You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

Not so much a box set as a paving slab, the five-CD American Epic almost manages the impossible task of gathering together the seminal US releases of the 1920s. The most atmospheric disc compiles 17 field recordings in pin-sharp fidelity, but the most exciting one traces New York’s contribution, exemplified by the supple twang of Big Bill Broonzy’s Long Tall Mama.

Henry Yates has been a freelance journalist since 2002 and written about music for titles including The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Classic Rock, Guitarist, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer. He is the author of Walter Trout's official biography, Rescued From Reality, a music pundit on Times Radio and BBC TV, and an interviewer who has spoken to Brian May, Jimmy Page, Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie Wood, Dave Grohl, Marilyn Manson, Kiefer Sutherland and many more.

More about classic rock

The best new rock songs you need to hear right now

Kurt Cobain of Nirvana during the taping of MTV Unplugged at Sony Studios in New York City, 11/18/93

"Discover the lasting influence of a band that changed the face of rock music." Kurt Cobain Unplugged exhibition to open in London

"We have a very, very simple goal, to make this the greatest day in the history of heavy metal." Tom Morello reveals what we can expect from Black Sabbath's Back To The Beginning mega-gig, teases added surprise from "huge superstars"

See more latest

Various Artists - American Epic album review

The best Blues you can get this month