1.Neon Neon - ‘Stainless Style’ album

2. The Hives - ‘Bigger hole to fill’ (From The Black & White album)

Hidden at the end of their latest album which is more miss than hit is this gem. one of their finest. Coming on like Duran Duran covering The Monkees ranting on about not having time to do things for people; “A man who fights for causes worthy of a fool, is a fool to fight for causes that’s the golden rule, I take it to the table know all know fix know how, but if I’m gonna do it I ain’t gonna do it now”. Most people would have been right to write them off but with a song as good as this there may be a glimmer of hope beyond their brilliant live shows.

3.We are Scientists - ‘Lethal Enforcer’

Thankfully nothing like their lame Placebo’esque debut, this highlight from their recent second album is similar in vein to Neon Neon but without the cheese, 80s percussion all the way and a pop chorus to die for.

4.Portishead - ‘The Rip’ (From ‘Third’)

People are acting as if Portishead’s third album; ‘Third’ is unlistenable, it’s hardly as if the other two were easy listening now were it? It is as heavy going as their other two with occasional glimmers of otherworldly brilliance, ‘We carry on’ and ‘Machine Gun’ are of another planet but it’s this folky gem which stands out. Beth on heartbreaking form and the acoustic intro melting into warm analogue synth sounds will have you stop in your tracks every time you hear it.

5.Does it offend you, yeah? - ‘Epic Last Song’

Highlight from the universally panned (apart from me) debut. Yes, they throw all sorts at the wall to see what sticks but that’s what makes it so exciting. This is the next single to be taken from the album and is one of the best tracks from it. All weird UFO style noises augments a banging indie track which highlights Bloc Party’s shortcomings in their forays into electronic noodlings. They must be doing something right however, they’ve been picked to support Nine Inch Nails on their next tour.

6. Ladytron - ‘Predict the day’ (From Velocifero album)

Ladytrons recent more industrial edge is pushed slightly aside to incorporate a poppier edge on their forthcoming forth album. It’s a shame that they bubble just under the periphery of people’s awareness as they are currently on fire, particularly on this track. With eerie synth twiddles and minimal but rock hard beats, this track could have easily have been produced by Timbaland, it’s that good.

7. The Subways - ‘Kalifornia’ (From All or Nothing cd released - June)

For all the bombast they think they’ll achieve with their long awaited second album, they won’t. If you like your rock, you’ll find it pretty underwhelming, like kids playing at being the big rock band, whereas indie kids will probably find it too heavy. They failed to achieve the happy medium between the two which is why the album is doomed to failure with or without Butch Vigs shiny production. This track though shows what could have been if they carried on with the pop senses of their first album, sadly there are too few songs as good as this on the album.

8.The Kills - ‘Love is a deserter’ (Simian Mobile Disco rmx)

This is old but I’ve just heard it so it’s new to me. The Kills to these ears leave something wanting.Remixes of their have proven to be much better with Mstrkrft and Jagz Kooner in particular breathing fresh new electro life into their murky rhythm and blues. Backed by a pumping electro beat reminiscent of Prince on ketamine, this remix ticks all the correct boxes with humping basslines and filthy electronic squelches all over it, tip top.

9. The Glimmers - ‘Wanna make out’

An electro house hybrid with smatterings of New Order influences and Princess Superstar rapping lyrics so common you’d expect them to come from some slapper in Majestyks in Leeds, ‘I like…your lips, you like….my tits’…classy.

10. Yeasayer - ‘All hours cymbals’ Album

This Brooklyn 4 piece are slowly but surely making a name for themselves and with a deeply intoxicating album of pychaedelic rock full of Eastern promise with ocasional glimpses of Jane’s Addiction and Soundgarden as influences, this could become a stoners favourite