Acoustic Hearts Of Winter - Aly & AJ

Yes, it's coming up to Christmas so over the next six or seven weeks I shall be reviewing random Christmas CD's as and when the mood takes me.

Now if there's one thing guaranteed to strike dread into my heart, its an album with the word "acoustic" in the title. Even worse when it's a manufactured pop band committing that heinous crime.

Well fear not, this is actually pretty awesome as Christmas albums go.

Funnily enough its not the "pop"ed up attempts to continue their trademark sounds that most capture me, but the more traditional fare. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, We Three Kings and Let Snow quite simply but me instantly in the Christmas mood and more upbeat reworking of Little Drummer Boy and Deck The Halls are superb as well.

Sure some of the rest is cringeworthy, but it's Christmas. Well worth grabbing hold of a copy for your Christmas morning.

Single Releases 08/10/07

Back after a week off, singles wise.

Alj & AJ's Potential Breakup Song is first up this week. And it's a corker. It's got more invention than you've any right to expect from an American Manufactured Pop single.

As you'd expect, the law of diminishing returns is at play with Amy MacDonald's new single LA. And is it just me or does she have a total of ONE idea for her promo video's?

Curvy Cola Bottle Body by Chico is so funny. Probably becuase it's terrible, but in a very funny way. If you could believe he was taking the piss you' be proclaiming him as a genius.

I mean it's miles better than Gwen Stefani's latest effort, Now That U Got It. Someone needs to reign her in if you know what I mean.

I hate the Hoosiers. So there.

They're better than Biffo Clyro though.

On the other hand, I love Roisin Murphy. Let Me Know is a stomper. Pity about those distracting nipples in the video. Wear a bra love.

Natasha Bedingfield attempts to save her career this week with a "featuring Adam Levine" tag line...she fails.

Insomniatic - Aly & Aj

Ok, I know. It doesn't sound too promising does it? Two blonde teen sisters singing Disney Teen Pop is enough to turn anyone right off isn't it? And normally I would agree, but there is something borderline genius about the recent single from Aly & AJ, Potential Break Up Song.

Now I'm not one to say such a thing lightly, but it's good enough to be a Girls Aloud single. It's three and a half minutes are packed with more invention than you'll find in the entire Hard-Fi back catalogue and shows an exuberant personality not often found in American by-the-numbers pop.

Of course the real thing to ask is whether or not this is a one-off, or indicative of the new album as a whole?

Tracks such as Bullseye, Like Whoa and Like It Or Leave It prove that the brilliant single was not simply a one-off but sadly there are a lot of tracks that also show that overall they've not moved that far from their previous style.

In many ways that makes this an ideal album for their fan base. It's got enough of what you would expect if you liked what you've heard previously, but also shows just enough invention to keep those same fans hooked.

More, ahem, mature pop lovers may not need to concern themselves with this album as a whole, but there are a smattering of pop classics that will keep even the most cynical of listeners on their toes.