Bright Eyes

Hot Knives / If The Brakeman Turns My Way

Conor Oberst seems to have finally grown up. Gone are the slightly irritating idiosyncrasies, the poor production and the overwhelming ego that have often marred his output to date. more… “Bright Eyes”

The Twilight Sad

And She Would Darken The Memory Of Youth

Glasgow’s The Twilight Sad have caused something of a stir in recent months. Having been hailed as everything from the natural successors to Mogwai to the ultimate saviours of Scottish rock, this single, the second to be taken from album Fourteen Autumns And Fifteen Winters, comes as something of a disappointment. more… “The Twilight Sad”

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Is Is EP

For many of us Karen O and her cohorts have been quiet for far too long, so this five track EP comes as a welcome shot of adrenaline to see us through to the next album, whenever that may come. more… “Yeah Yeah Yeahs”

Yellobelly

Blood-Tainted Love

Remember the Swinging Laurels, kids? ‘Course not. OK, how about the Beautiful South? Gaz Birtles was in both of them in the 90s. Come back! The confirmation that this new band’s sound is rooted in the decade that music forgot may cement your decision to climb into your bunker, but in fact the lead track here is a really rather fine pop tune, and one with a message to boot – “Big boys at play gambling live away” an indictment of the evil in the world. However, it’s done in such a persuasively ‘nice’ way – in the vein of contemporaries Black or China Crisis – it’s a protest that could win over even the most hardened New Labour supporter.

The Nova Saints

The Draft EP

This self-released EP boasts some pretty impressive credentials on paper; it was produced by Paul Corkett, who has previously worked with the likes of The Cure, and ex-Verve guitarist Nick McCabe. But do they live up to it? more… “The Nova Saints”

Beirut

Elephant Gun

I think you’ll find that, if you check your record collection, you don’t have enough Serbian inspired pop in it. more… “Beirut”