R.E.M. – Hollow Man
Fine single from the consistently brilliant Accelerate, emphasising just why they have such longevity. With its typically big riffs and Stipe’s lyrically aching chorus it sweeps along with such panache that it could have fitted into their Green album with ease. 8/10
THE RASCALS – Freakbeat Phantom
Back to the day job for Miles Kane after The Last Shadow Puppets’ outings, and unfortunately it very much sounds like a comedown. Sure there are echoes of his Monkeys’ associate with similarly poetically modern lyrics, but the tunes still don’t quite match up. Hopefully the album, to finally be released next week, will prove otherwise. 6/10
THE ZUTONS – Always Right Behind You
You won’t find more upbeat Scousers than The Zutons, and quite rightly so after Ms Winehouse and co have made their fortune for them. That aside it is easy to forget just how good The Zutons are, as this foot stomping single shows. New album You Can Do Anything shows the darker side of the band too, who are firmly back on our record player. 8/10
ELBOW – One Day Like This
The defining moment from the exemplary and unanimously praised The Seldom Seen Kid, where you truly realised just what an epic band Elbow had become. Gloriously ambitious, hugely extravagant, and ending with the most uplifting coda heard for years, it is set to become to summer’s great singalong at festivals everywhere. Simply fantastic. 10/10