this week's post ...

Barefoot Confessor
Camden Road from sampler CD
Brace yourself Mike, the next best thing since McFly intones the PR. Well describing Barefoot Confessor as the missing link between McFly and The Libertines doesn't fill me with exciting anticipation ... McFly's pre-pubescent under cooked half baked songs leave a lot to be desired and perhaps The Libertine's were lucky to have an Amy Winehouse do-alike to keep them in the eye of publicity. But wait a mo, what's this lyric on track one "You don't need a man you need an animal ... " eh? Double take ... that's right what a line, what a song 'He Doesn't Love You' (150bpm). Skip to track three the 64 / 128bpm 'Camden Road' and more gems "Happy Slapper Chappies ..." and "I'm so tired of all the fists on Camden Road and when you're scared in the hou live where are you supposed to go .. ". Track four 'Urgency' "my heart is in emergency... " and yet more. Excellent production by John Fortis of Razorlight & Paulo Nutini credit. Electro seems to be the thing at the moment, but these guys exuding quality, superb lyrics, strong vocals with simple and effective arrangements should go far

Cage The Elephant
I Wanna Be Your Dog B Side of 'In One Ear' single 6 October
Iggy Pop's eternally popular anthem respectfully treated by Cage The Elephant and with the technicla and production quality of this recording it should be a very useful inclusion as Cage The Elephant grow their fan base, see them in Cardiff in November

Calvin Party
8 Days new single 3 November
"8 Days since I met you ..." Much loved by John Peel and still going strong Calvin Party return with possibly their best single to date. The 138bpm '8 Days' is a short sharp 2'40" and a real edgy arrangement, scuttling bass and drum track accompanied by a desperate vocal performance. Yes a hit maybe

Danko Jones
Code Of The Road new single 24 november
'Code Of the Road' is the first single to be taken from Danko Jones new album 'Never Too Loud' due for release on 12 January 2009. At 150bpm a steady, pounding standard rock arrangement which should win new fans. A fine appetizer see them touring as live support for Motorhead

Esser
Satisfied new single 10 November
Esser whom you may have seen on tour with Bloc Party and The Kaiser Chiefs unleashes a tale of woe from a boy who just can't please his girl "She's never satisfied however hard I try ...". The arrangemnt is most bizarre, a plinkety 88bpm and the radio edit is divine, a real stand out track. Then there's remixes by Sheffield's Toddla T & Ross Orton in semi-dancehall stylee and legendary dub producer Mad Professor's fine raggae arrangement. Esser's come up with a rhythm track that is so unusual it could do very well

Finger Eleven
Paralyzer new single 9 November
Finger Eleven already double platinum in homeland Canada and gold in the USA have a powerful 104bpm anthem in this UK debut single 'Paralyzer. Their witty album title 'Them Vs You Vs Me' should help raise awareness and curiosity. This is a fine singlke and could well break through.

Killers
Human new single 17 November
Day & Age new album 24 November
A brilliant new single ... Number One. It almost goes without saying the album is heading to the same position too!

The King Blues
Save The World, Get The Girl new album 20 October
Well not sure about the merits of landlord baiting but the title track of The King Blues new album is already a floorfiller, it's a brilliant song which includes the dumbfounding and sadly worrying observation "Going to war to stop war is the dumbest thing I've ever heard". Top track and an album full of of dancefloor oriented reggae dub indie, brilliant

Natty
Bedroom Eyes (Remixes) new single 29 September
Natty was so unlucky not to score a major Summer hit with 'July', what a top tune, sexy, reminiscing - maybe if we'd had Summer weather it would have hit big, there's always next year. With the follow-up I much prefer the 120bpm 'Bedroom Eyes' mix by Roots Manuva and the 63bpm Prince Fatty. Prince Fatty in particular has created an authentic dub reggae 1970's Bob Marley feel, and Natty's song lends itself easily to such sexy production. The Roots Manuva is a little more on the edge as you'd expect however compared to original album version both are superior and make it difficult to then want to listen to the original

Stereophonics
You Are My Star new single 27 October
A Decade In The Sun - Greatest Hits album 17 Nov
Included on The Stereophonics new album 'You're A Star' should see the Top Ten with ease, however I'm not sure it's in with their best material. Considering my top three floor fillers ever for this part of the world, they always get a reaction and people know every word and sing at the top of their voices. At floorchomping number one with attitude Rage Against The Machine 'Killing In The Name Of' then at two Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition' supreme and at three Stereophonics 'Thousand Trees' always gets hands in the air and noise aplenty. I was lucky enough to be sent a demo copy of 'Trees' in May 96 before The Stereos were signed, I thought it was immediately great. Although Kelly and co have had a number one single and four number one albums the euphoric reaction to 'Trees' in particular remains a staggering achievemnet. A Stereophonics Greatest Hits album is long overdue
and this is an excellent collection which demonstrates Kelly's quest to try different arrangements and topics. Well worthy and another number one album

Wild Beasts
Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants single 13 Oct
First released a couple of years back in November 2006 .. "a bit over the head" I said at the time. This is another bizarre bunch of weirdos, a bit of an aquired taste but given a chance Wild Beasts could carve out their own niche. Trademark high pitched waily type vocal noises against a steady 120bpm rhythm track makes for a hypnotic and strange listening experience ... "The boys call the ecstatic solidarity which they create for themselves through their communal practice of support, 'the crack'... " Check 'The Old Dog' not as song about our canine friends but rather "There's life in the old dog yet". Eh? Well weird

Will Tang
Everything Changes new single 27 November
The title track of Will recent album is released as a single and it's the kind of accoustic fayre I really like. A fine song well produced at around three minutes and a solid 56/112bpm 'Everything Changes' should be playlisted by Radio Two and Bob's yer uncle. A good record