Single Releases 19/11/07

Basically, I'm short of time this week.

Suffice to say that the Spice Girls song is dreadful. But that hardly matters in the overall scheme of things.

I do like Saving My Face by KT Tunstall though. I thought I better add that in.

Single Releases 5/11/07

So amongst others this week we have Paul McCartney, Wet Wet Wet, Bedouin Soundclash, Elvis Presley, The Proclaimers, Nicole Scherzinger , Shitdisco Boy Kill Boy and David Gray.

I tell you what folks, I'll give it a miss this week.

Single Releases 06/08/07

Is it hilarious, or just plain sad, that Kula Shaker are releasing a new single in 2007. I didn't think they were any good when they had their moment in the spotlight. I think even less of them now.



Similarly I have absolutely no love for the Magic Numbers. I just don't see the mass appeal of them. Their first album was boring, and their second one followed suit. So needless to say, I'm not exactly over the moon at their new EP either.



And Hellogoodbye. What is it with people liking them? Baby It's Fact might even be worse than the last one.



On the other hand, Richard Hawley's new single is amazingly good. Tonight The Streets Are Ours sounded great from the first time I heard it; it was one of those catchy little ditty's that sounded so familiar right from the off (and I mean that in a good way).



Why Sophie Ellis Bextor has released Tonight's The Sun's On Us when there are much better singles on the album is beyond me.



I know the Robyn single was out last week but I missed it last week. It's good. In fact it's very good. No doubt Edith Bowman is championing it as we speak as a hot new tune from a hot new artist...

UK Single Releases 25/06/07

It seems like most of the good stuff that is out this week is what I actually reviewed last week but on we plough anyway.

Bascially though, it's all crap.

The Bees, Jon Bon Jovi, The View, The Enemy, Hoosiers, Kajafuckingoogoo?

Sometimes I wonder why I bother.

Single Releases 18/06/07

Kate Nash releases Foundations this week. I'm not going to lie, I'm in love with her. That said, even though I am biased Foundations is insanely catchy and really very good indeed. As I've said I can see why people might be disinclined to like her, but to them I merely repeat what I've said before; you are wrong.

I really don't like that new Editors one. Whilst not a huge fan, I did enjoy their debut album but this one sounds like they've gone ever so slightly Coldplay.

4 In The Morning by Gwen Stefani is the other song from her album (alongside that last single) that is any good, so I approve!

I can't however approve of the latest Mel C single. It's awful and leaves you in no doubt as to why she's suddenly keen to reunite the Spice Girls, even if it is for one night only (Wembley anyone?).

I wanted to like Misery Business by Paramore more than I actually do. Having said that, whilst distinctly underwhelmed by the single, I do have more love for the album (review will follow at some point) so I'm not completely down on them.

I still, three singles in, don't see the point of Just Jack.

The Bravery have changed. They're still not any good though.

I'd Wait For Life is exactly the kind of crap that record companies think is "pop" and will appeal to the Radio 2 audience. Shame on you Take That.

I'm told this Robin Thicke fella is huge in the States. I hope he never makes it over here, but no doubt he will. Lost Without U is the kind of thing that would fill up space on a Justin Timberlake album, and I don't mean that in a good way.

It will of course outsell Siobhan Donaghy's sublime So You Say by about a million to one. That's just life I'm afraid.

That new Chemical Brothers one is choooooooooooooon!

I don't really find myself warming to Shame On You by Andrea Corr. It's amazing to think that for a time about 10 years, I thought the Corrs were brilliant and now I couldn't care less about them. And that's not me being "cool" or anything, I've just grown sick of them.

Marie Miller is a super-model who likes the films of Alfred Hitchcock. I'm not even going to spoil our burgeoning relationship by listening to her new single, No Ordinary Girl...ok, I thought I better listen to it. It's not too bad. Stars have been made out of a lot less.

Singles 04/06/07

There are quite literally only two singles that I have in any way got any love for this week.

First up is Calvin Harris' The Girls. Yes, it's not as great as Acceptable In The 80's, but it is still very good and insanely catchy.



The only other thing is the much welcomed comback from Queens Of The Stone Age. 3's and 7's isn't the best thing they've ever done, but I do like it a lot. And it's not just because if I was a homo, Josh Homme would be the man for me!



I can't really bring myself to slag off any of the other dozen singles I've attempted to listen to this week, so I'll stop it there.

Single Releases 28/05/07

Hello and welcome to the bank holiday special. I doubt many of these singles take the actual bank holiday Monday as the actual official release date, but let's face it, what does it actually really matter any more?

Anyway, let's crack on.

Ana Matronic takes over lead vocals for the new Scissor Sisters single, Kiss You Off. For me it's the same as my feelings on the latest album. It's alright but doesn't pack that punch that you got from them the first time around.

Despite my new found love for Rogue Traders, I would have to admit that their new one Way To Go only just scrapes it to "passable".

The Twang are, quite frankly, shit.

As strange luck would have it, Au Revoir Simone release Sad Song as a limited edition 7 inch vinyl this week. It's good stuff.

I think that new one by Rhianna is a bit shit too. But then again, nothing she has ever done since, or indeed ever did before, will ever be as good as SOS. She should give it up now.

I am not at all keen on Mutya Buena's debut single either. It's just not that far removed from anything that the Sugababes would do, so thus actually becomes pointless. Still it will likely out sell Soibhan's efforts 100 to 1. That's life huh?

Hasn't Regina Spektor released On The Radio as a single at least once before? No matter, it's still a fantastic song.

The new Modest Mouse and LCD Soundsystem singles are pretty good, but don't exactly excite me in a "great single" kind of way.

Sod this, I'm off for a pint.

Single Releases 21/05/07

Given the busy weekend I didn't have much time to go through the single releases for this week, so this will be short...and probably not entirely sweet.

Who said Yorkshiremen don't understand irony? The new Kasier Chiefs single, Everything Is Average Nowadays is proof positive that they must do.

Still even that single is better than a lot of the tripe out this week.

Good Charlotte prove that their last single was a one-off with the terrible The River. The Fray, sadly, prove that their last single wasn't a one-off; Over My Head is just as dull as their last one.

I'm sure you are just as thrilled as I am to see Infernal have released another single as well.

The less said about R Kelly's I'm A Flirt the better.

Thankfully The Blood Arm save the day (or the week) with Angela. It's makes their album sound better than it is, but lets not be churlish. It's a great single.

Single Releases 14/05/07

If your only touch with "new" music is Edith Bowman you might well think that the "new" single by CSS is rather good. If you actually have a clue you'll of course have heard Lets Make Love And Listen To Death From Above at least 12 months ago. Still, lets not be too damning. It may be on about it's 37th re-release, but it is still a fantastic pop tune.

I've also been raving about Candi Payne for ages too; she was, pray remember, one of my "tips" for 2007. For the moment we'll ignore the fact that most of my tips have already shown absolutely no suggestion of making it and concentrate that on the back of her performance on Jools Holland last week she's on the verge of cracking it. I Wish I Could Have Loved You More is another reason why she's going to make it.

Alternatively if Lucie Silvas' 2nd album was going to repeat her success of the first time around then it surely would have done by now. Place To Hide will make no difference to that fact.

Maroon 5, on the other hand, are about to hit the stratosphere again. In fact they'll be cracking it on the Timberlake level if Makes Me Wonder is anything to go by.

I'm getting less and less convinced by Sophie Ellis Bextor with every single. Me And My Imagination isn't very good really.

Still she's better than either BWO (who are just plain weird, despite what Popjustice might try to claim otherwise) or Biffy Clyro. I'd espouse more on the latter, but that would bring us back to Edith Bowman again, and I've had more than enough of her for one day.

Single Releases 07/05/07

There are only two tracks I can reccommend today.

Take Control by Amerie is fantastic, and is better by about at least 50% than anything Beyonce has ever done that isn't called Crazy In Love.

Poison Prince by Amy MacDonald is the only other track this week I feel like mentioning. And to be honest I think that it's lucky everything else out there is rubbish this week. I mean the lyrics (a less than subtle, and slightly cringeworthy, dig at Pete Doherty) are laughable at times and whilst it's reasonably catchy can you actually say that when you first listened to it that you got the sensation that, say, listening to KT Tunstall for the first time gave you? It's passable and shows promise, but as of itself it's nothing to get over-excited about.

Single Releases 30/04/07

I assumed someone was winding me up but apparently it is true. Elton John's Candle In the Wind 1997 gets a re-release this week. Why? Is it to commemorate Harry going off to war? Or maybe its to help Wills get over dumping Kate Middleton. Of course I am being frivolous, but what is the point? Even if it's for charity its a bad idea.

Right Said Fred finally get around to releasing I'm Too Sexy 2007 this week. I still reckon their first album was a relatively good one. This does them no favours at all.

I can do without Linkin Park's new video to be honest. Sure I'm positive young Chester and the boys think they are being hard-hitting and all that, what with the images of starving children and wars and all that nonsense but it's all done within the context of a video that probably cost more than the gross national product of a small African nation. Surely it can't only be me that is sick of being lectured to by rockstars about how I should be disgusted about the world at large. Of course that said, I quite like What I've Done as a song.

Still even all that is less offensive than Beverley Knight. Is there a more pointless "pop-star" working today? I don't think so. Personally I think she should bite the bullet, become the singer for the Brand New Heavies and then I'd only have to review one complete non-entity of a single rather than two.

Dolores O'Riordan makes a solo burst this week. I never was all that enamoured with the Cranberries, despite an old flat mate at Uni listening to them all day long - seriously you haven't lived until you've been woken up at 6 am on a Sunday morning by the Cranberries because your flat mate has gone away for the weekend and left his stereo system alarm on and you can't get into his room because he's locked it. (And by the way, the fuse box was in another locked room so we couldn't just turn the electricity off). Still they did some good tunes, and I quite like this solo effort, Ordinary Day.

After doing their solo thing, the Manics are back this week, in the company of my favourite lesbian Nina Persson. Actually this is a pretty retro round-up this week as it's bringing back a lot of memories of University. In this case that big discussion as to whether or not Nina Persson was a lesbian or not. Whether she actually is or not is hardly the point anymore. Anyway, I like the song, well at least until Nicky Wire joins in the singing.

I still am not that keen on Amy Winehouse. New single Back To Black doesn't make me any keener.

No amount of Popjustice shilling will make me like Booty Luv either. And it's a similar story with Dragonette.

Marion Raven is probably a bit shit on balance as well. But she's a bit fit. Never let it be said that I'm not shallow. If you liked the "old" Avril Lavigne, you'll enjoy Break You that's for sure.

LDN Is A Victim...an earth shatteringly brilliant, on the zeitgeist piss-take or a rather uneccesary dig at Kate Nash and Lily Allen? I'd go for the latter. Especially as one of the digs on the record is at Lily Allen trashing all her rivals. Erm...am I supposed to believe this is irony? I wouldn't mind if it was particularly funny. Still, no doubt because it was The Observer that first spotted Allen and Nash on a national scale, the Guardian love this one. And doesn't that fact tell it's own story...

Single Releases 23/04/07

Life is good this morning, primarily becuase Jermaine Jenas' last minute equalizer pissed off all the sanctimonious Arsenal fans (yes, its ok saying you should have won becuase you hit the post all those times but you didn't, so what else matters?) and because Nadine is a single woman again. You know where I am love.

Of course then you have to review singles by the likes of Mika (awful), Michael Buble (awful), Sunblock feat. Sandy (awful), The View (awful) and the Wurzels feat Tony Blackburn (you get the picture by now...). Enough to send a happy clapper into a deep spiral of depression.

I mean come on. I don't mind Lostphrophets, but it's coming to something when one of their singles is one of the better releases of the week isn't it?

And then there's the "indie-cool" likes of The Rapture, Shiny Toy Guns, Shitdisco and Captain. The songs are alright, in fact they're good. But probably not as good as some people would like you to believe.

So I'm with Betty Curse this week when she says Do You Mind (If I Cry). And boy, isn't the law of diminishing returns applying with her as well...

Single Releases 16/04/07

First off, Thou Shalt Always Kill by Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip is absolutely brilliant. I listen to it with a sneaking feeling that I should hate it, but I don't. It's just awesome. In fact it's TOO awesome really. They'll never live up to this one, but for the moment who cares?

It's a million miles away from the turgid pile of nonsense that is Beautiful Liar by Beyonce and Shakira. What would have been wrong with injecting a little fun into the proceedings girls?

Not sure on the new Siobhan Donaghy one to be honest. And if I'd heard the new album before it came out ( ;-D ) it wouldn't make the decision any clearer. It's not bad, and "intelligent" "pop" is never altogether a bad thing but there's something that doesn't quite grab hold of you with it.

It's much easier to like Natasaha Bedingfield's new one. And may I just take the opportunity to say that she can gladly have my babies anytime she wants. Except tomorrow night, as I'm off to see The Pipettes that night, but other than that I'm free. I like how Tasha is mental, and this is one of her mental songs. I like it.

Of course the BIG comeback this week is Arctic Monkeys. Brainstorm is quite the tune as well. Sure it does all sound a little familiar, but its good. Only time will tell on the album front.

These aren't the only comebacks this week though. Hanson are as Hanson as they ever are these days (as an aside I am the only person who preferred Where's The Love to MMMBop?) whilst Ocean Colour Scene are as Ocean Colour Scene as they always are. Neither results in a particularly thrilling experience.

You Can’t Have It All by Ash is much better. I still maintain it's got a slight "disco" edge to it as well.

Shirley Bassey releases a single but as far as I can tell it's not the Get This Party Started cover. Which begs the question WHY not?

I don't like Mika. After Love Today, I still don't like him.

Lady Sov takes a turn for the worse with Those Where The Days. In fact it's pretty pitiful really.

I keep hearing Pop Levi's Pick-Me-Up Uppercut on Soccer AM. It's ok, but doesn't really thrill me.

You Are The One by Shiny Toy Guns is ace, but will flop no doubt.

Let's hope Macy Gray's comeback flops too.

And that's all for this week folks.

Single Releases 09/04/07

Some good stuff out this week...some not so good stuff.

That Timbaland one with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake hits the shops this week. It's excellent. In fact if anything it delivers something so good that the album couldn't possibly back up. But that's the way life goes sometimes.

Mark Ronson takes on The Smiths this week...and wins. Genius. The album review will be up soon too.

The Klaxons perhaps surprise a lot of people by releasing another great single in the form of Gravity's Rainbow. That's where the good singles from the debut album stop mind you, but lets not be too unkind.

Sorry, but I just don't get what makes Just Jack anything special.

Ditto Patrick Wolf. Is his music awful? No, not by any means but neither can I proclaim it utter genius or anything.

Ditto again for Bloc Party.

And on a similar vein I remain convinced that if someone new did the new Muse song people wouldn't like it at all. Or at least no to the level of euphoria that it seems to attract anyway.

Pieces Of The People We Love by The Rapture is good though. I like that.

Let's face it, you'll already know if the new Nine Inch Nails single is for you or not won't you?

Gareth Gates is still alive apparently and is trying again. He won't be bothering us for long I don't think.

Th nw Fll t By n s gd, bt nwhr nr s grt s th sngl tht prcdd t. G fgr.

And really, anyone who thought that what 2007 was missing was a remix of Right Said Fred's I'm Too Sexy is not going to be anywhere where they allow you Internet access, if you catch my drift. So we'll say no more about that particular travesty.

Single Releases 02/04/07

This may be my worst ever singles blog.

Basically I quite like Avril Lavigne's Girlfriend. I mean the song; i'm not suggesting she's a lesbian.

Little Man Tate and Malcolm Middleton release decent singles this week.

Everything else is pretty rubbish.

And that includes the likes of My Chemical Romance and Pepe Deluxe.

In closing, the new Erasure single is particularly depressing.

Single releases 26/03/07

I do apologise in advance for the brevity of this post.

Thing is there's just not a whole hell of a lot that excites me this week, and I haven't the time for my ususal in-depth trawl through the singles that will never chart.

I mean take Melanie C. She's quite popular in Europe apparently. She should stay there if I Want Candy is anything to go by. And why on Earth did she get Carol Vorderman to stand in for her in the video?

What?

That is Mel C? Dear me.

Anyway.

Just as bad is Candyman by Christina Aguilera. IT IS NO LONGER THE 1940'S CHRISTINA!!!! I wouldn't mind but the song is awful. Don't be fooled into thinking it's "catchy". It's not. It's rubbish.

And despite the backing of Popjustice, which is usually in tune somewhat with my tastes, I can't warm to Konichiwa Bitches by Robyn. It's ok, that's about it.

Not keen on the Kings Of Leon at all.

Ditto for Patrick Wolf. I just don't "get" him.

Look I know I say this every week these days, but I'll make more of an effort next week. I promise.

Single Releases 19/03/07

Let's get this out of the way right at the beginning. I don't mind the new Razorlight single. Yes, I Can't Stop This Feeling I've Got isn't very good, but it's not bad. Not bad at all. I still wouldn't buy it.

Surprisingly I also quite like the new Maximo Park single. Indeed since I heard it for the first time I've been known to randomly burst out "my velocity" at various times of the day. Whether all this will transfer to me actually liking them as a whole, only time will tell.

Is Jamelia running out of ideas. No More is just Beware Of The Dog again but with a different legendary sample. It's not half the tune that Dog was either.

I still don't see what Fergie is up to. How can someone who is in the Black Eyed Peas, who let's face it despite what your opinion on them may be can come up with some pretty catchy pop melodies, lose all sense of tune and melody in her solo outings?

The Bomb by New York Pony Club is pretty good. There does seem to have been an outburst of "she's fit" though recently about the various women in the band. Not that that makes any difference of course. I just think it's a bit strange how many people recently have been raving about them in that sense.

I don't mind Hilary Duff. But With Love is not very good. I like the "rock" Duff better than the "r'n'b" Duff.

Laura Veirs comes back this week with a new single, Don't Lose Yourself, and a new backing band (The Saltbreakers), although to be honest it looks like the same backing band with a new name. The single's good, if a little more "funky" than you might expect from Veirs. It certainly sets the pulse racing for the new album, which is job done really isn't it?

Sadly once again, I can't really summon the energy this week to review any more singles.

Single Releases 12/03/07

Well we're back to normal this week I fear. Although there is a modicum of great stuff and I might as well deal with that first.

Prescilla by Bat For Lashes is awesome, and is a different version to the album one. Natasha Khan is a talent for sure.

I also quite like the new Good Charlotte tune. Stop sniggering.

Acceptable In The 80's by Calvin Harris is a pretty good tune too. It gets me dancing, and not a lot does that.

Walk This Way by Girls Aloud Vs The Sugababes is pretty rubbish isn't it?

Chris DeBurgh is still alive? Well blow me.

Is it just me or have Faithless been on auto-pilot for years?

James Morrison and Paulo Nutini both release singles this week. Will I be able to contain my excitement?

And to be honest, I just flat out don't like the Fratellis.

I think we better stop right there. The inspiration just isn't there this week.

Single Releases 05/03/07

What a fine week it is for singles this week. No, seriously. I know that most weeks I seem to rage against virutally anything, but this week WILL be different. Sure, I've no doubt I'll find something to hate, but there is some cracking stuff out this week.

To wit;

Chelsea by Stefy finally gets its UK release this week (I reviewed the album back in September). It's bloody fantastic. And it should be a HUGE hit. It probably won't be, because lets face it, it's me predicting big things here, but don't let that put you off.

Alfie is probably the video of the year already and it's amazing how many people who don't really like Lily Allen have told me how much they love the tune. Hell even my Dad, who normally turns his nose up at anything I listen to that was recorded after 1980, told me he liked it. It's brilliant (and it's nominal Double A-side Shame For You isn't bad either).

Robbie Williams has had some of the worst reviews of his career for the Rudebox album, which I think is totally unfair. She's Madonna sees him teaming up with the Pet Shop Boys for a classic slice of Robbie pop. Shame about the video though.

I'll apologise for this one in advance, but I think Get Your Hands Off My Girl by Good Charlotte is actually very good indeed . I know, it's Good Charlotte, but it would be churlish to hate it just because it's them wouldn't it?

Of course I can be totally churlish at times. Like not really liking the new Biffy Clyro single Saturday Superhouse. The fact that Edith Bowman spent ages championing it has nothing to do with my opinion whatsoever.

I'm assuming Example is the latest attempt by Mike Skinner to become the Timberland of the UK but never mind that. I Can't Rap is both funny and very very catchy. It's all very "UK Eminem" but has a sense of self-depreciating humour that Mr Mathers could well do with. I love it, for sure.

In what may be a complete one off, Regina Spektor's new video has actually made The Box playlist. Fidelity is just as good as long-time fans would suspect. Another great track.

The Sounds were one of my tips for 2007 and this week sees the release of Tony The Beat (Push It) and it's another fantastic slice of pop that sits somewhere between Cansei de ser Sexy and Franz Ferdinand. Plus there's women with no clothes on in the video.

Kubicheck were another of my tips for 2007 and Nightjoy confirms to me I was right. It's a catchy, indie-driven number with a sing-a-long chorus. It's a lot better than a lot of the shite that gets pushed in the name of indie these days.

It must be at least an hour since Timberland was in a video so along he pops on the new Nelly Furtado single, Say It Right. It's good, but not as good as Maneater or Promiscuous. It is better than that last one where she whistled a lot though.

Pieces Of The People We Love by The Rapture is a strange one. It's good but never quite catches fire like you hope. You sit there waiting for something big...it never comes.

Having heard great things about The Sunshine Underground I was looking forward to checking out Borders, their new single. Sadly it fails to live up to the hype. It's just your typical tune, with little to lift it from the indie pack.

I don't like Lemar. Don't get me wrong, he can sing. But that's about it. His songs appeal to that lowest common denominator, the Radio 2 houswife audience. However, Tick Tock sees him delve to even lower depths than I imagined. I'm sure he's trying to make a point, but hearing him complain about his busy lifestyle whilst loads of gorgeous women dance around him somewhat loses the message. What a terrible fucking life he must lead.

Ben Mills was from X-Factor apparently. I never watch that programme. Beside You is by no means the worst song ever recorded but it's pretty bland and I can only hope he can make enough money in his brief moment in the spotlight to support him when it all goes tits up. Which it will.

I'm not sure about Enter Shikari, although they do seem to be heading in that "nu-rave" direction that the Klaxons were so eager to avoid. Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour doesn't really make my mind up for me either. It's ok, but we'll have to see what else they can come up with.

If you're the result of Carly Simon and James Taylor you're bound to have some talent...and something to live up to. Ben Taylor certainly lives up to the billing with Nothing I Can Do. Sometimes, the simple approach can work wonders. If there is any justice it will be him, rather than the likes of James Morrison, who have the ultimate last laugh.

Acoustic Ladyland have been getting some good press and Cuts and Lies suggests that they may be onto something indeed. Check it out.

I still don't get Jet. They're crap if we're being honest.

I also hate Joss Stone. She's responsible for one of the worst concerts I've ever seen in my life and now she tells me she didn't even like the songs that were "chosen" for her on the first two albums. Now she's striking out on her own. Well if Tell Me 'Bout It is any indication then you should have stuck to letting people choose your songs for you. Mind you, her last album was pitiful anyway, so maybe no approach at all is going to help her.

I don't particularly like Lucie Silvas either, but her concert quite charmed me. Strange that she would comeback with an upbeat number like Sinking In considering her big success came from ballads. It's not bad, but it's not exactly the killer comeback I would imagine she needs. And it is just me, or is she starting to look more and more like Claire Sweeney?

Gregory Darling is supporting Bryan Adams on tour. And that's all you really need to know about his new single Shell.

She's My Man is Scissor Sisters on autopilot. Yes, I'm still not happy with Ta Dah.

Justin Timberlake's What Goes Around is more notable for Scarlet Johannson being in the video than the actual tune, mainly because it seems to have been done entirely to have a go at Cameron Diaz. Still even that's not as "on-the-button" as his baiting of Britney in the Cry Me A River Video.

Madness should have stuck to the lucrative "reunion" tours and stopped trying to make new songs. Sorry? You bloody well should be.

Single Releases 26/02/07

It's that time of the week again.

All Saints should have remained consigned to the history books. And if their pension fund really is in need of replenishing they shouldn't have come back with a song like this. I thought the comeback single was bad but Chick Fit is just pure rubbish.

It's pointless comparing their comeback with that of Take That, not least because the people actually wanted TT to comeback, but its worth noting that a) Take That came back with a killer ballad and then b) they followed it up with a killer up-beat number in Shine. It's a great little catchy pop tune.

Gwen Stefani also "came back" with a pretty dreadful single in the respect of Wind It Up. Still at least The Great Escape is a better effort. Still, she's yet to reclaim the charm and spark of her previous solo singles.

It's debatable whether or not the world at large was clamouring all that much for a Tracy Thorn solo album, but that doesn't matter when It's All True is as good as it is. If Madonna released this all and sundy would be heralding a massive return to form.

Cansei de ser Sexy were one of my finds of 2006 - and I mean that in the sense that there were a discovery of mine not that I discovered them for everyone else. Off The Hook is another great jaunty single, albeit a slight notch below the previous singles.

LCD Soundsystem are quite brilliant. North American Scum, the taster for their upcoming album is just what you would expect. That is, it's very very good indeed.

I also like Charlotte Hatherley. I Want You To Know is rather good, although as of yet it's not really "got" me like some of her earlier singles. Still it's quite good all the same.

A lesson now for all those young people out there who want to make it in the musical world. Make a first record that people actually like but then when the record label drops you make it clear that you never really wanted to record the songs that made you famous in the first place. Then, when you sign a new record deal make it clear that for the first time you've got complete creative control. And then watch whilst I say that whilst I never liked your earlier stuff at least that was quite catchy compared to the drivel you've chose to record now. Yes "Big Brovaz" I'm talking to you.

We're getting to the 3rd single for 'Lil Chris and naturally there is a drop in quality. It's not that Figure It Out is all that bad, it's just nowhere near the quality of Checkin' It Out or Gettin' Enough.

Oh the Killers. I bet their concert was good. Anyway you know the main interest in the Read My Mind single is the Pet Shop Boys remixes, which are pretty good. But I do like the normal single version of well. I'm still not going to buy the album though.

I once held a door open for Adventures Of Loki. Very pleasant they were. I haven't heard all the Feminine Side EP but I have heard the title track. I don't think I'll be listening to it again.

Cascada are a bit shit. Miracle is no exception. I must say though, you would. You know you would.

As you might expect, Blind As A Bat is a massive departure from Meat Loaf's unique sound....

I have no idea as to why I haven't got the Howling Bells album yet. Low Happening is yet another great single. I must sort that out.

Idlewild pretty much stole the show when I went to see REM (along with The Zutons and Feeder). No Emotion sees them go a little bit "disco" which is better than the lead singer's attempts at whatever the hell it was he was trying to do with his solo album. Actually I like it quite a lot.

The Bluetones hit the comback trail as well this week with Surrendered. It's everything you would want a great Bluetones track to be. It's another bloody good one.