Take Me Back, Kevin Nealon

Since last we spoke, I stumbled over two unquestionably end-of-year-list-worthy albums and a flat-out incredible EP by a band familiar to this site, so there will be no more four-day vacations this week. However, instead of posting any of that, I figured I'd rather start off with Brian's three favorite words: new Futureheads song.

The Futureheads, "Area" - And WHAT A SONG it is. Say what you will about the Futureheads (and as someone who listens to a lot of bleeding-edge-minded British indie pop, I could probably stand to say a few things), but they've certainly hit on at least one way to sound good, and BOY did they ever stumble over a song that lets them ride that way 'til it stops kicking. It's also possible that I'm just reacting to the way the track sounds; I ended up getting pretty sick of all the artful spareness and sharp corners on their debut album in less time than I would have liked, so it stands to reason that I'd be all over this newer, rock-er, hit-'em-in-the-chest sound like a dog on dropped dinner, especially when it's all wrapped up in hooks Jimmy Eat World would cry (and inevitably write a song) for. Who knows - maybe they're this generation's equivalent to the Jam, all about the aesthetic until they reach that point where they just have to fess up that they make really great, really brainy pop music rather than anything revolutionary. Here's to hoping this is their "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight", then. (Amazon.co.uk lists two versions of the Area EP for sale; click here to buy CD1 with the Shy Child remix of "Decent Days And Nights", or click here to buy CD2 with two b-sides and the video for "Area")

This Et Al, "Catscan" - I always figured This Et Al's role in history would be "the other half of the split for the first Forward Russia single", but that was before I ever got around to, y'know, listening to their music; having done so, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it were the other way around instead. By now you should all be pretty well aware of my affinity for art-rock that actually, y'know, rocks, and this right here is a goddamn jetplane taking off, complete with the kind of bombastic rolling chorus more frequently found in Muse songs (and I mean that in a good way - lord knows I love my skinny-tie melodrama). Apparently they've been picking up a pretty righteous head of steam lately; they've got a new single out today which has been getting some insane hype (although once again, (a) it's only available on vinyl and I don't have a record player and (b) I'm used to listening to music on my iPod/in the car, so I guess I'll never hear it - Y U MAKE ME H8 U, WORLD), and there's already talks about an album next year, hopefully with some decent money behind it. In other words, better jump on the bandwagon while there's still room. ("Catscan" appeared on a compilation which is now sadly out of print, but you can click here to order their hotly-tipped new single direct from the label, Jealous Records)