The Mountain Goats: - Talahassee
The reason you should get this album is quite simple: the lyrics. At times heartfelt, at others heart-warming, at others just plain random

Mclusky: The Difference Between Me And You Is That I'm Not On Fire
Ultimately, though, those with the patience and ear to give it a few listens will be rewarded by an album to blow the cobwebs off anything. Some could see it as the start of mclusky growing up.

Various Artists: Hey, where'd the summer go? (A Humblebee records compilation)
Over the 24 songs the quality does not dip, the tunes are almost relentless, and there are plenty "Ooh, who's this?" reach-for-the-tracklisting moments.

Modest Mouse: Good news for people who like bad news
There's the lyrics - not quite classic poetry, granted, but any band that turns "You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?" into an anthemic chant deserves some sort of recognition.

Lampchop: Aw C'mon / No You C'mon
It feels like a best of. It isn't one; each of the 24 tracks is new and previously unreleased. Contained within them, though, are echoes of the band's previous six full-length releases.

Rilo Kiley: More adventurous
Rilo Kiley, more then most, make music for semi-consciousness. You could take that the wrong way, but I don't mean they're boring - rather, they craft simple, sweet pop songs ideal for drifting off into daydreams.

Misterlee: The night of the killer longface
Musically, less is more for Misterlee. Simple but effective, the album features little production, but doesn't suffer for it; in fact, it adds to the unusual eeriness the permeates the album.

Sam Huxley: Very good
We'll forgive him the cheek of calling the first song 'Very Good' - acoustic, with a strong melody, it's certainly catchy.

Live review #1: James Yorkston & the Athletes at the Birmigham Academy
This, it seems, is it. Trying to wriggle around the rules, Yorkston steps away from the microphone, unplugs his guitar and gets his associates to sing chorus harmonies on one final tune.

Live Review: Joanna Newsom - Birmingham Glee Club - 22nd November
The intimate setting allows full appreciation of both angry crescendos and doe-eyed, tender moments. Newsom looks genuinely mournful at times, and it's clear she's putting her all into the performance.

Live review: Ballboy @ the Water Rats, London, 8th December 2004
More than that, though, the tenderness of the subtler songs is complemented by a peaceful, sometimes almost mournful look on Gordon's face, especially on the powerful new 'Slow Days'.