Hey, Sorry for not replying sooner! I listened to both the recommendations you gave and enjoyed them both. You were spot on with the whole Beatles Vs Beach Boys description, it didn't put me off as I have recently downgraded my status from hating the Beatles to a mild dislike, it does raise the question though, when I am yet to listen to so much of their stuff why I wouldn't just listen to, umm the Beatles instead of something that kind sounds like them. I am still loving the Maximo Park album and still apologising for it! There has been so much great great music released this year that I literally can't keep up with myself! I really like the Lord Huron album though, its barely been off my stereo in the last month!

Let me know how you get on with it all, but mostly the Maximo Park - I'd love to know what a reformed fanboy makes of it ; )

Hmmm, good question, my taste has gone on a bit of a tangent lately! I really love the Father John Misty album and gave that a good hammering in the run up to no direction home, I also love the Hoquets album but that is a bit, erm, different. The latest Andrew Bird isn't much of a recommendation is it? I really loved the first aid kit album from this year and would recommend that.....Im struggling to recall what I've been listening too but will have a think! Thanks for all those, I will check them out :)

I felt the same way about the Maccabees album last year, to be fair, I shouldnt like it but I do..... You got any recommendations for me?

Caught red handed!! It has caught me rather by surprise - especially as I don't like the lead single from the album. I have always loved 'our velocity' though and thought that I would give the new album a go, it doesn't really break any new ground and I doubt it will blow anyone away but I have totally and utterly fallen for it. Musically and lyrically it kinda suits my mood at the moment.

Ha! I wondered what I was copying until I looked at your top tracks. I assume you're referring to my Dan Mangan obsession?

Haha yes. Ted was quite overwhelmed by it all after...they're really something else these days the Beasts. You should try make it up here for Constellations if you can. Standard Fare have a newie? I'll have to get that I loved the last one. Fionn is growing on me tons. It's quite airy fairy but the quality is shining through...I should know better to read such filth but the NME gave it a 5, and the new Hard Fi album got 6 in the same issue! *spits*. Ta for the recos I'll have a listen. Do you like Allesi's Ark? Her latest is SO good...Really MOR and nothing particularly new but such addictive tunes! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woez_zRvo8Y

That Beasts album is just fab. I went to see them here in Leeds with angsts Ted before I left and they did it in it's entirety before it even came out, a ballsy before but they pulled it off! Constellations this year looks tasty...Beasts, Yuck, Malkmus and the Antlers. Need to get my ticket as I enjoyed last year. I think I'm slowing down with new music. There's just too much for my little brain to process. How about you? I need some recos. Yuck, Callahan, Kurt Vile, Lets Wrestle and Allesis Ark are probably my faves. Bon Iver sounded a bit naff on first listen and I didn't bother again...Oh the Alex Turner - Submarine soundtrack EP is brilliant by the way and I reckon would be up your street even if you don't like the AMs...some classy tunes on that.

Liking it (only listened once so far though) ! I've been away for a couple of months so it was a nice suprise when I heard it existed the other day...yeah, definitely better than the last one which was great live but didn't suit him too much on record. Is he doing EOTR?

Hey Andy! I'm working at EOTR- see you there! x

How do you like the new Fionn mate?

yeah man no problem, no problem at all -- as they say in 'high fidelity.' haha. but yeah man filestube is a prime place to get full albums. (or torrentscan)

i believe the EP that everyone is mentioning on the adam haworth stephens page is titled 'vile affections' and wasn't officially released (i think?). it's also 'released' as 'adam stephens'

Please don't tell anyone. *shame* Tell them you caught me sniffing Pritt Stick or injecting Branston Pickle but please don't tell them I was spinning Lily *little bit of sick comes up* Allen.

I listen to the BEST music. I put it to the jury that it is, in fact, you sir, who is slipping. You need to get on the chillwave bandwagon!

Oooh, that Mansion On The Hill cover is really good. Nearly as good as Bruce himself! Yeah, definitely going tonight. Really looking forward to it. I don't know what time we're heading in, but will probably be in The Lord Roberts from at least 7, if not before.

Have you heard this New National song, yet? http://pitchfork.com/news/38265-new-national-song-bloodbuzz-ohio/ It's really good. I was hoping they'd play End Of The Road, but they're playing Latitude so that's the end of that probably, same with Belle and Sebastian. Balls. Anyway, yeah it's a really good song.

You did give me the idea. It shames me to admit it, but despite having this record for years, I've almost never listened to disc 2 or 3 of it. Which is stupid, because I'm sure it's packed full of brilliance.

Ace! Just found out the new Fionn Regan album is out today...and on spotify! That's my listening sorted for the next week.

I think you're thinking of Future Of The Left. Future Bible Heroes are synthy with all female vocals, or at least the album I've got. It's dead good and poppy though. I'll give you a lend of it. The 6ths, I don't know a heck of a lot about but what I've heard I like. Song here - http://www.last.fm/music/The+6ths/_/Human?autostart With the Gothic Archies, he did a soundtrack for those 'Series Of Unfortunate Events' books. It's on Spotify!

Ay up, I've had a proper listen to the Magnetic Fields record now. It is good innit? I reckon it's a grower as well. The fact that all the songs are dead short is a bonus. Quite a few people have been down on it, but I don't get why. Have you heard any of the other bands Stephin Merritt is in? Future Bible Heroes or Gothic Archies or The 6ths. They're all worth checking out too!

Yeah young Fionn was brill...really great. He played with a full band aswell...'Underwood Typewriter' was absolutely sublime with a bit more kick. The new stuff seriously rocked, it sounds angry. Pretty Dylan influenced as Emily reliably informed me. I wouldn't know about that as I couldn't name 3 songs by him but I think she enjoyed it too. How were Frightened Rabbit?...Just had a look at the setlist on lastfm. Modern Leper/Fast Blood/Old Old Fashioned as the openers. Blimey! that would have done me for the night to be honest.

486 plays of that FR album, 486 in about 3 months! It's soundtracked my own break up blues quite nicely. Lastfm don't lie.... The swines have postponed the York gig for some reason, not sure if it effects the Nottingham date...but handily Fionn Regan is playing Manchester that very night which fills a Frightened Rabbit shaped hole very nicely indeed! I'll have to report back on the new stuff. Have you seen The Phantom Band on this tour. They were absolutely epic in Leeds on Monday.

I'll be off to see em a week on Tuesday with 'our' Emily. Should be great.... I think it was your recommendation in this very shoutbox that got me into them actually. I have major love them now. Have you heard the Blue Roses album? Really, really good. I'm neighh good at describing music but here's a review - http://www.nme.com/reviews/10381. I think you'd like.

I had no idea what you were talking about there til I had to google it! Nice find. I think remember him playing this live a couple of years ago...yeah, quite La's/early Libertines sounding. Some nice jangle jangling. You heard the new Frightened Rabbit tune? Loving it! http://indymusic.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/swim-until-you-can_t-see-land.mp3

Hmm, she still looks distinctly uncomfortable with her boobular arrangement if you ask me. So there!

Ah, so it is. Not the most flattering picture of Alina though. Perhaps she didn't realise the photographer was coming. Alela doesn't look entirely happy with her boob-tube arrangement either. Mind you, can any of us truly say that we are comfortable with our boob-tube arrangement?

The noo Hidden Cameras album's just appeared on Spotify! WHEEE!

Timdersticks!! I reckon you should listen to that Dead Man's Bones album on Spotify. I think you might like it.

Hi, Was just looking at the running order for the swn festival in Cardiff and saw that the Broken Fsmily Band show on the 24th is billed as their penultimate ever show! What's the deal with that...not least because they've got another 2 gigs booked after that...

Hang on "Listening now using Spotify". Ignore my stupid question. Well, that one anyway. Still interested in whether they're any good or not.

Just seen you're listening to Headless Heroes. Never heard of them, but have just read up. What's it like? Good? Sounds interesting. Is it on Spotify?

The frankly rather obsessive play count for the mumfords is down to a few Eps they've got on rawrip.com (it's all paid for and legit!) Also some live tracks from itunes live which you can get on err...itunes. I think a lot of these tunes might end up on the LP, so maybe it's worth waiting 'til the 5th to find out. Mt. St. Helen's Vietnam Band are indeed a cracking band - they're like Vampire Weekend crossed with Rush or something. BTW I just realised I don't think I've ever even heard The Broken Family Band so will try 'em - "where do I begin?" as Burley Chassis once said?

Hi, How was EoTR? Was disappointed to find that your 6666th play wasn't Number of the Beast by rock behemoths Iron Maiden. ;-)

Hey there! Great to meet you new music friend :-)

Not really good timing for me as I have no idea where I'll be living! So I'll be giving it a miss. Although I reckon I might be tempted nearer the time.

Tickets are sorted for BFB in Sheffield so drinks and weeping are on if you decide to go. Also there's this http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=broken+family+band&init=quick#/event.php?eid=99540817435&ref=search&sid=663555141.3592032741..1 Do you know anything about it?

I'm just looking at your overall top tracks list: 14 plays. LOSER!

He's good! Olly, pointed me towards one of his albums a while ago, and if there is a better folk-rock epic than Thanks Giving Day Parade, I've yet to hear it. He's got a couple of albums on Spotify, well worth a listen, although neither of them contain the aforementioned song. I think he's regarded as another 'new Dylan'. He's not the new Dylan, but he is good.

I've ticked it now but I was totally going to tick it before you mentioned ticking it. So there!

I can heartily recommened the Hush Arbors album. It came out last year but kind of went unnoticed. It's brilliant, lean, psych/folk stuff. If you're prone to the odd cheeky illegal download it's up here...you'll definitely dig :) http://bolachasgratis.baywords.com/?p=2464