In the absence of Idlewild, this is filling a hole nicely. Such lovely Scottish bands...

Such a great old song.  I'm sure my mum used to play it when I was small because it always conjures up memories of childhood for me.

Having never been certain before, I am now totally convinced that CSS are ace.  The new album Donkey is packed full of pouty little electro-pop tracks like Move...  jump. about.

I've been meaning to write something about the Guillemots new album for some time now, but discovering 'Cockateels' today has finally given me the push I needed; such lovely sentiment, this is the recorded equivalent of a wide reassuring smile from someone you love dearly.  Their debut album garned much acclaim, but to my mind 'Red' is infinitely more alluring.

Such a pretty video, it left a lingering feeling of nostalgia and a certain sense of freedom, and made me really listen to the song for the first time.  It's not at all what I thought it was.

How strange is this song?! All whooping and Talking Heads synths.  But there's something I still quite like about it - maybe just that it's a bit of a departure from those obvious indie power ballads.

Continuing in the Latin vein, this is summery, pretty and makes me think of tripping barefoot through a meadow with bluebirds flying along beside me.  All a bit retro kitsch, but very lovely.

Looking for Latin flavours for a French parfumier; it's been a disjointed afternoon.  This cover of 'I Will Survive' was the clear highlight - how very entertaining!

A song which appeared on the soundtrack to a very odd film, the end of which I managed to sleep through.  It's quite a beguiling little tune though...

The new Maroon 5?  Do we need a new Maroon 5?
I really like the sentiment in this song, and he does have a fabulous voice.

In what is a twist on the usual 'new guy sings old favourite' arrangement, this is a very old guy singing a... oh wait, that was how long ago?!
Anyway, after the shock of realising this song is about 15 years old, you can enjoy what is a really good cover version by one of Country's finest.

I tripped over this whilst trawling a list of American folk.  Given that he's Australian, I will consider this discovery a happy accident.  It has hints of Simon and Garfunkel through the chorus and it's really quite lovely.

I can't remember where I first heard this, but I'm sure it was with reluctance as I'd always considered the band a bit raucous for my tastes.  This however is a sexy little song which I just can't get enough of.

I'm sure this gets played on Radio 2 every now and then, but today it came to me by way of Nickel Creek, and I really listened this time.

For some reason Def Leppard have never really been on my radar. Strange to have been introduced to them via some rainbow graphics and burning matches!

Something I can sing along to and believe in, all at the same time.  And contrary to expectations, I'm loving the new album.

Sun sun sun.
If only!
Cute and catchy little tune - can't wait to see if they're as much fun live.

One from the Colin Murray show.  Not at all like I remember it, and with a very out of place trumpet solo I don't remember at all, but something about it is pretty good.

Oo, it's filthy and lovely, and oh so good, and it makes me resent the Wembley traffic even more - can't wait for the album now!

A noisy reminder of what Easyworld might have become had they stayed together.  Who says there's a time and a place for everything?

It was just an intro, and a live one at that, that was all I had time for, but tracking down and savouring the entire song later on did nothing to change my mind - it's great!

The highlight of a highly satisfying evening; this has classic written right through it, if only people knew...

I wanted not to like it, as it seems I have a fated relationship with Infadels, but the music won through; this song is just such great fun - the Poor should be chuffed!

I generally frown upon audience participation of any kind, but tonight a rousing harmonic refrain of 'Sing, I know you know the words' was a real pleasure.

I'd said it was a pretty little song, but listening through again it's actually as miserable as sin.  But still pretty.

I do love a good come-back tune, especially when they're available to download for free!
(www.nin.com)

I am compelled to sing the line 'you and me both kid' over the riff in this chorus. And I haven't yet  worked out why.   Love the song though, whatever it reminds me of...

An old favourite, which touched a new place today.  Always a favourite, all the same.

Haven't heard this in ages. It's all a bit Scissor Sisters basically, but there's nothing wrong with that, especially to kick-start the week.

A song about infinite beauty and minute detail. It's a ray of pure joy in a dark sky day.

Despite a very frustrating morning trying to listen to this again, like, anywhere online, and coming very close to putting my massive new boot through the PC screen, I still really love this song. Zane Lowe (who else?) played it, and I have to agree that I'd stake a fair wedge on this song and band being h.u.g.e. in a year's time. Just don't attempt a web search for them.

Colin Murray to thank for this.   It's really quite unusual, and there aren't many bands you can say that about these days.  They call their music 'baroque harmonic pop jams'.  As good a description as any, I reckon.

I'm not a big fan, but this song builds nicely in all the right places.  It might be enough to make me change my mind...

Loud and old sounding.  That's all it takes today.

A song I'd not really taken much notice of, until the nostalgia drenched video fell on my desk. If my life should flash before me, I'd like it to be in hazy '70s technicolour.

After a brief analysis with my coastal comrade (the savouring of a new R.E.M. album woudn't be the same without her), I played this song very loud several times, trying a new harmony each time.  Utterly marvellous!

A familiar name, a sweet song; a pretty find in an afternoon of dull routine.

Janice Long provided the soundtrack to a long and meandering journey home.  Despite being thoroughly annoying in many ways, she does play some great music, and this track, featuring the guy from The Zutons, is no exception.

Someone gave me a Lapsang Souchong tea today. That brought the day's tally of disgust to two.

After being initially wowed by this track (thank you once again Zane Lowe), I was disappointed with their perfomance on 'Later...'  way too much girly shouting.

My immediate favourite from the new album; it's just sublime, and chokes me up in all the right places.
A perfect pleasure pain record.

Which ties in nicely with this week's reading material.  Not sure about that guitar solo though - all a bit ELO, which when ELO do it is fine, but otherwise should be avoided.

This little number sports a marvellously squelchy bassline which made me smile all afternoon - brilliant!

I'm not really sure what this is or how it fits into the scheme of things, but I quite like it all the same.

How many times have we said - 'that'll be the next single'?  Well this time I'm writing it down...

This is a B-side?! Brilliant!

A great support act (excited me more than the headliner at any rate), and some cracking songs, even if he does sound a little like Bryan Adams. Or is it Bon Jovi?

Not a new track, but one which heralded the realisation that all that old stuff doesn't mean as much at all anymore.  This is where it's at.

I feel like I have woken from a very long sleep, and this is like breathing in the piercing energy of a long awaited morning.  I am inspired all over again...

The lyric 'I'm only going to heaven if it tastes like caramel' came to mind this evening during a conversation with a less than attractive woman. An alarming juxtaposition of images. Heaven and hell indeed.

Who'd have thought an Arctic Monkeys side project would have me wanting more!?

Something familiar about this - understated and quite unhappy, but I like it all the same.

An Oscar winner! And a lovely story about receiving a congratulatory message from Bono - the stuff of dreams!

I thought the other one would make it all OK, but it's just too much like the best bits of the past; a shadow of what could have, should have been.  This is alright with me, in hindsight.

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes!  I feel a new wave of obsession coming on. (I like it like that and I know it).

What a bassline! What a bloody marvellous bassline! A wide smile spreads...

Why is it you wake up singing songs by people you really don't like?  There's just no keeping a good tune down.

Still waiting for a way in, for the elusive penny to drop.  A little more of this and it might not be too much longer...

Arcade Fire meets Flaming Lips; how could it not be brilliant?!

I can't work out what this guy is, he has so many facets.  And I don't rightly know where to put this song, but maybe none of that matters anyway.

Between the unceasing reggae and the vitriolic blast of rock guitar I could just about make out this song, gentle and optimistic, cutting through the varying layers of bullshit.

Reminds me of that Flaming Lips / Chemical Brothers collaboration, but Antony Hegarty's distinctive vocals take this into another league - infectious!

Just another week of abductions, murders, and general abuse of the young.  I am surprised by how much this bothers me; usually it's just animal mistreatment that upsets me.  But back to the point - Vampire Weekend are apparently 'The Next Big Thing'.  Other than this quirky little number, I'm not sure I'd agree.

A great return, which doesn't sound like them at all, and yet sounds like we were always going to love it.

I think about the paths I've travelled since I saw Scanners play a dark damp room in a seedy corner of London.   Of all those unsigned bands I've seen, they were always the one I remember.

Simple and sweet and real and dark all at once.  That could describe many things I enjoy...

Glorious cover of the year so far; hot, sticky and thoroughly delicious.

A very strange thing indeed, the component parts of which I enjoy very much, but as a whole, well I'm not quite sure... If it were the early 90's, however...

Sigur Ros with a touch of the Flying Pickets.  On paper it sounds appalling, but in reality it's actually rather nice.

Something familiar, something overfriendly, overused.  But something pleasing all the same.

Fingers crossed... and it's a winner! Nostalgia and a fresh pot of fun, all in one.

By way of Zane Lowe; today's sing-a-long favourite.

Heard on 6Music whilst cleaning the kitchen! Inspirational.

Vocal craziness, and oddly compelling.  Escudos!

For the moment that glorious bass breaks through - like a fine sunset in the dark of the night.

Another advert - British Airways this time.  Seems the best place to find new music these days!

Something about this song chokes me up; it seems laced with a fatalistic sadness.

One of those rare occasions where a cover version rivals the original. The dub vibe speads...

Gentle and sublime; from the new Volvo advert.

Mainly for the words  'stay where you are dear, i’ll find a way in'.

The most breathtaking reinvention in a long long time. Beautiful.

A shouty electro start to the day; I hadn't realised I liked this so much.

The music on the current Kleenex advert.  Led to the first impulse purchase of the year. (CD not tissues!)

A surprisingly lovely cover; Manchester by way of the southern hemisphere.

Surely there must be some interesting new music here somewhere? Ah, here it is!

From the Garden State soundtrack, I stumbled across this whilst looking for something nautical.

A lovely acoustic way to start the year. A new song, a new artist, a new start.