!!! – Myth Takes
“Post-punk, alt-funk, new-rave, punk disco, !!! (Chk, Chk,. Chk) have been called almost every music genre mish mash under the sun. But what ever it ism you sure can dance to it. Wearing their musical pedigree proudly (think Talking Heads meets Gang Of Four, meets Happy Mondays). ‘Myth Takes’ sees the 9-piece band in much tighter form, musically and lyrically than 2004’s ‘Louden Up Now’. This is destined to be their break through album and a dance floor killer. Highlights include ‘Must Be The Moonlight’ and ‘Heart Of Hearts.’”

SEMIFINALISTS - Semifinalists
The 'hot new thing' from the UK at the moment are the Semifinalists and for perhaps the first time ever this band is every bit worthy of the hype. From the opener 'Origin Song', Semifinalists keep you listening with sweet pop hooks and jangle playfulness never letting any formulas get in the way of a good melody. In ' The Chemicals That Wait' organs and guitars spin and swirl like they've blown over from a Flaming Lips song. While 'Upstream' draws comparisons to the pop-creativity of Architecture in Helsinki. The male/female vocals adding charm right up to the closing song 'From Several To Many' making this debut record the bearer of much needed warmth in the middle of winter. It seems second place is as good as we need to be with the semifinalists.

MODEST MOUSE – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
“It was always going to be difficult to top their sprawling ‘Good News For People Who Love Bad News’ but Modest Mouse led by Isaac Brock have out done themselves. Like a large novel that rewards repeated attempts to discover its charms, ‘We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank’ is full of irresistible jagged epic rock that doesn’t outstay its welcome over the 14 tracks. Thankfully new member Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and guest The Shins’ James Mercer add the perfect touch without stealing the limelight. It might be silly to start mentioning albums for 2007, but you can chalk this one next to The Shins and Arcade Fire for early contenders

THE DECEMBERISTS - Her Majesty The Decemberists
The Decemberists combine well crafted pop sensibilities to meander through a bunch of songs that range from pirate sea shanties to quite laments. Her Majesty is the Decemberists second record on the Kill Rock Stars label and it was co-produced by Larry Crane (Go-betweens, Elliot Smith) and Adam Selzer from impressive lo-fi country home recordists Norfolk & Western. Songwriter Colin Meloy has a classically Victorian literary tone to his characters and subject matter and it adds weight to his style. In parts reminiscent of Glen Richards from Augie March the formality of the imagery still beats with its own heart and affection. Meloy’s nasally tone reaches out and draws you into a world of whirling organs, whining accordions and lilting guitar lines. It is the words that set this band apart though and whether he’s singing about the writer Myla Goldberg, Los Angeles or a pair of soldiers affectionately celebrating their comradery his mutterings are colorful old world descriptions of a dreamy universe.

YOUTH GROUP – Skeletal Jar
"All of the promise of Youth Group's first record Urban & Eastern is repeated and built upon on their second long player Skeletel Jar. From the catchy FM rock of the opener Shadowland to the more introspective acoustic murmurs, this album has the sound of an intelligent well crafted pop band finding its voice. Like You Am I's 'Hourly Daily', it uses well arranged guitar pop music to warmly paint its own unique picture of the Australian suburbs. Wayne Connolly who also produced 'Hourly Daily' is behind the mixing console and his ear for clarity and separation in a recording gives this album extra weight sonically. Skeletal Jar delivers in the tunes department with a higher IQ then your average indie guitar record."

YO LA TENGO – Summer Sun
“Summer Sun is a continuation of the soft summery mutterings of And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out and throws in a few beautiful pop songs for good measure. The album was recorded in Nashville and includes a number of other players adding saxophone upright bass, violin and cello as well as other bits but like the Lambchop Is A Women album the extra musicians are managed to perfection and the space and intimacy of the record is never compromised. The track Season of the Shark is as good a college pop song as you'll hear from the Hoboken locals. Ira, Georgia and James have produced another heartfelt delight with all the melodic liquidity of its predecessor and a few subtle detours that keep the soundscape ever changing.”

BRIGHT EYES - I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
"Three years on from the epic 'Lifted' album, Bright Eyes releases two album simultaneously of different nature. Conor Oberst again assembles a who who's of indie rock band members and returns to Presto! studio with long-time engineer Mike Mogis. 'I'm Wide Awake It's Morning' takes his already established country sound and develops it a little further. Distinct backing vocals are provided by Emmylou Harris on 3 songs, and Jim James from My Morning Jacket 'At The Bottom Of Everything.' From simple and intimate vocal guitar songs like 'Lua' to full band sounds of trumpets, pedal steel etc ('Road To Joy'), Bright Eyes has fine tuned his sound to result in it being a more mature record.

SMOG – Supper
“You could be forgiven for forgetting the last couple of Smog records after the groundbreaking Knock Knock. Supper is somewhat of a return to form and sees Bill Callahan's deadpan acidic narratives delivered with a intriguing musical consistency. Many of the songs feature the vocals of Sarah Trucek and in much the same way as the new Bonnie Prince Billy record this adds another shade to the driving rhythms and skewed melodies. From the countrified opener Feather By Feather to the meditative closer Guiding Light, the songs on Supper establish a sparse landscape that showcases Smog's understated brilliance. For fans of Knock Knock and what came before there's certainly enough here to entice you back to the fold. This album came in at No. 50 in the Polyester Top 50 poll.”

SUFJAN STEVENS – Seven Swans
"Sufjan Stevens has been releasing banjo driven skewered electro folk records for a good few years now both as a solo act and with his former band the Danielson Family. Seven Swans follows on from its predecessor Songs from Michigan State and finds a consistency of stride that making it an accomplished songwriters record. Stevens has experimented with noise based Phillip Glass like shimmerings but with the focus of his last two records changing to a more basic songwriting approach the result is the emergence of a subtle and sensitive voice singing from a unique place. Stevens craft is the clever combination of astute and economical writing combined with a touch of technological wizardry."

SLEEPY JACKSON – Lovers
"After a procession of impressive EP's, The Sleepy Jackson finally released their debut album Lovers, laced with all the schizophrenic charms that filled their earlier releases. The album sweeps through musical stylings that range from country pop to psychedelic rock. Luke Steele has a knack for the off kilter arrangements while still being true to the melodic strengths of the tunes. On the new album his band become barn band, big band and bar band all in one, with the assistance of the Coogee Primary School choir. For all the bells and whistles, the Sleepy Jackson have produced an album that delivers on the promise of their introductory releases and consolidates the band as one of the legitimate prodigy's in the school of new Australian music."

DELORIS – Faking Our Deaths
“It's been a couple of years since Deloris released their The Pointless Gift album. Faking Our Deaths builds on the sounds establish on their last effort while trawling deeper to tap into a sound that's more emotive and interesting in its many layers. Although still very much a tuned to their indie post-rock roots, they have brought in other elements that have highlighted some pop sensibilities. Songs such as 'Feather Figure’ and 'Playing The Spaces' show a tuneful thread that makes that makes the record an accessible affair. Deloris could probably be files alongside other emo rock kids like Big Heavy Stuff and Bluebottle Kiss but this album is not just about emotive vocal growls, it succeeds in the detail, and the complex musical backdrop makes it a progressive and mature release.”

ROISIN MURPHY – Ruby Blue
“Murphy’s voice gets stretched and pulled in all directions over the course of the record, produced by Matthew Herbert. White noise sidles up against soft harmony loops, dilapidated ghosts of whispers past float through and in a bombastic moment, voices screech and seem to deliberately contradict one another in the battle for space. “Ramalama (Bang Bang)” is classic Herbert – a gargantuan orchestra kick drum sits back on the beat while the hi hats chatter away insistently on front of it giving that inimitable swing. Within these 12 songs is a concentration of Roisin Murphy singing her heart out about love, life and the occasional fetish."

POLYPHONIC SPREE – Together We’re Heavy
"Literally the biggest music group to come out of the states of recent years are the psychedelic choralists The Polyphonic Spree. Together We’re Heavy has more of a conventional and direct pop feel about it with main vocalist and songwriter Tim Delaughter taking more of the lead on many of the tracks. His similar tone and vocal stylings to Wayne Coyne further encourages the comparisons to The Flaming Lips. However this record still has a charm of its own revolving around the power of the voices and the audacity of the instrumentation. Many moments on Together We’re Heavy are merely further developments on the themes and sounds created on the first record but there’s enough tinkering going on to suggest that the light of creativity is still descending upon the Polyphonic Spree."

OKKERVIL RIVER - Down the River of Golden Dreams
"Like Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) Will Sheff has a piercing eye for the emotionally tumultuous and it is the uninhibited sharpness of his lyrics that makes Down the River of Golden Dreams an outstanding emo alternative country record. Okkervil River have been releasing records since 1999 and their 2002 release Don’t Fall in Love with Everyone propelled them into the elite group of the earnestly dishevelled indie folk scene. The charm of this record seems to be in the acknowledgement of its limitations and the refinement of its understated assets. Simply strummed acoustic guitar to create a musical awakening that is the perfect backdrop to the confessional urgency of Sheffs writing."

NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - Electric Version
“Vancouver's New Pornographers could be considered indie pop's dark horses. Comprising of members already established in a number of different musical identities their new album Electric Version has threatened to take over and become each members main concern. Despite all the nods at the obvious pop influences there's lots about this bands sound that is unique to them. The dual vocals of Dan Bejar and Neko Case are irresistible and there is an energy in their delivery that promises to take no prisoners. They are not afraid to push the classic framework of the songs with a personality that seems to be free of all inhibition. The fact that these songs sound so familiar is more to do with the conviction with which they are presented rather than any sort of borrowed melodic triggers.”

N. LANNON - Chemical Friends
"Our ears pricked up when we heard N. Lannon was on Badman records the label pioneered by Mark Kozelek of the Red House Painters. Like Kozelek and other Badman artists such as James William Hindle Lannon is a singer songwriter but his songs are musically more diverse and depart from the plaintive acoustic guitar strumming. Chemical Friends has a familiar tone at times reminiscent of early Elliot Smith with haunting melancholy sprinkled amongst more anonymous ethereal electronica that fills the room indirectly. Comfortably taking a place in the San Francisco brigade of thoughtful folkies Lannon has enough going on to give another unique twist to the troubadour schtick. Chemical Friends will appeal to fans of American Analog Set, Elliot Smith and Trembling Blue Stars."

MICAH P. HINSON - And The Gospel Of Progress
"Micah comes from Texas, spent time in jail, refers to his ex-partner as 'the black widow' and has released a dark and beautiful debut album. With his band 'the gospel of progress' and recorded by members of 'The Earlies' (who have released a notably fine album on Spunk Records), Micah sings heartbreakingly stark and depressing songs, somewhat like an off-key Magnetic Fields. Upon first listen it’s his vocals that draw attention with repeated pleas of "don't you forget about me" on 'Don't You' and "it's all your fault" on 'At Last, Our Promises.' It's the mixes of acoustic guitar with subtle strings and keyboards nourishing and filling the record that make it a rewarding listen."

MODEST MOUSE – Good News For People Who Like Bad News
"Continuing the form shown on its predecessor The Moon and Antarctica as well as drawing influence from Isaac Brock’s interim project Ugly Casanova. Good News For People Who Like Bad News takes you from carnival-like discord and Tom Waits delivery into sophisticated and orchestrated pop pieces. The Flaming Lips and producer Dave Fridmann lend a hand to the final track 'Good Times are Killing Me' and the result is a two-headed monster that rollicks along with a collaborative heart and a psychedelic imagination. The triumph of this record is the ability of Brock’s tunes to be explored in all their beauty and kookiness while holding together with an originality which places this band in a musical landscape all of their own."

MACHINE TRANSLATIONS - Venus Traps Fly
"Melbourne's own songwriter and producer extraordinaire Greg Walker follows up his brilliant Happy album with a more straight ahead parade of pop tunes. The electro computer derived insularity of Walker's previous record is left behind for a bigger picture over most of the tracks. Throughout Walker travels from the staunch rhythms of the rockier moments into the Tom Waits like rootsy tunes. In keeping with the collaborative approach Walker gathers some assistance from a few outside sources. Pete Cohen of Sodastream plays bass on a track and the distinctive voice of Clare Bowditch can be heard on about half of the record. Venus Traps Fly is possibly not as instant as its predecessor but repeated listening gives you a deeper appreciation of a great talent adding a further twist to the mix."

LAURA VEIRS – Carbon Glacier
“Veirs’ previous album Troubled by Water was a fairly straight up country affair with hints of a deeper darker musicology at its core. Carbon Glacier embraces all the edges of Veirs' craft and takes the country backdrop and adds elements of post-rock instrumentalism and abstract production values. Her voice is straight out of the rocky mountains and is as pure and prominent as ever but on this record it is used more as another instrument then simply a mouthpiece for the narratives. It pinches the same emotional nerve plucked by heart wrenching slow burners like the Dirty Three and Low and this is the company Veirs most easily keeps these days. Carbon Glacier is a wonderful collection of songs that are clever and deep and unique and probably better suited to the gallery space then the bar room."

THE JUAN MACLEAN – Less Than Human
“DFA can do no wrong, we are so sure of this we are all getting their lightning bolt logo tattooed across our hearts. Some gingham named Juan who used to be in a NY band was abducted by producers James Murphy (LCD sndsystm) and Tim Goldsworthly (otherwise known as DFA) and re-invented him as the newest face in punkfunk. Less cowbells and handclaps, more Moroder synth stabs and Ono-esque vocals this album is somewhere between Daft Punk (good early stuff) and Metro Area only better and you thought that electro-punkfunk-rock thing was over. “

JOYZIPPER – American Whip
"Vincent Cafiso and Tabitha Tindale are Joyzipper a electro tinged summery pop band from California. Their second record American Whip is a collage of finely crafted melodic pieces driven by dreamy girl/boy harmonies. Enlisting assistance from some of LA’s finest stand-ins, American Whip washes over you like a warm burst of nostalgia. Sonically it has many similarities to French layer creators Air with a touch of Breeders like indie roughness. Overall the Joyzipper aesthetic is a breezy retrospective view of romance and play time as seen from the Hollywood hills. Seductive and polished but charmingly innocent American Whip is easy listening at its most interesting."

JENS LEKMAN – When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog
"Twenty something Swedish fellow Jens Lekman has received much critical praise and commercial success in his homeland, particularly for some earlier EP’s released under the stage name Rocky Dennis. Clearly gathering influences from a particular style of songwriter Lekman has produced a bunch of songs that are both clever and charmingly transparent. Samples are often used to sprinkle glitter over more conventional arrangements, which include trumpets, glockenspiel and classical guitars. Subject wise Lekman’s songs tend to fall into three different types; songs about meeting girls, songs about needing girls and songs about leaving girls. There is a masterful eccentricity at work on this record that makes it a handy addition to the twee songwriting fraternity."

IRON & WINE - Our Endless Numbered Days
"Sam Beam has kept his growing legion of fans happy with the release of his second album Our Endless Numbered Days. Like its predecessor The Creek Drank the Cradle, it’s a soft and delicate affair with Beam lilting his way through lazy afternoon narratives with an indie folk singers croon. The finger picking guitar and plucky banjo are still as present as ever but there is a slightly more dynamic and full sound overall. Gone is the bedroom like four track ambience. His strength lies in the specifics of his lyrics and their ability to say so much in the broader sense while detailing characters that draw you in but like all good fairytales still leave you wondering. Many of the melodies on this record are instantly familiar and catchy in their 60’s folk inflections. It’s an impressive addition to his ever growing catalogue.”

GRANDADDY – Sumday
“This album from the wigged-out backporchers Grandaddy delivers big on the catchiness and leaves the listener suitably impressed by their pop credentials. Once lazily described as alt country they used their last record The Sophtware Slump to transcend the restrictions of that genre with a soundscape of cyber rock which propelled them ahead of most of their skewed contemporaries. Sumday sees the band return to their home studio surrounds and while the album loses some of its bombastic extravagance, the result is still big sounding and neatly arranged. It's a parade of well written melodic tales about urban despair as seen through the office block window. They know how to screw around with pop conventions in order to create interesting and long lasting musical impressions.”

FOURTET – Rounds
“After succumbing to the lap-toptronica beauty of the folked out Pause record and further impressing us with his beautiful remix of Beth Orton's Carmella, you’ll be very happy to find it delivers. First single 'She Moves She' shows Hebden in good form and is reason enough to buy this record. It's all rumbling percussive patterns, stumbling through glitchy, stuttering stops and starts with big enough beats to move a dance floor. Elsewhere 'Serious as Your Life' gets all groovy with a mod rock guitar lick looped around some harpsichord moments and the opus that is the ten minute 'Unspoken' takes a Shadow like drum loop in weaves through a stolen Tori Amos piano piece, very nice but don't call it trip hop. This album came in at No. 28 on the Polyester Top 50 poll.”

EVAN DANDO – Baby I’m Bored
“After a seven year hiatus Mr Dando has summoned a number of his most talented buddies into a LA studio with producer extraordinaire Jon Brion. The results are pleasing indeed., with all the melodic ease of a trademark Lemonheads tunes. Throughout Baby I'm Bored, Dando's voice keeps you mesmerised as he steers off onto slightly different musical paths. Dando and Lee team up with another Aussie and long time Dando collaborator Tom Morgan to pen probably the highlight of the record 'The same thing you thought hard about is the same part I can live without'. Other contributors to Baby I'm Bored include Joey Burns and John Convertino from Calexico as well as Howe Gelb and Chris Brokaw making sure all the songs are nicely interpreted and thoroughly realised.”

THE ELECTED – Me First
"Keeping with their soft spot for screwed up country and understated folk, Sub Pop bring us an album from Rilo Kiley front man Blake Sennett. Produced by Bright Eyes twiddler Mike Mogis with contributions from Jimmy Tamborello of Postal Service, Me First is a patchwork of sonic layers and ramshackled edges. At times the Bright Eyes similarities are undeniable particularly in the emotive delivery and intelligent phrasing of the vocal style. Thematically Sennett deals with issues of love, family and career with a consistent lyrical eye and a melodic touch that is familiar but not predictable. Musically they've set their sights high and produced a record that has a classic country cruise control and a booster button that throws you straight into chaotic indie white boy blues."

THE DELGADOS – Universal Audio
"Glasgow’s indie rock guardians The Delgados have rediscovered the pop song on their follow-up to the darker than dark Hate album. The lush orchestration and bombastic production leant to their last couple of records is missing and Universal Audio is a friendlier more personable sounding record overall. The album’s strength is in the melodies and the production is based primarily around good guitar and drum sounds with some tasteful keyboard and piano parts adding interest. Emma Pollock is again in fine voice and the tracks she’s contributed are definite highlights. Universal Audio is proof that beneath the forays into mature production and layered arrangements, The Delgados haven’t lost their knack for good pop songwriting."

DANGER DOOM - The Mouse & The Mask
"A tag like MC of the moment would be easy to dispense but perhaps inaccurate in the case of one MF Doom. Aka Viktor Vaughan aka King Geedorah aka Metal Face, Doom has pretty much been the most arresting MC to colour Hip Hop in the last three years. While his detractors argue he’s spread himself too thin, the output has generally been of a high quality. On "The Mouse And The Mask", old Metal Face has teamed up with Danger Mouse, the man behind the DM & Jemini album of last year and the infamous "Grey Album", a mash up of the Beatles "White Album" and the acapellas from Jay Z’s "Black Album".

DAMIEN JURADO - Where Shall You Take Me
“After the rock album of I Break Chairs, Damien Jurado thankfully returns to his folky roots with a beautifully understated release. The story of a disturbed mind observing a victim starts the record and is told with a tension building drone that leaves you perplexed and a little chilled. It's not all serial killers and alcoholic housewives though and there are some lighter and brighter moments such as window with it's gospel like structure and spiritual romanticism and ‘Matinee’ which tells of seeing cheap films in the afternoon with a small town glow. Where Shall You Take Me is probably his most consistent record to date because it captures perfectly what he does best. A stand out offering from one of the few songwriters to rise above the alt country thang and stand independently as a unique and class act.”

COCO ROSIE – Noah’s Ark
"There is one musical class that has taken childlike wonder into adulthood - Bjork, Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, Antony and the Johnsons, and Coco Rosie - all belong to it. Sierra and Bianca Cassady of Coco Rosie have divided many people into a love or hate divide of their childlike sounds. Coco Rosie debuted in 2004 with 'La Maison de Mon Reve'. Emerging from their own illusory bubble, Sierra and Bianca have graduated with honours with their latest offering, 'Noah's Ark'. Making an appearance also are MC Spleen, Antony of Antony and the Johnsons and Devendra Banhart, to join in their fairytale world, all makes for a melodic and enchanting class recital."

CAMERA OBSCURA – Under Achievers Please Try Harder
" Unlike their mentors Belle & Sebastian who moved out long ago, it seems these Glaswegians are still residing in the twee end of town. The comparison is unavoidable but fans of vintage B&S will be impressed with the quality of tunes on offer here. The opening track 'Suspended from Class' skips along with the hidden thoughts of an awkward schoolgirl sung wistfully by lead vocalist Tracyanne Campbell. They're not afraid to dabble in other pop stylings from the Beach Boys feel of 'A Sister's Social Agony' to the simplicity of 'Your Picture' it's all done with a distinctive understated touch and a cute wink. Like a Super 8 movie that gives everything a dreamy reminiscence with it's warmness of tone, Under Achievers Please Try Harder should strike a similar chord any nostalgic pop fan."

ART OF FIGHTING – Second Storey
"As the name suggests Second Storey sees Art Of Fighting take their heart on sleeve angelic soundscapes to another level. Ollie Brown’s voice settles into a comfortable tone that lilts up and down and in and around the falsetto line. It’s the confidence in which Ollie delivers his wrenching melodies so gamely out the front of the mix that sets a tone for this record that is unashamedly emotional. They have again enlisted the engineering nous of Tim Whitten and the sounds on this record are subtly more diverse then its predecessor. Their debut album Wires won an Aria and on Second Storey, Art of Fighting have delivered something that can only bring an assuring smile to your face and a thought to mind that they are undoubtedly a world class act."

ALICE RUSSELL – My Favourite Letters
"Alice Russell's second album opens with an organ accompanied Gospel acapella that brings to mind Aretha in her 'Young, Gifted and Black' era. From this solemn beginning, the album moves deftly through a range of styles including Nu-Jazz, Hip Hop, modern Soul and African. Alice is in fine voice and TM Juke's production works well underneath her formidable range. Songs like 'Fly In The Hand', 'All Over Now', 'Humankind' and 'Munkaroo' see the lady Russell in full flight. ‘I'm Just Here' with it's beautiful intro and languid Bossa groove is also a highlight. We're giving this one the thumbs up but just a couple more filthy Quantic style heavy funk numbers wouldn't have gone astray."