Hozier - Wasteland, Baby!
Despite becoming something of a meme in lieu of his monster hit Take Me to Church - somehow all the way back in 2013 now - the stock of Hozier is surprisingly high. This record managed to hit the #1 spot on America's Billboard 200, and in his native Ireland of course. And yet... the critics have turned. A string of EPs filled in the gaps between this and his eponymous 2014 debut, but it seems the dreaded task of having to follow up one of the biggest hits of the decade has been fulfilled by chucking everything at this: a gospel, marching drums and only Mavis Bloody Staples are drafted in. Mavis lends her inimitable voice to 'Nina Cried Power', a track that follows one of those aforementioned EPs and was presumably deemed too good to not put on an actual LP. Understandably so, as it's a dramatic, vocal showcase that is full of indebted admiration to the music giants it mentions; a real celebration of music. That same vibe is dialed down a little but still prese...