Living Things, which I so far prefer to last year's The Hunting Party, makes me wonder why I ever stopped listening to Linkin Park.

Seriously. Hybrid Theory remains one of my all-time favourite releases, Meteora held the pace well, after that they were outside my radar. If you're anything like me you need to catch up: this band are still fire.

t.A.T.u. - The Best

Recommended by Bex:

Is this the best greatest hits release? The answer may surprise you.

When t.A.T.u. released 'All the Things She Said' they were marketed as lesbians, and the music passed a lot of people by. They have several nice tracks such as '30 Minutes' and, my current favourite, 'Novaya Model'.

The English version of the latter, 'Perfect Enemy', appears on The Best, but I prefer the pronunciation and lyrical content (when translated) of 'Novaya Model', or New Model. Overall, this is a great collection.

Paul McCartney - Ram

Recommended by Bex:

This is a domestic-bliss album, one of the weirdest, earthiest, and most honest ever made. Ram, simply put, is the first Paul McCartney release completely devoid of John's musical influence. John wiggled his way into some of the album's lyrics - in those fresh, post-breakup years, the two couldn't quite keep each other out of their music.

But musically, Ram proposes an alternate universe where young Paul skipped church the morning of July 6, 1957, and the two never crossed paths. It's breezy, abstracted, completely hallucinogen-free, and utterly lacking grandiose ambitions. It has a certain homemade charm.

As one Amazon reviewer puts it: If you only buy one Macca album this has got to be the one. You can even give Band on the Run a miss if you like (though I'd struggle). I listen to this album and I think - I'll have what they're having. It's beautiful. It's amazing. Buy it and get drunk on it.

Ciara - Jackie

Recommended by Bex:

For me, Ciara's self-titled release is her best. Nonetheless, this is a fierce return to form. I really wanted her to stick to the One Woman Army concept for 2013's Ciara; this gives fans a long-awaited glimpse.

A video posted by Ciara (@ciara) on Apr 24, 2015 at 2:02pm PDT

Róisín Murphy - Hairless Toys

Recommended by Bex:

An excellent album, less poppy and more subdued in direction of experimental electronica than her last. Róisín's distinctive vocals are forever associated with the feel of wild and ecstatic nineties clubbing.

Her solo worked has proved that complexity of the music is her own invention: her moves in various music styles, her mixing of trip hop, electronic, disco, house. A mature and well done album demonstrating the organic growth of a true artist. She's also pretty fun to see live.