Band of Horses are a band, but not of horses. Of people in fact. People who are very good at making music. Their latest album Infinite Arms is out now and you can read our review here...
Oxygen.ie are big fans of Hijackers, who are DJ's Richie Burke & Sean Hayden from Boyle and Carrick On Shannon and are resident Dj's in Cartown Nite Club. Click here to read more about their debut single 'Lose your mind'
Josh Ritter's latest album So Runs the World Away is out now. The American has built up a huge fan base in Ireland but is it any good? Read the review...
It's the closest thing to an ACDC greatest hits album you're going to get. But is the Iron Man 2 soundtrack any good? Read our review and find out...
Flight Of The Conchords hit The Olympia on May 5th and 6th for what were two long awaited gigs, with support from David O' Doherty, surely we were all in for one hell of a night. Read the review here...
English post-punk outfit The Futureheads are back with their fourth album, a record that has already been described as "a blast of pop-punk energy" apparently. Be that as it may, we decided to find out for ourselves whether The Chaos was as eclectic as its title implied...
It must be 'precocious female songwriting talent' week here on Oxygen, as we review another songstress barely old enough to vote - a mere matter of hours after the last one. Laura Marling's even younger, a mere 18 years old when she released her debut, Alas, I Cannot Swim in 2008. Now she has returned with I Speak Because I Can, so we cast an objective ear over her maturing sound...
3 years on, youthful English singer-songwriter Kate Nash has returned with her follow-up to Made of Bricks, one of the best pop albums of 2007. So does My Best Friend Is You hit the same heights, or is her charm starting to wear a little thin? Cop a butcher's at our review here...
Ben Goldwasser and Andrew Van Wyngarden, better known as MGMT, struck gold with their debut album Oracular Spectaculara couple of years ago, selling over a million copies worldwide while collecting all sorts of awards and accolades along the way. Now the duo have returned with Congratulations - but is their sophomore effort similarly deserving of acclaim? Read our review to find out...
Welsh new wave pop act Marina And The Diamonds reached number two in BBC Sound of 2010 poll list, surely this one is yer wan to watch. Check out the review for her debut album The Family Jewels here.
Scottish indie-rockers Frightened Rabbit are back with their third studio album, but it’ll have to be a cracker to live up to their critically-acclaimed sophomore effort. So did The Winter of Mixed Drinks hit the heights required? Find out here...
2009 was the year of electro influenced beats and saw the likes of David Guetta, Deadmau5 and Calvin Harris ruling the charts and airwaves, taking the sound to mass appeal.
Following the release of his sophomore album, Rebuilt By Humans last year, Newton Faulkner returned to Dublin's Olympia theatre to enthrall all with his own unique live show, replete with pie chart, feet cam and an alien... But was it any good?
Do you enjoy using helium regularly for your and perhaps everyone else around you's enetrtainment? Then Alvin And The Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel Soundtrack is for YOU. This one might be for the kids but if you're at all curious you can read the review here...
Ke$ha is your all-American thrashy not classy girl whose album reeks of attitude and raucous behaviour. Animal is her record breaking debut album and you can read alllllllllll about it here...
Cocky singer-songwriter Jamie T rolled into town with his band The Pacemakers and made a bee-line straight for TheAcademy to have a right good go at tearin' the place up... Check out what we made of the magnificent carnage here...
Given that this is their third album in just two years, it is pretty clear that Los Campesinos! are an exceptionally prolific indie outfit with a laudable work ethic. Apparently, Romance Is Boring has been described by the band as being about "death and football". Find out just how accurate that summary is by reading our review here...
If Eels' last record found Mark 'E' Everett luxuriating in the intensity of desire, then End Times sees him plumbing the depths of despair. The talented singer-songwriter has been around a good 15 years or so now, and he's still at his best when examining the more painful aspects involved in affairs of the heart. See if he nailed it this time...
The five lads from Minneapolis return with their fourth studio album, My Dinosaur Life. Although the pop-punk outfit have been around for more than a decade, Motion City Soundtrack still haven't attained the kind of mainstream recognition that similar-but-inferior groups have enjoyed in recent years. Is that all about to change?
Graffiti is an album full of regret, apologies and promises to change and let's not forget the topics: love and women. Chris Brown. What more is there to say? Lots...and you can read all about it here...
Mick Flannery hails from Cork, boy, his newest album White Lies contains self written songs played using guitar, piano and violin and back up vocals from Yvonne Daly. This album isn't just droning on in the way you'd expect most Irish singer-songwriters, there's a bit of a mix in here...
Alicia Keys is not your average popstar. She writes her own music, lyrics and has produced and "conceptualised" (?!) her new album The Element Of Freedom. The final song on this album, Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down is sampled on Jay-Z's newest release as well as being the soundtrack for Sex And The City 2. This album is allllright, check out the review here...
The Strokes' charismatic former frontman Julian Casablancas has released his debut solo effort, Phrazes for the Young. The album title is a reference to an Oscar Wilde quote, apparently. So would Casablancas' material live up to such a lofty connection? Indeed, would Julian be able to hit the same heights on his tobler that he did with one of the best bands of the Noughties? Click here to find out...
Those collegiate cleverclogs from NY have returned with the successor to their 2008 self-titled debut and it seems Vampire Weekend have avoided all the pitfalls that come with crafting a follow-up to a well-received album. See what our reviewer made of Contra...
Flush with presents, wine and good cheer, and having consumed a quite alarming quantity of turkey, oxygen turns its thoughts to the New Year. However, before that is to be safely navigated, it is necessary to have a look back at 2009. So, without further cunctation, here’s what we reckon are the 5 best albums of this past year...
Fed up with Simon Cowell having a hegemony when it comes to the Christmas #1? Tired of his X Factor clones seizing the coveted top spot year after year? Sick to death of the cynical, money-grabbing, plastic, commercial, shallow, artistically bankrupt awfulness of it all? Well, maybe you should check this out...
Given that his romantic exploits have earned him a reputation as something of a modern-day Casanova it's little wonder that much of John Mayer's material revolves around affairs of the heart. Indeed he calls his latest album Battle Studies "a heartbreak handbook". See if it teaches you lessons in magnificence or mundanity...
Boasting the Scottish rockers’ by-now-familiarly broad, bombastic sound, Biffy Clyro’s fifth studio album might not be revolutionary per se but it is pretty damn magnificent. ‘Mon the Biffy! Ahem. Give our review a cursory glance anyway...
Between the 30th of June and the 5th of July in 2007, REM performed a series of 'working rehearsals' in our very own Olympia theatre. Eschewing the usual 'greatest-hits-in-front-of-a-live-audience' format, REM chose to test out their works-in-progess and play some of the lesser-known songs of their back catalogue. 2 years later, the resultant release is finally here, and doesn't disappoint...
Haven't heard of The Swell Season? Take a look at the album cover to the right there. I mean, take a really good look. Those two look familiar don't they? Can't quite place where you know them from? Annoying that, innit? Almost as annoying as the duo themselves. You know them alright, they won a sodding Oscar a few years ago - and now they're back. Read the increasingly-irascible Stevo Tuohy's bile-flecked review...
The Colombian star, Shakira, has once again released a catalogue of musical snapshots. With She Wolf, her third European album, the singer has proved not to be just another one hit wonder. Along with her music career, Shakira has worked with and set up foundations supporting child education, like Alas and the Barefoot Foundation. Find out if the music is as impressive as the activism here...
Returning with their second full-length release, Delorentos certainly have reason to be cheerful; after all, the band was supposed to split up eight months ago. It's probable that our reviewer of You Can Make Sound wishes that had indeed been the case, judging by his review...
Two years on from his impressive debut, London lad Jamie T tackles the notoriously difficult follow-up record with Kings & Queens. So, any sign of the dreaded 'sophomore slump' or 'second album syndrome'? Check out the review here...
The elaborately-titled Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City represents Ghostface Killah's latest foray into more R'n'B-defined territory. It would have to be fairly magic if it is to live up to the rapper's well-regarded back catalogue. See what our reviewer made of it, here...
English troubadour Newton Faulkner returns with the follow-up to his 2007 debut Hand Built by Robots, cunningly named Rebuilt by Humans. Aha! Dya see what he did there?! Ahem. Anyway, we reckon it's rather well-crafted, so have a gander...
The final instalment in The Blueprint trilogy, Jay-Z's latest offering has been hyped to blazes and rocketed to #1 in the US upon its release. So far, so commercially successful. Find out if the record's music is as distinguished as its chart achievements here...
Fourteen years and two other solo albums later, the Wu-Tang Clan's very own Raekwon has finally released the sequel to his critically acclaimed debut album from 1995, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Packed with numerous collaborations and guest appearances, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II weighs in at twenty-four tracks and more than seventy-five minutes. Does its quality match its quantity? Find out here...
Deptford's finest musical export, Ivor Novello Award-winning indie rockers Athlete are back with Black Swan. A brave name for an album if you ask me; I can just hear the "More like an ugly duckling, wha?!" comments now. Unfortunately for the quipsters, a little birdie reckons it's actually a nifty enough album. Check out the review here...
That teenager who scored a #1 single with the annoyingly ubiquitous Beautiful Girls is back - Sean Kingston has released his second album, Tomorrow, and we decided to see if this shit be whack or pimp... Find out for yourself here
English rockers Muse have returned with The Resistance, an album as politically charged as its title suggests. Is the resulting fare revolutionary or stale though? One way to find out would be to click here...
After four long, arduous, anxious years of longing, nay, yearning for SeanPaul to release a new studio album, it is with pleasure and relief in equal measure that we can finally review Imperial Blaze. Truly, this is a great day, and you can all tell your grandchildren you were here, at this seminal moment... Click here to find out if I'm being sarcastic
Oxygen managed to catch Deerhunter at Whelan's a few weeks ago, and was mightily impressed with the ambient American quartet. With the audience, however... Not so much. Click here to find out why...
The Arctic Monkeys are back, and have undergone somewhat of a change if our reviewer is to be believed. Find out whether their growing maturity has been a help or a hindrance to their overall sound by reading our review of Humbug...
Temporary Pleasure really does sound like a remarkably honest title for an album don't it? Fair play to Simian Mobile Disco, refreshingly upfront of them to highlight their sophomore effort's entertaining nature and ultimate lack of staying power... Or maybe I'm reading too much into it. Either way, read the review...
Four years on from their last studio release, Healthy in ParanoidTimes, alt-rockers Our Lady Peace return with their seventh album, Burn Burn. See if the Canadian quartet's effort fired us with enthusiasm or turned out to be a damp squib here...
Aussie alt-rockers Sick Puppies have released their third studio album, Tri-Polar. So is the record manic or depressing? Or, indeed, the third possibility. Whatever that may be, they never specified...Have a gander anyway
Canadian emo merchants Billy Talent return with their third album in six years, following up Billy Talent I and II with the equally imaginatively-titled Billy Talent III. See what our reviewer made of it...
Dublin based multinational three-piece Audio, currently pitching their impressive sound to a growing number of satisfied audiences around the city. They release their E.P. in Whelan's on August 6th. We like these guys. Read more here...
The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon and Pugwash's Thomas Walsh teamed up to record a concept album inspired by the sport of cricket. The Duckworth Lewis Method was the result. See if the pair put on a unbroken stand or were bowled out cheaply here...
English indie rockers The Maccabees played Dublin's Academy and we decided to see whether they would create a wall of sound or turn out to be rather off-colour... Check out the review here
The Spikes' phlegmatic frontman Tom Dunne (no, not that one) took time out to have a bit of a natter with Sebastian Clare about all things Rock n' Roll ahead of his band's gig at the Academy on the 17th of July.
The Hard Working Class Heroes2009 festival is just a few - well, 3 - months away, and two Oxygen journalists were so starved of unsigned musical talent - as well as just starved, period - that they decided to attend the festivallaunch. This is their story...
Three years after Louder Now, Long Island rockers Taking Back Sunday return with New Again. So is it a gem or a dud? Find out here...
A belated appraisal, for your delectation, of Jarvis Cocker's second solo album, Further Complications. Read Stephen Tuohy's verdict here...
Anti-folk artist Regina Spektor returns with Far, her fifth - count 'em - studio album, and Brian Mahon runs the rule over the contents here...
Legendary Australian rockers AC/DC brought their classic rock n' roll train steaming into town, and waiting at the station was our very own Simon Keating. Read what he made of it all here...
Fresh from picking up the Critic's Choice Award at the Brits, indie newcomers Florence and the Machine have released their debut album, Lungs. Read just what all the fuss is about here...
In 2006, Rage Against The Machine's guitar genius TomMorello hooked up with The Coup’s charismatic emcee BootsRiley to form Street Sweeper Social Club. We review their recently-released debut album here…
Already acclaimed as a rising star and future 'queen of pop', Little Boots has released her debut album, Hands. Find out if it lived up to expectations here...
Armed with a new drummer, Placebo released Battle For The Sun. Did it see the trio emerge victorious, or end up like a collective musical Icarus? Check out our review here...
The food-and-drink festival, Taste descended on Dublin last weekend, and Oxygen sent our most intrepid reporter to sample some of what was on offer. Read his report here...
Thousands of fans flocked to the stands of Croke Park to see pop legends TakeThat perform in our capital. Many waited in excitement outside the main gates to experience the Irish leg of The Circus UK tour. But were the Manchester boys all that? Find out here...
Emo, alternative, post-hardcore, trance... Call them what you will, Enter Shikari have released their sophomore album, Common Dreads. Find out if it was uncommonly good or quite simply dreadful here...
Californian rockers Green Day follow up 2004's smash success American Idiot with yet another concept album. Epic in scope, is 21st Century Breakdown also epic in execution? Find out here...
Kasabian - the Real Thing or simply pretenders to the crown? Click here to see what we thought...
Prolific indie troubadour Spencer Krug returns with Sunset Rubdown's latest release, Dragonslayer. John Flynn reveals whether he slayed like St. George or was burnt to a crisp here...
It's Blitz! has garnered considerable critical acclaim - but is it worth the hype? Stephen Tuohy runs the rule over Yeah Yeah Yeahs' latest release here...
British garage rockers The Horrors returned with Primary Colours and Stephen Tuohy cast an objective ear over the results. Check it outhere...
Toots & The Maytals played Tripod last Wednesday and our reviewer was greatly impressed with what he saw…
College fund burning a hole in your pocket? If you would rather spend your money on music than themed stationary this year, here's a round-up of the albums we're loving this week.