THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES - HEADING FOR A BREAKDOWN
new single 28 February

This is a fine new single from a band who came very close to cracking the UK last year with their Big Time single. Breakdown is catchy, commercial and a little off the wall at the same time - it could well achieve some mainstream air-play which would help TSOOL into the Top 40 XXXx www.tsool.net

ALEC EMPIRE - GOTTA GET OUT
new single 28 February

This heavy, v heavy. Gotta Get Out is the first taste of Alex follow-up to 1999's double CD 'Intelligence & Sacrifice' for which he won Kerrang's Spirit of Independence Award. This is hard rockin' tune screeched out with some applomb, depending on profile young Alex could find himself singing on a TOTP Sunday, in the Top Ten. XXX www.alecempire.com

SIMPLE PLAN - SHUT UP
new single 21 February

This could be Blink 182 or Bowling For Soup. It's well written American Power Pop, tight lyrics, and musical arrangement. Tight image. When I say American of course I mean Canadian, for it is from Montreal that this five piece originate. Probably the pop rock equivalent of Blue, nice nevertheless XXXx www.simpleplan.com

CHARLOTTE HATHERLY - BASTARDO
new single 21 February

Charlotte's one night stand eh? That'll teach her 'Good lookin Spanish Type' stole her guitar. But he did leave some money. Bastardo is quite pacy, not quite as powerful as her group Ash's Girl From Mars, and the lyrics are a little indecipherable on times. This is a shame because I'd really like to know specifically what happened during this liaison dangereuse. Abit of a mesmerizing video accompanies this too! XXXXx www.charlottehatherley.com

OCEAN'S TWELVE - SOUNDTRACK
new album 31 January

Not a hit or a song on the album, but if you fancy a little soft and interesting 'wallpaper' music now and again this might do your trick. The sequel to Ocean's Eleven features a great cast, a little humour and a specific soundtrack by David Homes. In fact some great atmospheric pre-gig music. However, it's just what we DJ's like - some great new incidental music to talkover. 'Yen On A Carousel' with it's Taxman/Start, Beatles/Jam feel in particular. This is joining Jim Noir in my music bed's section right away! XXx www.oceans12.warnerbros.com

FISCHERSPOONER
new single 21 March

This is a cool new tune from Fisher Spooner, served up in a 12" dance mix stylee and more than that it's rather difficult to say except - it's got a good beat and should go Top Twenty. XXx www.fischerspooner.com

GREEN DAY - HOLIDAY
new single 21 February

Awesome!
How fantastic that Green Day's brilliant 'American Idiot' Album in reaching number one put the Simon Cowell-esque manufactured pop nonsense where it should be - secondary. XXXXx www.greenday.com

THE FUTUREHEADS - HOUNDS OF LOVE new single 28 February

Yep this is a cover of Kate Bush's 1985 Album Track and we've started getting requests for it as far back as November, this is a massive hit in waiting, Top Ten possibly. Wow hang on, that's an underestimation, this should be number one, it is a quite different interpretation of Kate Bush's original with an 05 indie sense of urgency that should be number one! XXXXX www.thefutureheads.tk

AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD - WORLD'S APART
new album 24 January

What's in a name eh? And how important is timing? Can't shelve the whole album and tour but I would guess they had a few soul-searching moments. There are some unique moments on this record and the title track 'Worlds Apart' sets the tone with it's "What's the future of rock & roll, I don't know does it matter?" and "with their cars and cribs and rings and shit is that what being a celebrity means?". Biting, discontented, challenging lyrics - this is an unyielding seamless testament of a band, a high and mighty concept and a great new album. XXXXx www.trailofdead.org

KT TUNSTALL - EYE TO THE TELESCOPE
new album out now

See her on Thursday at Cardiff Barfly. Oh sorry it's sold out, you'll have to get the album to savour the delights of 'False Alarm' or 'Stoppin The Love'. KT's delicious vocals grace each of her self penned songs to create a dreamy topping on a delightfully accoustic experience. The excellent single 'Black Horse & The Cherry Tree' has been added to this collection so make sure you don't buy the copy without it. Nice! XXXX www.kttunstall.com

THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS -
HAPPY RIDE
new single 28 February

Japan's finest have come to conquer, well they already did back in December with a sell-out tour of the UK. Happy Ride is a happy enough song, catchy but possibly a little irrelevent for us. If you like banging your head try track 2, (Cracker) - it's like computer music gone completely off the scale. But in the wierd and wonderful world we know as the singles chart - this could become a bit of a novelty, even though it's not supposed to be. XXx www.themadcapsulemarkets.co.uk

FAKE BAD NEWS - MONKEY RIDDLE
demo

Fake Bad News recorded these three tracks at Grass Roots in Charles Street in Cardiff, the same studios where Cerys Matthews spent so much time with Catatonia in their early days. With a bit of dosh and a good producer behind them any one of these four tracks could be given a hit makeover. The vocalist has a strong easy to listen to style, possibly the drums could be a little more complimentary with a different arrangement. 'Here He Goes Again' successfully revives the ... harmonica and the 'Bop Bop' vocals. Nice. Mark - 0783 4593352

NICO - LICENCE TO KILL
demo

Nico have played Cardiff Barfly a number of times now an have set about an unusual trick to revive the piano. However 'Licence To Kill' has a strong catchy melody, and a quite clever lyric as in "all she lacks is a licence to kill", and the harmonica sounds contemporary. With a bit of dosh and a good producer behind them this track could be turned into a hit. Not sure about the wisdom of titling a song Tommy Gun, which may for many bring The Clash epic to mind. findmikereed@hotmail.com