You won’t believe how many Christmas songs I’ve been listening to recently… more than you I bet, and more than I ever did when working in bars in December.  Burn the sleigh bells!!!!

These tracks, however, are great alternatives! Enjoy!

Must Be Santa (Bob Dylan); Is This Christmas? (The Wombats); Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day (Well You Deserved It) (Sufjan Steven); Deck The Halls (Los Straitjackets); Kites (All Tiny Creatures); We Three Kings (Blondie); He’s The Best Santa (Colby O’Donis); Ain’t No Chimneys In The Project (Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings); Blue Christmas (Bright Eyes); Chestnuts Roasting (Drawing Constellations); Dub Snowman (Hereldeduke); Last Christmas (Finlay Brown); Let It Snow (Bit Shifter).

Merry Christmas.

Another song for the day (yes, I post late, I know), my friend sent me this and I liked it (:

The Wombats – “Let’s Dance To Joy Division”

This is a little collection of music which are just some of my favourite Christmas tracks, ranging from classic rock, indie numbers, crooners, jazz tracks and folk duets. This mix has been made to enjoy for an hour or so, but hopefully this will show some of you guys that there can be good Christmas music. Please buy any of the albums that the songs are from (except for the God awful RTL Christmas Fever), they are some of the best of the best. I’ve added some links to buy a couple of these Christmas album classics.

The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Songs For Christmas, Christmas With The Rat Pack

• Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Dean Martin
• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra
• Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Jack Johnson
• White Christmas – Frank Sinatra
• Christmas In Prison - Lightspeed Champion & Emmy The Great
• Skating – Vince Guaraldi
• Christmas TV – Slow Club
• Winter Wonderland - Phantom Planet
• Is This Christmas – The Wombats
• Christmas Time All Over The World – Sammy Davis Jr.
• Peace - Norah Jones
• Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
• Silent Night - Sufjan Stevens
• O Tannenbaum – Vince Guaraldi
• Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys

Playlist zipped.

Thanks for the image Chris Jones.

The holidays are soon approaching and we here at Modern Mystery have just the right thing to get you into the Christmas spirit! Holiday music is one of the best things about the season and we hope you enjoy this little, well, er, big mix. It’s our second Mixmas and we went all out with 38 songs this year. Everyone from Matt Pond PA to Of Montreal, you have to check it out below to believe your little eyes. This is the one gift you can peek at this Christmas!

Dressy Bessy- All the Right Reasons
The Sixth Great Lake- Always After Christmas Boring
Asobi Seksu- Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)
Belle and Sebastian- O Little Town of Bethlehem
Blitzen Trapper- Christmas is Coming Soon
Bright Eyes- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Casper and the Cookies- Kiss Me Beneath the Christmas Tree
Ladybug Transistor- Christmas Extravangza
My First Keyboard- Christmas is Only Good If You’re a Girl (Boy)
Of Montreal- Christmas Isn’t Safe for Animals
Essex Green- Deck the Halls
Denison Winter- A Christmas Song
Drive-By Truckers-Mrs. Claus’ Kimono
The Features- Christmas Wish Book
Felice Brothers- Murder by Mistletoe
The Music Tapes- Freeing Song for Reigndeer
Frightened Rabbit- It’s Xmas So We’ll Stop
Fun.- Believe in Me
Gentlemen Auction House- Don’t Want Another Christmas Like Last Christmas
Marbles- Gift for You
Fabulous Bird with Bill Doss-It’s Christmas Time Again
Long Winters- Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas
Low-Just Like Christmas
Matt Pond PA- Holiday Road
My Morning Jacket- Christmas Time is Here
Of Montreal- My Favorite Christmas (In a Hundred Words or Less)
Reigning Sound- If Christmas Can’t Bring You Home
Rilo Kiley- Xmas Cake
Robbers on High Street- Seasons Greetings
Ryan Adams- Hey Parker, It’s Christmas
Summer Hymns- Santa Couldn’t Fit You Under My Tree
Slow Club- Christmas TV
Sufjan Stevens- That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
The Wedding Present- White Christmas
The Raveonettes- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
The Wombats- This is Christmas
The Damnwells- Xmas Eve
The Knife- Christmas Reindeer

Ok, so, I haven’t updated, why?
Lack of interest, and of will, mostly.

Anyway, today I’m not going to criticize punk posers…. nor write another “Cut yourself” poem.
Today I bring an amazing record.

The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation
This record is certainly amazing. Cheerful, powerful, energetic.
This three guys met on Liverpool, at Paul McCartney’s College of Arts, and after performing some cool stuff, they were invited to the MIDI festival in Beijing, where their popularity grew among the whole nation of Indie Music.
Humoristic lyrics, that somehow, remind me The Beatles original humoristic style.

This Record has a little bit of everything: Anger, Love, Humour, powerful riffs and wore off vocals.
It makes you want to be in a gig, shouting this songs aloud, jumping and jamming all around.

I must repeat, amazing Album, a MUST HAVE to any Indie-britpop-rock&roll-post punk revivial- fan.

And I get it in here for you, all nice and neat.

Enjoy! (=

(Click on cover to Download)

Alternative + Indie Rock + Britpop = The Pigeon Detectives.

Faixas:

1. Romantic Type

2. I Found Out

3. Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye

4. Caught In Your Trap

5. Can’t Control Myself

6. I’m not Sorry

7. You Know I Love You

8. Stop And Go

9. You Better Not Look My Way

10. Take Her Back

11. Wait For Me

12. I’m Always Right

13. Untitled

LINK – Waite For Me

Parece com? The Rifles, The Wombats

Clip da música I’m not Sorry

Download this episode

Show Notes

Shhhh. If you are quiet you can hear the pitter-patter of little zombie feet… It’s October! Todd Henry of Accidental Creative fame drops by and weaves a yarn of fear and terror, while the Smiths share stories of pod-people, trick-or-treat and aliens. Battlestar Galactica is still no longer on television, but Neil finds an out-of-this-world substitute. Finally, in Depeche Mode News we try to make some sense out of the band’s new video. PS – we can’t. With hair-raising tunes by Jonathan Coulton, Wax Tailor and The Wombats. Prepare to be thrilled and chilled! Or at the very least, slightly disconcerted.

Music Guide
“Contagion”
Artist: Neil Smith
Album: Contagion
http://www.neilsmithmusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/neilfsmith

“Re: Your Brains”
Artist: Jonathan Coulton
Album: Thing a Week Two
http://www.jonathancoulton.com/
iTunes

“Spring’s Rise”
Artist: Mari Smith

“To Dry Up”
Artist: Wax Tailor
Album: Hope & Sorrow
http://www.myspace.com/waxtailor
http://www.waxtailor.com
iTunes

“Let’s Dance to Joy Divison”
Artist: The Wombats
Album: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation
http://www.thewombats.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/thewombatsuk
iTunes

Misc. Goodies and Links

Does anybody even read this stuff? Doubtful. Yet we write it out for you each and every month. Gosh, if someone would just write us a lovely iTunes review we’d know it was all worth it.

Do you Twitter? Swell! Follow us at http://twitter.com/smithsocc.

Cincinnati Zombie Walk
Friday, October 30
7:30 PM

http://www.myspace.com/495128269

Visit Todd Henry over at Accidental Creative

“Va Fangool” Video by Nephew
NSFW!!!!

Defying Gravity

Gallery of Guys Neil Finds Attractive

The obligatory Depeche Mode Link
http://www.depechemode.com

WOMBATS: (n.) Es un pequeño animal salvaje de la familia de marsupiales de Australia, similar a un pequeño oso y se alimenta principalmente de grass, hojas y raices. Tambien, una banda Indie de Liverpool.

The Wombats son una banda de Indie Rock/Pop de Liverpool, Inglaterra. Los integrantes de la banda son: Matthew Murphy (Voz Principal, Guitarray, Teclados), Dan Haggis (Bajista y Voz) y Tom Overland-Knudsen (Batería y Voz). Ellos se conocieron en el “Instituto de Artes de Liverpool” y se volvieron buenos amigos. En el 2006, la banda lanzo su Álbum debut titulado “Girls, Boys y Marsupials”, solo disponible en Japón. Luego sacaron más sencillos como: “Moving to New York” , “Kill the Director” y finalmente “Let’s Dance to Joy Division”. Después, lanzaron oficialmente “The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation”, álbum que literalmente los llevo a la cima.

The Wombats han participado en grandes CONCIERTOS y han ganado premios en categorías como: “Mejor canción para poner en una pista de baile” por sus ritmos pegajosos. Además, se han presentado con otras grandes bandas como los “Babyshambles”.

A continuación, les mostraremos los mejores videos de The Wombats.

Hasta aquí llegamos con la video grafía de The Wombats. Sin embargo, a principios del 2009 ellos lanzaron un nuevo sencillo titulado “My Circuitboard City”. Video que da inicio a una nueva producción de The Wombats. Ademas, se rumoreaba que el productor de este nuevo disco seria Sir Paul McCartey de “The Beatles”.

Además, lanzaron otro sencillo con el tema de “Anti-Navidad”. Titulado “Is This Christmas?”

Como les mencionamos anteriormente, “The Wombats” han hecho grandes presentación como la siguiente en Glastonbury (2008).

Nos imaginamos que ya tendrán alguna canción favorita de esta increíble banda. Esperamos sus comentarios y dígannos cual fue la canción que más les gusto.

Eso es todo por ahora, Que tengan un Buen Día!!!

No Official

Sencillamente genial las presentaciones de Lily Allen en el V Festival, gran festival que se celebró el 23 y 24 de agosto en el Reino Unido con artistas de la talla de:

• Oasis
• The Killers
• The Ting Tings
• Keane
• Snow Patrol
• Katy Perry
• Fat Boy Slim

When I attended the Southside festival I went with a couple of really good friends, and I thought it would be nice to show you a more personal account of what happened that fantastic weekend. KG wrote this for me.

When you are shaken awake on a Friday morning at 7:45 am, after having gone to bed at 3 am the night before, you begin to curse whatever made you stay up so late. Four hours and fifteen minutes of sleep are just not enough. This was the beginning of this year’s Southside adventures. I was really excited because the line up looked fantastic this year. Excluding the occasional random band I had never even heard of, I was very excited to see them all. Once we arrived and after having lost several vital things, including festival tickets [Ed: My Fault] and sleeping bags, I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing the first band on our agenda, well not really a band, simply Paolo Nutini. I personally really like his music and subsequently was more than excited to see him. One thing is for sure: Paolo can sing; however why he does an awkward forward leaning knee bend while singing, will remain a pleasant mystery. It didn’t look comfortable and is most likely not very good for his back. Yet he consistently did it throughout his whole set. To each his own I suppose.

Next on the list were Fleet Foxes. Sadly it began to rain before they started, but when they did finally appear, bearded and all, no one really seemed to mind the rain any more. The thing I admired most about them, besides their amazing beards and lumberjack shirts (that made them appear as if they had just wandered out of the forest after having spent months there making music and being one with nature), was their vocal precision. They never missed a note and sang in perfect harmony. It was almost like listening to angels sing. I know it’s an awkward comparison, but that is the best I can do.

Next, I nearly spazzed out when we wandered into the tent to see the Asteroids Galaxy Tour. I was in heaven when I got a spot right at the front, from which I could stare adoringly at Mette and wish that I could dress like her, look like her and sing like her. In short I wish I could be her. As expected, the whole entire band arrived in bizarre colors and clothes that, like always, managed to look amazing on them all and only increase my admiration for them. And yes, they not only looked smashing they played smashingly! Although Mette explained the whole band had just suffered from the flu, you would have never known. The trumpets were loud, the drums were strong and Mette voice was so powerful I was afraid she would break and could only wonder how such a tiny body could produce such a stunning voice. Their set was spectacular and I was as happy as could be.

We waited forever for the Friendly Fires. I was so anxious to see Ed dance. No one dances like Ed. No one pulls it off like Ed and no one looks as marvelous dancing as Ed does. Oh and he can sing well too. The whole band was also stupendous, not to mention the hot guitarist. With each song I got more and more into it and it made me very unhappy when it was all finally over.

The best band of the festival though without a doubt was Culcha Candela [Ed: Not recommended, just german pop]. Their music is fun and happy, which only compliments their fun and happy attitudes! No one works the audience like they do [Ed: *cough* Franz Ferdinand]. The place was overcrowded and it was hard to move and sometimes, hard to breath. Yet not one single person stood still. None of the other bands at the festival got a whole mass of people, who were gasping for air and awkwardly pressed against total strangers. to forget their circumstances and go crazy dancing. The atmosphere they managed to create was something incredible and even if you do not like their music or this style of music it was so worth it.

Katy Perry played badly. I state this so bluntly because it was so. Katy Perry cannot sing to save her life. Each note she missed sent shivers of pain down my spine. I couldn’t walk fast enough to get away from her witch crackle. it was terrible. There were many other bands that played and were great live (eg. The Wombats), but if I wrote about all of them you would be reading a novel and not a blog entry. The only other band to make me cringe were the Ting Tings. “Shut up and let me go?” YES PLEASE. “It hurts, I told you so”, Yes it does hurt.  She looked tired and old when seen up close and I might not be one to criticize other people’s fashion choices (having no sense of style myself) but her ensemble made even me want to cry; Not in the “oh this is so unique and creative way that it is too much for you to handle”. But more in the “I am attempting to look cool by wearing a cream colored trench coat that would be better suited on a 65 year old man”. You get my point?

Besides the odd naked drunk man covered in bbq sauce, some mullet wigs and lion costumes, Southside consisted mostly of beer, mud and music. We had a blast laughing with our tent neighbors while his friend had a “deine Mudda” [your mom] insult competition with a random stranger (who yelled his insults from inside his tent) and even more when he introduced us to his dinosaur floating ring named Kevin.

Yes Southside was a good festival, but next year I could do without the rain.

Lovesick – Friendly Fires

Around the Bend – The Asteroid Galaxy Tour

Jenny Don’t Be Hasty – Paolo Nutini

Original post from Absolutely Horrorshow.

More pictures from the festival here.

The Horrors played at midday on the main stage to an unsurprisingly, tiny crowd. I’m not sure if they were frustrated or the technicians had messed something up, but their set sounded awful. The guitar was too loud and every time the lead singer screamed I would reel back in pain. Maybe this was the point, but hopefully they will sound better if I manage to catch them at the end of the year, here in Munich. Their music, doesn’t seem to be quite suitable for a festival and might sound better indoors. After retreating further back, “Sea within a Sea“, their finale, felt brilliant.

I actually caught The Rakes at my first gig, supporting Franz Ferdinand, and they seemed much better. Maybe at the time they hadn’t perfected their art, or I was unwilling to listen, whatever the reason, they did well. I wasn’t blown away, but it was solid. Half an hour late, they blazed through an action packed set of highlights from their past three albums, including all my favourites, even less well known tracks from their first, like “Open Book“.

The Wombats, as usual, were brilliant. Full of energy and humour they came on with the tried and tested method of declaring yourselves better than The Beatles. “Kill The Director” was again my highlight, it’s just their most fun song. This time there was the added bonus of being in the most pit with a bunch of metalheads, who were looking up bright eyed at the lead singer and hanging on his every word.

I came in with incredibly low expectations for Katy Perry, who wouldn’t? However, she failed to meet even these. I only stayed for two songs, and I’m not exaggerating when I say the crowd sung better than she did during “Hot n’ Cold”. Katy Perry cannot sing. It can’t be redeemed by the best part of her concert when thirty seconds of The Beach Boys “California Girls” was played from a record, as an intro.

Unfortunately, to my shock and dismay, we missed Pixies, one of the greatest bands of all time. Hopefully, I’ll catch them another time. Instead my festival day ended with Joshua Radin. Previously unknown to me, I was dragged there quite willingly, it is difficult to imagine a singer-songwriter being bad. Joshua Radin played a mixture of bluesy, happy songs with the rest of his band and mellow songs with just him, his guitar and a bassist for the rest, with the latter being more frequent. It was calming and he was quite charming, with shocking and personal anecdotes.

This year was a fantastic experience, with great bands, amazing friends and a really nice atmosphere. I can’t wait for next year’s festival season.

More pictures from the festival here.

Despite the optimistic message in their title, songs like “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” or “Relax, Take It Easy” make you wanna smash the speaker even if you’re in a good mood. And if you aren’t, well… But there’s plenty of “feel good” songs that you don’t hear on the radio every day. Everyone who’s into music has their own. Here’s a few I collected a while back. Read on for the list and free listen.

#5 SNOW PATROL – ASK ME HOW I AM

Album: When It’s All Over We Still Have To Clear Up
Year: 2001
Genre: Alternative Rock

Mainstream radio stations remember them for their biggest international hit “Chasing Cars”, but there’s a lot more to Snow Patrol than one song and every alt-rock fan knows it. I discovered this one just recently, at the time I needed a song like this the most, actually. The lyrics aren’t too clear and they certainly don’t tell you to “be happy”, but there’s something hard to describe about this song that calms you down. Or me, at least. And haven’t you ever phoned somebody because you needed to, but secretly wished they wouldn’t pick up?

I take a breath and grab the phone
Secretly hoping you’re not home
I’d leave a message I was out
Out of my mind on drink and drugs

#4 THE TEENAGERS – FEELING BETTER

Album: Reality Check
Year: 2008
Genre: Indie / Electronic

This catchy, care-free song manages to put you in a good mood with its happy, danceable chorus, while preserving The Teenagers’ characteristic bold, in-your-face lyrics:

And if you leave a band
Cos you wanna dance
Or missing your friend
Cos you don’t have any
Well, we don’t care
Just buy out T-shirts
And talk about us everywhere

#3 LOSTPROPHETS – LAST TRAIN HOME

Album: Start Something
Year: 2004
Genre: Rock / Emo

If you really really hate emo, skip this one. But if you don’t bitch about everything that gets too trendy over night, give it a try. The bands just make the music, it’s the kids’ fault everybody hates this genre today. But I don’t and I hope neither do you. Let your sorrow fade away with the screaming chorus and be sure to catch the last train home.

But there’s still tomorrow, forget the sorrow
And I can be on the last train home
Watch it pass the day, as it fades away
No more time to care, no more time today

#2 THE STREETS – STAY POSITIVE

Album: Original Pirate Material
Year: 2003
Genre: Rap

The most depressive and “rainy” out of this cheer-up list, but for me, the most important one. This song feels like waking up to a foggy, cloudy and cold morning after the worst evening of your life and still hoping that it was all just a fucking bad dream. In 6 minutes, Mike Skinner’s amazing lyrics take you through all the things you need to realize before you can even think about not feeling shit anymore. And also advise you to:

One last thing before you go though
When you feel better tommorow you’ll be a hero
But never forget today
You could be back here, things can stray
What if you see me in that window?
You won’t help me I know
That’s cool, just keep walking where you go
Carry on through the estate, stare at the geezers so they know you ain’t lightweight
And go see your mates
And when they don’t look happy, play them this tape

#1 THE BOUNCING SOULS – BETTER THINGS

Album: The Gold Record
ear: 2006
Genre: Punk

An absolute winner. If anybody ever finds more optimistic song, be sure to let me know. One of the best tracks off their newest album, “The Gold Record”, simply tells us that we deserve to be happy after all we’ve been through, and that time has come. Add rocking guitars and a catchy chorus and you get the most effective musical cheer-up ever made. Even better as the original The Kinks’ version (which, although still pretty fucking good, it lacks the happy summer punk drive that makes you wanna jump around your room). I personally cannot imagine a morning coffee without this song since the first time I heard it.

Here’s hoping all the days ahead
Won’t be as bitter as the ones behind you
Be an optimist instead
And somehow happiness will find you

It’s really good to see you rocking out and having fun
Living like you’ve just begun
Accept your life and what it brings
I hope tomorrow you’ll find better things
I know tomorrow you’ll find better things

Okay, we all know about Rock Band.  In fact, unless you’re living under a rock (or North Korea), I think it would be fairly difficult to find anyone who doesn’t.  But that’s not the point I’m trying to make…kinda.  The makers of Rock Band and Guitar Hero seem to be vexed on putting a crap load of metal into their games.  While that’s not bad, it makes the hardest tiers unbearable for people (like me) who dislike metal.

Because of this, I created my own list of songs that should be in Rock Band.  From Indie Pop to Hard Rock, this list has it all–well not really.  It’s actually quite limited.  The list features bands like Collective Soul, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Third Eye Blind, and Band of Horses. As always, lemme know what you think should be added to the list!

Check it out after the jump!

Artist – Title of Song – Album

As Fast As – Florida Sunshine – Open Letter To the Damned
Band of Horses - Is there a Ghost? – Cease to Begin
Band of Horses – Islands on the Coast – Cease to Begin
Barenaked Ladies – One Week – Stunt
Barenaked Ladies – It’s All Been Done – Stunt
Ben Kweller – This Is War – Ben Kweller
Ben Kweller – The Rules – On My Way
Blind Melon – No Rain – Blind Melon
Collective Soul - Where the River Flows – Collective Soul
Collective Soul – December – 7even Year Itch
Counting Crows – 1492 – Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings
Counting Crows – Cowboys – Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings
The Cranberries – Zombie – No Need To Argue
Dave Matthews Band – Funny The Way It Is – Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King
Dave Matthews Band – What Would You Say - Under the Table and Dreaming
Dr. Dog – The Ark – Fate
Foo Fighters – Learn to Fly – Learn to Fly
Foo Fighters - All My Life – One By One
Foo Fighters – Times Like These – One By One
Gin Blossoms – Til I Hear it From You – Empire Records OST
Guster – Amdsterdam – Keep it Together
Guster – Barrel of a Gun – Lost and Gone Forever
Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta – Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?
John Butler Trio – Funky Tonight – Grand National
John Butler Trio – Fire in the Sky - Grand National
Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire – Only By the Night
Marching Band – For Your Love – Spark Large
Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s – Quiet As a Mouse – The Dust of Retreat
Modest Mouse - Dashboard - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
Monty Are I – In This Legacy - Wall of People
Our Lady Peace – Supersatellite – Naveed
Radiohead - Just – The Bends
Radiohead – Paranoid Android – OK Computer
REM - It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – Eponymous
REM - What’s the Frequency, Kenneth – Monster
Rilo Kiley - Portions for Foxes – More Adventurous
Rogue Wave – Lake Michigan – Asleep at Heaven’s Gate
Sam Roberts – Love at the End of the World – Love at the End of the World
The Silent Years - No Secrets – The Silent Years
Spin Doctors – Two Princes – Pocket Full of Kryptonite
Sugarcult – Memory – Palm Trees and Power Lines
Stereophonics – Devil – Language, Sex, Violence, Other
Still Water – Fever Dog – Almost Famous OST
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Me and Mia – Shake the Sheets
Third Eye Blind – Graduate – Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind – Blinded – Out of the Vein
Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
The Wombats - Let’s Dance to Joy Division - A Guide to Love, Loss, and Desparation

I was looking for some new music and I came across a UK band, The Wombats. The British pop/rock band has been around since 2003, but I haven’t heard any of their music before I logged into Last.fm. I typed in my favorite artists and the site recommends music to your favorites, much like Pandora, and that’s how I found The Wombats! Some of their most popular songs popped up, like “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Moving to New York.” I instantly loved their music and hope they tour in the US sometime soon!

Simian Mobile Disco – Following a string of massive remixes for Muse, The Go! Team, Air and others, SMD cohorts James Ford and Jas Shaw are rather hot property. Indeed, with debut full-length “Attack Decay Sustain Release” wooing all and sundry with its propulsive techno grind, critical acclaim is never far away. “He makes …magic happen,” says Klaxons’ Jamie Reynolds of Ford.”I think he receives outer-planetary signals through his hair and they come out through his eyes.” See for yourselves at Glastonbury. www.myspace.com/simianmobiledisco

The Wombats – The latest band to be catapulted to the brink of stardom through word-of-MySpace, The Wombats currently stake claim to the moniker of ‘best unsigned band in the north’. Certainly, with their Artic Monkey’s yelping and Weezer-tinged melodies that title may not be so far wide of the mark. You’ll find the marsupial trio at Glastonbury and V festival. www.myspace.com/thewombatsuk

The Pigeon Detectives – With a cock-sure attitude and buzz-saw guitars that recall classic Clash, The Pigeon Detectives have already done enough to call Carl Barat and The Kaisers as fans. Last year they were tagged as  “the band most likely to leap to the main stage in 2007” in the NME’s review of Reading Festival, and they would certainly be worthy of further investigation this time around. Check them out at The Carling Weekender and Glastonbury. www.myspace.com/thepigeondetectives

Gallows – Sitting somewhere between the hardcore thrashings of Black Flag and the snide sneering of Johnny Rotten, Gallows are quite possibly the most raucous band to gain major label support in years. Certainly, if their £1 million four-album deal with Warner Bros is anything to go by, there’s good reason to check out the Watford-based quintet. Gallows will be looking to tear up Leeds and Reading at The Carling Weekender. www.myspace.com/gallows 

Late of the Pier – Synonymous with snarling metal bands, Castle Donnington isn’t exactly the first place you’d go looking for a sharp-tailored electro-rock outfit. How fortunate then that Late of the Pier have recently decided to migrate from their East Midlands roots to find fame and fortune in the big smoke of London. With the kind of synthetic tweeting that mashes Kraftwerk with an altogether more acerbic dance beat, even the most hard-nosed scenester won’t be able to resist a quick foot-tap. Dance away at The Carling Weekender and Field Day Festival. www.myspace.com/lateofthepier

Summer 2007