This is a difficult one because I bought a shedload of CDs last month so I'm trying to remember which three were most recent, anyway here goes: Ratatat - Ratatat I had this MP3 lying round on my hard drive called 17 years for ages, but couldn't remeber who it was buy. It sounded vaguely like Felix Da Housecat doing a rock track. I finally found out that it was in fact a band called Ratatat, a collaboration between guitarist Mike Stroud and bedroom producer Evan Mast. Its only May and I think this could be album of the year already (still awaiting my copy of the new Lali Puna album). This is pure genius, intertwining baroque synth and guitar harmonies with no real seperation between harmony and rhythm, serious riffing that would put The Darkness to shame and it manages somehow to be hip-hop without actually being hip-hop. Does that make sense? probably not, anyway its great, check it out, it could be the start of a new genre "Baroque and Roll" anyone? The Rapture - Echoes I had been avoiding buying this for quite some time. I already had the brilliant DFA mix of "house of jealous lovers" on a Muzik magazine DFA compilation called "Dance to the Underground". I figured the rest of the album can't be as good as this track (especially considering it was a different mix to the one on the album) and it would probably be a purchase I would regret long after the whole disco-punk thing stopped being trendy, but I saw it on sale for 6 euro so I figured I had little to lose. The album doesn't ever really rise above "House of Jealous Lovers", but its still a pretty good record if not exactly original. The title of the album is aproppriate because you constantly here "echoes" of late 70s, early 80s bands in their sound such as Gang of 4, New Order, etc. Depeche Mode - Speak and Spell This is definitely an oldie! Its great though, despite the cheap synths it still sounds great today. It was made when Vince Clarke was still with the band and it shows, its very much an upbeat pop record comapred to later Depeche Mode. Smashing Pumpkins - The Aeroplane Flies High (Japanese 2 CD set) OK this makes 4 (5 if you count the fact that its a double album) and I didn't purchase it that recently either, but I thought I'd mention it because I'd love to know if anybody knows anything about it. It appears to be made up only of the B-Sides that featured in the original 5CD Aeroplane Flies High Box set, thus saving you a packet if you already have the first three albums and have no desire to pay for songs you already have in your collection. I picked it up in Camden when I was in London recently so its quite likely its not exactly kosher. However it doesn't appeat to be a bootleg, The artwork features virgin records logos and it has the catalogue number is VJCP 25200-1/2 so it seems genuine. The sound quality is spot on but I can't find any reference to it in various discographys. Its great if you are a smashing pumpkins fan and shows an unusual side to the band as it features a lot acoustic and electronic stuff rather than their trademark indie-metal, kind of like "Adore" I guess, but different even to that. Anyone know if this is a "genuine" release or not?

i got the walkmen's album when it came out, that was amazing, my favorite of the year so far. the still's album as well, that's ok and i got a promo of the ordinary boys new album, that was a big surprise, way better than i expected. look out for it

While i always like the pumpkins i can never say that i was overly enthusiastic about them. Duno why. I think i got bored with them Fightin talk i hear you say. probably. I must pick up the rapture album. Where did you find it at that crazy price. I bought the Walkmens album as well. And its not bad. "The rats" is pure class as is "Little house of savages" But some of the songs are pretty average and let the album down as a whole Who would you compare the stills two. I have heard a bit about them but i havent heard any of their music. I miss daytime phantom.

you could compare the stills to interpol. they're a bit lighter/popier, but definately worth checking out

Last album I bought was Modest Mouse's "Good News for People Who Love Bad News". My album of the year so far. It ain't released yet on this side of the pond they called the Atlantic (it's released over here on July 19th, I got me fair lady to pick it up for me when she was over in the States). Modest Mouse are - for me at least - one of the finest bands operating in the US at the moment. And, as per another discussion thread going on this site, they're a band I would definitely be prepared to travel to see. On that very front they have just announced a clutch of European dates (between June 22 and 28 they hit Berlin, Cologne, Glasgow, London & Manchester). But I'm all talk, no action cuz I won't be making the plunge to see them as I'm on holliers that same week (even so my jaunt to see Wilco in London in July is already enough of an indulgence, I could never reasonably expect to justify to myself (or anyone else for that bleedin’ matter) a trip to see the Modest Mouse lads). eoghan

Last three albums... 'Transcedental Blues' (Steve Earle) - Amazing record. His best. He finally got the perfect balance between roots and rock. And he didn't bother with running the final mix through a digital limiter. Good man. 'The Lonesome Touch' (Martin Hayes/Denis Cahill) - Probably the best Traditional Irish album ever released. Hayes is to the fiddle what Michaelangelo was to the paint brush. The only trad album I have ever heard that has a true sense of grandeur. And it's only fiddle/guitar. No bodhrans, bozoukis (can't spell that to save my life), squeeze boxes, nothing. Genius. 'Stumble Into Grace' (Emmylou Harris) - Liked it alot when I put it on but, after five plays, it started to grate. I don't get the Emmylou thing. She started out with Gram Parsons, whom I loathe, and then turned into the maiden aunt of Alt.Country. The missus hates it too and won't let me play it when she's at home. And one I sent back... 'A Grand Don't Come For Free' (The Streets). Utter rubbish. I got a free advance copy of this and handed it back after playing the first half once. How would I describe it ? Oh yeah ! 'SH*T BUT YOU KNOW IT'

Modest Mouse play Seattle a lot, they're from here. I've wanted to check them out but they're pretty popular in the indie scene so their shows sell out. Or maybe I've just been too lazy to go. I tend to think of them as Built to Spill wannabes, to be honest. But I haven't heard much by them, and I keep hearing how great they are live. Last three albums: Orange Goblin - Thieving From the House of God Only listened to it once so far, but I'm digging it. Just picked it up when I saw them play this week. They're a British stoner band, good stuff. And thanks to this site: Whipping Boy - Heartworm The Frank and Walters - Trains, Boats and Planes Luka Bloom - Riverside

Fantomas - Delerium Cordia, Wierdest thing I''ve ever heard yet Bob Dylan - Street Legal, what is there to be said, Outkast - SpeakerBoxx/The Love Below, A great CD for, well, listening to on the way out and while out,

I think it was actually Electric 6 :\ Anyone know if there is an electric eel shock album

David Byrne's Look Into The Eyeball...interesting, but a lot of his solo work just serves to shine a light on how amazing talking heads were.. Francoise Hardy - some collection or other, it's all in French...in the dictionary under 'breezy'. a picture of Ms Hardy.. Miles Davis - Round about Midnight....Miles kicks junk, teams up with Coltrane and his greatest quintet. Blissful..

last three... a cheap Nina Simone live album- some good recordings on it. The Liars- they were wrong so we drowned. the tracks that are actually songs rather than ambient noise are really good. There's a song called "if your a wizard why do you need glasses?", it begs the question: if you are so pedantic, why do you spell it "Y-O-U-R"? Belle and Sebastian: fold your hands child, you walk like a peasant.

Just bought a copy of the new Felix Da Housecat album "Devin Dazzle and the Neon Fever" on friday evening, its not even supposed to be released until today. Some poor virgin megastore employee is probably in serious trouble! It sounds pretty good but I haven't listened to it enough to give a definitive verdict on it. A lot of the distant icy cool on "Kittenz and thee Glitz" is gone, mainly because Miss Kittin and Melistar don't seem to feature this time round. This record sounds a bit more unrestrained, a bit more "punk". Standout track so far is "rocket ride", a collaboration with James Murphy from LCD soundsystem, its very funky and James Murphys vocals kind of sounds like how Jack White might sound if he was funkier and dropped the whole puritanical authenticity thing.

Os Mutantes - Os Mutantes Lone Pigeon - Concubine Rice Modest Mouse - Good news for poeple who love bad news

Last album bought , Love - Forever Changes , a very wierd album but the more I listen to it the more I think it's absolutely great !

I heard that smashing pumpkins aeroplane CD a year or two ago, one of my mates brought it back from holidays in Europe. I think it is bona fide, nice collection of tunes. I must say I love the smashing pumpkins, I know its not everyones cup of tea, I dont really like their last album as much, but I think Corgan is one of the best song writers ever, even if everyone says he is a pain in the ass. I have not been able to afford new Cds in ages. Unemployed student. Please send me some new Cds or unwanted HMV vouchers, for the love of God think of the poor deprived students!!

last 3: Charlatans - Up at the lake Mundy - Raining down arrows - very average Eels - Beautiful Freak

heroes to zeros - beta band remix album - brenda fassie* second contribution - shawn phillips* pata pata - miriam makeba* * 'revival' purchases

I bought On The Beach by Neil Young..... just buy it everyone. It's a stone-cold, no nonsense bugget of gold and should be in everyone's collection. Also bought Simple Kid. He's basically an Irish Beck, ain't he? Jury's out on this one. And a best of Tori Amos that I found in a Virgin sale and 4.99 and couldn't say no.