THE RAVEONETTES - ODE TO L.A.
PROMO ONLY

This is such a beautiful melody and production, quite surprising and I like surprising. Pretty In Black will be released soon and things are looking good for The 'Rave On' ettes, as in the Buddy Holly song - this deserves to be a single and a Top Five-er - number one if quality would prevail. XXXXx www.theraveonettes.com

NO HOPE IN NEW JERSEY - NEW DESIGN IN HELL
new single released 18 April

These guys are getting meaner by the moment. This is heavy, superb riffing The Stereos can only dream of, suffice it to say I don't think you'll hear this on Radio 2 - Heading for the Top Ten. XXXx www.nohopeinnewjersey.com

KAISER CHIEFS - EMPLOYMENT
new album out now

Thhe Kaiser's are hot at the moment and this Album highlights why. Fantastic hooks, great melodies, brilliant production and a variety of moods. A mellow 'Caroline, Yes' and the pacey 'Na Na Na Na Nah' would make good singles and 'Every Day I Love You Less'. Lyrically there is something rather different in a Morrissey type way - the subject matter is very from the heart and surprising, a brilliant collection from start to finish. XXXXx www.kaiserchiefs.co.uk

BRENDAN BENSON - THE ALTERNATIVE TO LOVE new album 14 March / SPIT IT OUT new single 7 March

Brendan Benson's best to date. This set kicks off with the single 'Spit It Out' and continues at a pace. Highlights include the title track 'Alternative To Love', which itself would make a great single with it's clever lyric. BB just played a sell out show at Cardiff Barfly in February and I really hope he gets the luck required to crack the mainstream. A good solid listen, XXXX www.brendanbenson.com

ARCADE FIRE - NEIGHBOURHOOD
new album FUNERAL released 28 February

This four piece have produced something almost unique in 05, a David Byrne-esque where does this fit album. Neighbourhood is frightening, a mad desperate delivery on the vox, and an oblique arrangement. Neighbourhood is so different it is completely refreshing and on repeated plays becomes more so. Neighbourhood Power Out is not a remix but a completely different song to the opener Neighbourhood Laika, well who would think of doing that? This is excellent material. XXXX www.arcadefire.com

KINGS OF LEON - KING OF THE RODEO
new single 11 April

Kings Of Leon are one of the most exciting bands of now, sell out shows, much larger venues and not surprising because there is something rather unique about their sound. Their Texan drawl is mysterious and captivating, the musicianship both challenging in a punky kind of way whilst also being kind of mellow. Bizarre and brilliant - Top Ten. XXXXx www.kingsofleon.com

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE -
LULLABIES TO PARALYZE new album out 21 March

Little Sister has been doing the business on the dancefloor for four weeks now, it'll be in the Top 10 this weekend and their Album will follow it to the Top Five on March 27, maybe even Number One! Four storming songs on the sampler include the single, Medication, In My Head and Born The Witch. If you fancy getting a n early feel so to speak, try the game here XXXXx www.qotsa.com

KASABIAN - CLUB FOOT
new single 21 March

Playlisted at 40 plus American Radio Stations, big UK tour in April - Ally Pally on the 28th. Club Foot - much requested and second time around ... this will be Top Five in 05 XXXX www.kasabian.co.uk

THE DONNAS - I DON'T WANT TO KNOW (IF YOU DON'T WANT ME)
new single 7 March

Where do The Donas come from? "40 Boys In 40 Days" is rocket fuel. This second single from their Gold Medal album is more highly charged rock in the Girlschool, Runaways vein rather than Blondie. Perrhaps a little more controlled but nevertheless rockin. Three UK dates in Glasgow, Manchester & London in March to promote the single and I hope they go Top Ten. XXXx www.thedonnas.com

FISCHERSPOONER - JUST LET GO
new single released 21 March

This is how I reviewed the 7 minute 12" dance mix - "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." On hearing the single edit and accompanying instrumental I'd go further, this is a fine with a great rhythm track and could possibly go Top 5. XXXx www.fischerspooner.com

FISCHERSPOONER - ODYSSEY
new album released 4 April

Yet another mix of the single Just Let Go and this is good stuff, solid depthy lyrics, great arrangement, very dancefloor, very now - this will be a big hit album for Warren & Casey. I'd just been sampling LCD Soundsystem when this arrived, I think this is probably where LCD are heading, Odyssey has a very atmospheric and mesmerizing appeal, it's a fine listen. XXXx www.fischerspooner.com

HAL - PLAY THE HITS
new single released 4 April

This is a fine pop tune from their Hal's album, now due for release a couple of weeks after this single. With lush Beach Boy-esque harmonies, a sublime mystifying lyric and great pop sensibility this should be a massive hit. The only thing against it's chances are, they weren't on Pop Idol and this is more pop than rock, but I love it. XXXXX www.halmusic.com

THE DEAD 60's - THE LAST RESORT
new single released 28 March

Liverpool band The Dead 60's recently supported Kasabian, The Zutons, The Thrills and Morrissey and their single Riot Radio is quite often requested, a minor chart hit and The Last Resort should progress upon that. Atmospheric bass, "wired-up punk" even - reggae and dub influences abound, and a hauntingly sad lyric. You can catch the Dead 60's at Cardiff Barfly on Saturday 19th March, before this goes Top 20 on the 3rd April, there how's that for a prediction. XXXX www.thedead60s.com

BRITISH SEA POWER -
IT ENDED ON AN OILY STAGE
new single 14 March

British Sea Power's second album 'Open Season will be released on 4 April, and Oily Stage is the first taste. This is pretty impressive stuff, there is a dark side to BSP and it was a little hard to take in some of the longer tracks on their debut, however this is just right It's title could suggest any subject matter, possibly a little current affair's who knows? This is far more accessible, commercial even and will be quite at home in the Top Twenty. XXXx www.britishseapower.co.uk

BECK - E-PRO
new single 14 March

The Man is back, the King Of Cool. Whatever it or the X factor is, Beck has it in abundance. 'E-Pro' is the first single to be released from 'Guero', the new Beck album out on March 28, and it even has a Nah-nah-nah-nah chorus, along with pounding drums and guitar riff - all set to hit No.1 and push Elvis into 2nd Position with whatever the other King's label is pushing that week. XXXXx www.beck.com Check out this very special link for a cool remix by 'Bad Cartridge', www.bandbuilder.com/beck/index.php

JIM NOIR - MY PATCH EP
new single 21 March

God Bless Jim Noir and anyone else who dares to break with any idea of conforming. Jim is quite simply ... charming! This latest batch of songs sound so deceptively naive and innocent you could be forgiven for thinking they were recorded in the 1960's. But woah look at the titles - Computer Song, Turn Your Frown Into A Smile, My Patch, and How To Be So Real. Accoustic based innovatory and lyrically unique-ish XXXX www.jimnoir.com

SYSTEM OF A DOWN - CIGARO
taster from new album MESMERIZE 18 April

Storming stuff from the greatly loved and requested System Of A Down, same quality as Chop Suey and Toxicity etc, if not better! Stark and aggresive, perhaps a little more mainstream than Slipknot, but equally challenging. This new song Cigaro is not due for single release although it will sit happily with their definitive song Chop Suey. Link to their yet to be updated website, that's how new this promo is! XXXX www.systemofadown.com

STEREOPHONICS -
LANGUAGE SEX VIOLENCE OTHER
new album 14 March DAKOTA new single out 28 February

The pressure's on - an undoubtedly popular band but big headed member has been despatched, get it right it's a fourth straight Number One Album, get it wrong and the fans are left behind.
I've always had a soft spot for Kelly even though he never gave me the lyric sheet for A Thousand Trees he promised he would. He doesn't say much but every word is measured and has maximum impact. A former Market Trader, he is an astute businessman and this record even before you put it on is obviously special.
A lot of thought must have gone into the unique construction of this album, it's title taken from DVD and film classification, only one word song titles are used, the sleeve artistry by Graham Routhwaite is superb, the completely overhauled website is fascinating.

'Dakota' the first single out on Feb 28, is this album's 'Have A Nice Day' and could be the band's first No.1 single.
The Album opener 'Superman' (the first song written for this album), has another sound effect-ual intro, an appetizer to open and then the power riffs begin.
If Kelly were to be reincarnate, he'd probably come back as AC/DC. And there lies the conundrum, are these songs to hard for the pop audience and too soft for the rock audience? I don't know, time will tell.
It could be Kelly has reached perfection. All the songs are again well written and sung in the best 'Rod Stewart' vocal rock 'stylee' and there are some very powerful riffs. Very often the test of a song, a true classic is whether you grow to love it more or dispense with it - these songs are definate grower's because the melodies are so strong. Try Deadhead or Lolita.
And I can't wait to see Kelly Jones being interviewed on Cable TV, surely it's gonna happen one day! XXXX www.stereophonics.com

HOOD - THE NEGATIVES
new single 21 March

I rather like the lush arrangement of this single 'The Negatives'. Like Jim Noir, Hood are very on their own patch, like a Bolan-esque vocal, is that a hand-clap effect, and a semi-stringlike arrangement of a mellow yet uplifting song. Some more interesting effects can be heard on Tracks 2 & 3, 'Squint In The First Light Of Da' and 'The Sad Decline Of Home' XXX www.hoodmusic.net

SIMPLE PLAN - STILL NOT GETTING ANY new album 28 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