this week's post ...

Black Kids
Hurricane Jane new single 23 June
Maybe the best record of the year - nuff said? A brilliant arrangement - a Friday night anthem "I ain't got nobody", absolutely top of the game!!

Gavin Rossdale
Wanderlust new album 9 June
I imagine for Mr Rossdale, the house & baby sitting has given him a renewed desire to get back into the studio and judging by these four songs he's had plenty of time to imagineer some excellent new material. Produced by Dave Stewart 'Another Night In The Hills' si a chunky uptempo rocker, and this set improves 'If You're Not With Us', the excellent 3'25" anti-war song 'Frontline' and medium pace and semi Hendrix riff of 'This Is Happiness'. There's a new pop sensibility to Rossdale on these songs, well worthy and a great appetizer for his debut solo album 'Wanderlust' due on 9 June.

Sonny J
Handsfree (If You Hold My Hand) new single 9 June
'Can't Stop Moving' does the dancefloor business nicely and now Mr J's on the pulse again with this delicious slab of euro sounding pop from ... Whitstable. Five great mixes, fave's are the radio edit, album mix and the J Star remix is great with a bit of Amy's 'You Know I'm No Good'

Ida Maria
Fortress Round My Heart new album 26 May
'Oh My God', 23year old Norwegian Ida Maria has got some balls here - nice track and superb vocals throughout this sample. Track 2 lyric "If you take off all your clothes, I'll take off mine", cut to the chase why not - 'I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked' is a fun track, it'll be good live for sure. 'Queen Of The World' is a jolly little number, I really like the way she describes the mood swing between lonely and top of the world "why can't I stay like this", great. Then there's the superb edgy love song 'Stella' with Ida's creaking vocal "Stella I wanna give you the world if you just stay with me tonight..", The suggestive 'Louie' have you got room for me is another jolly exuberance, "you know I'm always drunk, drunk as can be" - A fine collection bodes well for her debut album

Feist
I Feel It All new single 26 May
I really like Feist, she's in the mould of Nelly Furtado and I reckon that would be a great double bill - this new single 'I Feel It All' is agin an unusual off beat type of thang pulling in at 171bpm and zipping through 3'30" V nice

One Republic
Say (All I Need) new single 2 June
Timbaland has picked an exceptional band here as the success of 'Apologise' and 'Stop & Stare' prove. Here's another fine track from their ecellent album which should become a big hit single , although after this third mellow outing in 'Say All I Need' they'll probably need to demonstrate a harder side next time

Guillemots
Falling Out Of Reach new single 26 May
It's funny how tracks begin a new life once selected as a single. Guillemots second single from their latest album 'Red' could not be more different from their first, the top twenty hit 'Get Over It'. The deliciously mellow 'Falling Out Of Reach' with an accompanying vid starring the unique Sir Ian McKellan ... A full UK tour is coming and then The G's support REM during the UK leg of their tour

The Duke Spirit
My Sunken Treasure new single 9 June
I like The Duke Spirit, they've got something different about them. 'My Sunken Treasure' is rich and majestic as the pr says, it's kind of accoustic but there's an unusual edginess, vocal and lyric working against an angry guitar line.. well worthy

Sons & Daughters
The Gift new single 19 May
Another punchy piece of Sons & Daughters unique brand of pop, more manic guitar work in eveidence merging with the usual inspired vocal melody's - special and I hope this is a hit

Rooney
I Should've Been After You new EP 2 May
125bpm and an intriguing intro which sets the tone for an great sob story lyric " ... I should've been after you" ah I know the feeling well. A fine record would sound great on Steve Wright and Radio One alike.

We Smoke Fags
Eastenders new single 16 June
Really looking forward to their gig at Cardiff Barfly on Sunday 11 May, a superb short sahrp 160bpm electro riff rousing slap of new pop. Great

Elbow
One Day Like This new single 2 June
Another fab single from a band who improve with every release. 'One Day Like This' finds Elbow in usual musing form, 81bpm laid back and mellow with an undercurrent of edginess you won't find anywhere else, superb

Presets
This Boy's In Love new single 9 June
The Presets are much requested for their pounding 'Are You In Love', I really like this. The original mix is fine but there are two awesome remixes - the Lifelike Remix and the Kim Remix

The Sugars
Black Friday new single 9 June
I kind of like this sometimes messy A track with it's 70's disco style hi hat, with a strangely stop start vocal melody. it's made all the more strange by the accompanying track 'Isle Of Sirens', a spooky atmosphere and mysterious vocal arranged in a similar style to Fleetwood Mac's 'Black Magic Woman'. A bizarre concoction however with Messrs Winehouse & Duffy leading the retro soul brigade into the Top Ten these guys and gals may have a chance

Def Leppard
Songs From The Sparkle Lounge new album 5 May
Right from the first chimes of opener 'Go' you're under no illusion Leppard are back and they mean business. Nine Lives, the next single maybe C'mon C'mon through to the lush track 12 'Love' featuring Joe, piano and some top Beatley harmonies (why do they call it bonus track??). Although the exuberance of youth maybe missing .. this is a solid performance from Def Leppard - a top quality British rock band with 30 years endurance on their CV, having conquered America in 1980 before the UK finally succombed in 87. A welcome return

Rogue Wave
Lake Michigan new single 26 May
Pleasant enough, I'm not sure any great advances will be made by this release but Rogue Wave know how to write a melody