It seems only scant days since last Christmas, but November is now here and the next festive season is just around the metaphorical corner. With just a few weeks until we open the first door in our advent calendars, and a few more until the inevitable X-Factor winning Christmas Number One (please let it be John and Edward just to wipe the grin of Simon Cowell's orange chops), there is little time left in the Noughties to see any more true musical classics... Will any of these snatch the prize at the last moment?

Crazy Arm – Henry Fabian Flynn
Descending guitar licks punctuate a passionate indie rock number which is reminiscent of that eighties Wonderstuff/Levellers crusty-lite sound. Fans will already have the album but this download only single will appeal in its inclusion of two spiky, unreleased live faves. (SB)

Dead Confederate – The Rat
You may have caught these guys supporting Dinosaur Jnr on their recent UK dates. This is one of the more anthemic, radio friendly numbers from their forthcoming Wrecking Ball album which blends the musicality of Radiohead with the throat ripping intensity of Kurt Cobain.(SB)

Royksopp – This Must be It
Smouldering, disco friendly belter from their acclaimed Junior album which splashes falsetto yelps and space cadet moog movements all over a rampant, pornographic Donna Summer beat. Great fun.(SB)

The Dead Weather – I Cut Like A Buffalo
Recent album Horehound never really takes off but, taken in isolation, this is a belter of a track. Insane lyrics and unhinged delivery don’t detract from the awesome Hammond driven soundtrack which is a bit like baggy era Inspiral Carpets tackling Inna Gadda Da Vida. (SB)

Daniel Merriweather – Water & A Flame
When you read that this is produced by Mark Ronson and features Adele you kinda know what you are going to get. You won’t be far from the mark as Adele does her best whinehouse impression and attempts to lift this insipid Sunday morning sex ballad from the background it is desperately trying to sink into. Smokey Robinson is currently over here, do yourself a favour and spend you pennies on his greatest hits instead. (SB)

Jackson Analogue – Glue
This’ll clear your head after a night out on the lash. A groovy sixties beat number, reminiscent of the poppier moments of the Yardbirds is somehow morphed into a crunching rawk fest that Soundgarden would have been proud of. (SB)

The Good Gods – Heebie Geebies/Addicted To Love
A very odd but endearing little package. ‘Heebie Geebies’ is like nothing so much as Coldplay reinvented as a skiffle band while their cover of ‘Addicted To Love’ is a predictably arch affair which recalls the glory days of the Flying Lizards. (SB)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
Come again? Yes The Darwin Award for 2009 goes to the jerk who re-releases one of the eighties best loved classics with eleven – eleven!?! - limp new remixes but doesn't think to include the peerless original. What a dufus! (MJ)

Zambri - Easier
Warped, trashy electro seemingly formed from the synchronised freeek dreams of MGMT 'n' Prince and made flesh by a pair of sultry New York dolls. Sounds totally filthy. This is all good. (MJ)

Plastiscines - Barcelona
If they can keep giving the finger to the suits trying to tame them, this rowdy French quartet could really do some damage. Their 2007 French-language debut kicked King Kong-sized ass and I so hope they keep their raw power for next year's big bucks follow-up. (MJ)

Janee & Bless Beats - Sex & The City
[Listens to said “record”. Calmly walks to window. Calmly opens window. Calmly jumps from fiftieth floor] (MJ)

The Toxic Avenger - Toxic Is Dead
Epic French techno which falls dead centre between baffling and brilliant. If John Carpenter was 21 again this is the sound he would be putting in his horror films. The video's beyond cool too. (MJ)



JLS - Everybody in Love
Dull boyband-cum-R&B mediocrity. JLS didn't win the glorified X-Factor talent show yet we're still subject to these aural assaults that were outdated a decade ago. (CP)

Paolo Nutini - Pencil Full Of Lead
More chipper, over-happy music - sounds like something out of the deep-south thirty years ago. Some may like it, I don't. (CP)

Kick to Kill - Cut Me
Drums, guitars, hiss and very few lyrics. Nothing interesting or insightful on offer from Kick to Kill, slightly punk without the attitude or direction and certainly none of the interest. (CP)

Erik Hassle - Hurtful
Stupid hair, stupid song. One of our peer sites claim Mr Hassle's single is 'a total modern masterpiece'. It's neither modern or a masterpiece and is really just more of the same dull sound that we've seen more than enough of from almost any male-fronted pop act of the last ten years. (CP)

Calvin Harris - Flashback
From one dull pop numpty to another, Calvin Harris' Flashback is euro-trash of the highest order. With synths and a clinically boring over-produced sheen. The remixes were the best things on Calvin's previous singles (suggesting that Mr Harris needs someone elses talent to sound any good), but this time around we don't even seem to have one of them - unless, of course, the disc that hits retail is different to the one I have in my grubby mits. (CP)

Middle Class Rut - All Walks Of Life
Four minutes of a Marilyn Manson riff with little tune or melody isn't going to excite anyone. Add in the shouty-vocals-by-numbers and you'll find yourself stuck in a Middle Of The Road Rut. (AM)

Trashcan Sinatras - People
This track isn't going to cause any great shakes but for music fans who like their guitar music as gentle as possible, it's a pleasant enough listen which is well made and doesn't outstay its welcome. (IS)

Jonathan Jeremiah - Happiness
Still not keen. Just like his last single 'What's a Guy To Do ?', the smooth Bacharach-inclined thang the London singer songwriter peddles leaves me cold. It's all a bit early Cat Stevens but without the storytelling vitality. It's all a bit cordurouy. (GK)

Single of the Week

And, aided by the threat of a wrestle in the TMF car park with Mr Mules if I don't pick the following track, we have this week's single of the week...

Colourmusic - Yes! EP
Just when it seems that the rock & roll conveyer belt is beginning to loop round on itself, something comes along to remind us that there is more beyond the grey factory walls. Colour Music are that wake up call - hot-wiring the conveyer belt into spasms of technicolour overdrive. This is what happens when a Yorkshire-man and Oklahoman meet in a commune. Their fusion produces such intense sonic waves that all caught in its range are powerless to resist. Each note is precious. With raw and natural production - reminiscent of the early Go! Team releases. Every track on this EP is amazing. Embrace them now. (AM)

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