Z is for .....Zoey Van Goey!

And last but by no means least are the quirky, but not entirely Scottish pop-folk trio Zoey Van Goey. Debut album "The Cage Was Unlocked All Along", artwork included (it's well pretty), is a sheer joy! Personal favourite "We Don't Have That Kind Of Bread" will lodge itself firmly in your brain and have you smiling and humming to yourself all day.


Unfortunately there's no gigs until early next year so in the meantime you'll have to amuse yourselves with a couple of pretty songs from the cracking album.

mp3: Zoey Van Goey - City Is Exploding
mp3: Zoey Van Goey - We Don't Have That Kind Of Bread

Some kind words for Zoey Van Goey
"Not yer typical indie outfit, this continually evolving three-piece deal in beautifully understated pop songs that sparkle and fizz with intelligence and power. Highly recommended." - The Skinny

"It's it’s good to know a Glasgow-based band like Zoey Van Goey can flourish ... This is charming folk-pop" - NME

Y is for .....James Yorkston!

So no surprises here. My soft spot for anything remotely Fence Collectivey is pretty obvious so it had to be James Yorkston. Recently he's been busy with The Big Eyes Family Players and The Athletes, but with these or on his lonesome, he's a sheer joy to listen to!

He's been kicking about for a bit so if you haven't heard much from him then now's the time to start. Check out his Black Cab Session or his KEPX session below then take a wee trip here.

Download: James Yorkston - KEPX Session (04/04/03)

Tracklisting:
1. Six-Thirty Is Way Too Early
2. Sweet Jesus
3. Tender To The Blues

X is for .....The Xcerts!

Cracking wee band this! Although not 100% Scottish they're Scottish enough to make the A to Z. Album "In The Cold Wind We Smile" is out now and is definitely worthy of a cheeky wee purchase! For anyone thinking "Who the f**k are The Xcerts?", here's a few acoustic tracks from their Air3 session in March.

mp3: The Xcerts - Crisis In The Slow Lane (Air3, 05/03/09)
mp3: The Xcerts - Aberdeen 1987 (Air3, 05/03/09)

Catch them on their Scottish tour with Flood Of Red:

10 Dec - Harley's, Bathgate
11 Dec - Devitos, Arbroath
12 Dec - Twa Tams, Perth
13 Dec - The Cell, Kilmarnock
15 Dec - Electric Circus, Edinburgh
19 Dec - Doghouse, Dundee
20 Dec - King Tuts, Glasgow
21 Dec - Ironworks, Inverness
22 Dec - The Tunnels, Aberdeen

W is for .....We Were Promised Jetpacks!

Only 4 to go! For "W" I was between We Were Promised Jetpacks, Wake The President and Woodenbox With A Fistful Of Fivers. In the end, their fantastic debut album "These Four Walls" persuaded me to opt for 'youngsters' WWPJ ("older than Ghostbuster 2, younger than Ghostbusters").

Catch them as part of Homecoming Live at King Tuts on the 29th November (well... maybe not. It's sold out) and on 5th December, Adam will be going-it-alone at The Bowery.

Somewhat predictably, here's a wee KEPX session from March this year.

Download: We Were Promised Jetpacks - KEPX Session (26/03/09)

Tracklisting
1. An Almighty Thud
2. Keeping Warm
3. Ships With Holes Will Sink
4. This Is My House, This Is My Home

V is for .....The View!

Surely I'm not the only one who finds Kyle, from Dundee rockers The View, intensely annoying! That being said, I do love the band. Debut album "Hats Off To The Busker" was filled to the brim with some of the catchiest indie songs of recent years. I'm sure everyone at some point had "Same Jeans" stuck in their head for days.

Follow-up album "Which Bitch?" doesn't seem to have hit the same heights and the guys are somewhat less "on fire" than they were a year or so ago. Personally though, I quite like it.

Here's a Which Bitch? taster from their Vic Galloway session back in April along with a cracking Beatles cover.

Download: The View - Vic Galloway Session (27/04/09)

Tracklisting
1. Shock Horror
2. I've Just Seen A Face

U is for .....u.n.p.o.c.!

Ever since I started this I've been itching to get to this one. My answer to the "If you were stranded on a desert island and could have only one CD, what would it be?" question would have to be "Fifth Column", released in 2003 by u.n.p.o.c., the musical masterpiece of The Fence Collective's Tom Bauchop.

If you have a spare £6.99, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Go here A.S.A.P!.
Please note, this guarantee, in reality, doesn't amount to anything!

mp3: u.n.p.o.c. - Here On My Own
mp3: u.n.p.o.c. - So In Tune

T is for .....The Twilight Sad!

No difficulty picking this one! If I put my love for Broken Records aside for the moment, The Twilight Sad have probably been the best band in Scotland over the last few years. New album "Forget The Night Ahead", along with their debut are surely classic albums in waiting!

Recently sold out their intimate Glasgow gig at Nice N Sleazy's in December in a matter of hours it seems. Can't wait for it, should be an amazing night!

For those unfortunate souls out there without a ticket, here's a wee consolation in the form of a couple of acoustic tracks from their LaundroMatinnee.com session on Tuesday.

mp3: I Became A Prostitute (LaundroMatinee.com Session, 03/11/09)
mp3: And She Would Darken The Memory (LaundroMatinee.com Session, 03/11/09)

S is for .....Sons and Daughters!

Here's where it starts to get a bit tricky to choose. Scotland has a shitload of great up-and-coming bands beginning with "S", Sergeant, Sparrow and the Workshop, The Seventeenth Century to name a few. But with two amazing albums and an even better EP under their belts already, it has to be Sons and Daughters. Too long they have been living under the shadow of of label-mates Franz Ferdinand (not bothered to check if this is still the case!), when in fact they are far, far better!

Once again, thanks to KEPX for the great session from 2005 including the amazing "Johnny Cash" from their debut EP "Love The Cup". Also included my favourite song, "Chains" from album "This Gift".

mp3: Sons and Daughters - Chains
Download: Sons and Daughters - KEPX Session (04/11/05)

Tracklisting
1. Dance Me In
2. Johnny Cash
3. Monsters
4. Red Receiver


If anyone wants their other two KEPX sessions let me know!

R is for .....The Royal We!

And now we come to the second of the sadly-no-longer-with-us bands in the A to Z, The Royal We! A slightly strange bunch by all accounts, but you couldn't fault their fun-filled-orchestral-indie-pop! Typically though, they released their debut self-titled album in 2007 to widespread acclaim.....and then announced their split!

It's about time though that they get the recognition they deserved! Let me know what you think of their lead single "All The Rage". Also found a cheeky wee cover of Chris Isaak's iconic '80's hit "Wicked Game".

mp3: The Royal We - All The Rage
mp3: The Royal We - Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)

Q is for .....A Band Called Quinn!

It's safe to say that this A to Z won't feature the best 26 bands in Scotland. I had one band in mind for this post when I started this thing and strictly speaking they're not really a "Q" but needs must. Saying this though, the more I've been listening to A Band Called Quinn, the more I seem to like them. Album "Sun Moon Stars" is out now and is gathering a wee bit of attention (most notably by Q magazine!)...

"A pop-art treat" - Q

"One of the best albums to come out of Scotland in donkeys." - THE DAILY RECORD

"excellent electro stompers..." - THE GUARDIAN GUIDE

Well worth a purchase folks! Here's a wee session from Vic Galloway's show back in March that may tempt you...

Download: A Band Called Quinn - Vic Galloway Session (30/03/09)

Tracklisting
1. The Glimmer Song
2. Exactly Like You
3. Unsung Feelings

P is for .....The Phantom Band!

Sad to say there's no place for The Proclaimers! Was toying with Primal Scream and newbies Punch & The Apostles too but in the end went for Glasgow's best "Proto-Robofolk sextet", The Phantom Band. They're supporting Frightened Rabbit on a few of their Scottish dates later this month and will be at The Arches in Glasgow on the 12th of December!

Debut album "Checkmate Savage" is a belter! You won't find many better songs this year than "Folk Song Oblivion" and "The Howling".

mp3: The Phantom Band - Folk Song Oblivion

O is for .....Odeon Beatclub!

Getting back to the A to Z, it's time for "O" and for me it's a two-band-race between Over The Wall and Odeon Beatclub! But having seen them come close to overshadowing The Cinematics at their King Tuts gig last year, it has to be Odeon Beatclub! Their self-titled debut album is one of the hidden gems of Scottish indie music....as are the band themselves.

No idea when the new album is out. Watch this space....

N is for .....Paolo Nutini!

Paolo Nutini.... my secret, guilty, shameful pleasure! Let's just leave it at that.

Paolo releases new single "Pencil Full Of Lead" from his chart-topping album "Sunny Side Up" tomorrow. Cue the jazz hands!

M is for .....My Latest Novel!

Without a shadow if a doubt it has to be My Latest Novel! I've been a fan since the release of their debut album "Wolves" back in 2006. This year saw the band follow that up with amazing second album "Deaths & Entrances" which, as I've said a few times now, is in a four-horse race with Broken Records, The Cinematics and The Twilight Sad for my album of the year!

Took me a while to get into the album, although that's down to me replaying opening song "All In All In All Is All" over and over and over again! It's one of many highlights from the album awash with gorgeous strings and layered vocal harmonies! Simply Stunning!

And they've just announced a show at King Tuts in Glasgow on the 28th December. Should be good!

Should probably also give Meursault a wee mention here too! The guys from the capital play ay the 1st birthday of The Bowery in Edinburgh on the 7th Nov with a few extra dates in Aberdeen and Glasgow. Full details on their MySpace.

mp3: My Latest Novel - All In All In All Is All

L is for .....The Little Kicks!

I seen The Little Kicks woo the T-Break stage at T in the Park a few years ago and have followed them ever since (albeit from afar). Earlier this year they (finally) self-released their debut album "Boxing Clever". It's a smashing wee album so get it bought!! It begs the question "Why are they not huge?". Standout track "Don't Give Up So Easily" is one of those songs that you find yourself ooooh-ing to out loud in the car, then just won't leave your head all day!

Take my advice and go see them!

Upcoming Gigs
11 Nov - Cafe Drummonds, Aberdeen (supporting Broken Records)
20 Nov - Mad Hatters, Inverness
22 Nov - Nice N Sleazy's, Glasgow
27 Nov - Doghouse, Dundee
28 Nov - The End, Newcastle
29 Nov - The GRV - Edinburgh

Here's some rave reviews...

"Their set is another winner; the jangly guitars and pounding rhythms, reminiscent at times of a less electronic New Order, if there is any justice then The Little Kicks shall be massive." - The Fly

"Despite claiming to be influenced by Radiohead, The Little Kicks still manage to make upbeat disco-rock. Lead singers Steven’s voice does emcompass Thom Yorke’s drawl, but he’s got a bit of Richard Ashcroft to him too. Mixed with Smiths-like melodies it’s pretty fresh-sounding stuff.” - NME

mp3: The Little Kicks - Don't Get Up So Easily
mp3: The Little Kicks - One More Time

K is for .....King Creosote!

Thank goodness for Hallam Foe! When I first watched the great wee film I fell in love with the soundtrack and one song in particular, "The Someone Else" by the amazing King Creosote a.k.a Kenny Anderson. A few Amazon searches later and I'd amassed a good chunk of his back catalogue.

New album, Flick The V's is up there with his best and is sure to feature on a few "Best of" lists come December. KC is also the founder of Fence Records which features a wealth of great bands like FOUND, The Pictish Trail and James Yorkston to name a few.

Download: King Creosote - Vic Galloway Session (18/05/09)

Tracklisting:
1. Pale Shelter (Tears For Fears cover)
2. Curtain Craft (from Flick The V's)

J is for .....Jesus H. Foxx!

I can't get enough of Jesus H. Foxx at the moment and can only echo what others have said...

"Jesus H. Foxx probably get laid all the time.... an undeniably good band" - The Skinny

If you have a spare fiver, hop on over to Song, by Toad and treat yourself to their great Matter EP! They've also just announced they'll be supporting We Were Promised Jetpacks at King Tuts on 29th November as part of Homecoming Live! Oh and follow their blog too!

mp3: Jesus H. Foxx - I'm Half The Man You Were

I is for .....Idlewild!

There's really only one band for this one! Idlewild have been going strong for 14 years now and recently released new album "Post Electric Blues" to a modest amount of critical acclaim. While (personally) it doesn't hit the heights of "The Remote Part" it still singles Idlewild out as one of the best Scottish bands around at the moment.

As with the Firghtened Rabbit post, take a wee wander over to see Peenko for all the live sessions you could ever need!

H is for .....How To Swim!

Maybe not the most well known band in Scotland but certainly one of the biggest... in terms of members that is. How To Swim are a 10 piece from Glasgow, prone to unpredictable live shows in that you never know which of the members will show up. Their "revolving-door policy" as well as personnel are shared by fellow multi-instumentalists The Second Hand Marching Band whose EP "A Dance To Half Death" is available FOR FREE here.

Seen How To Swim supporting Broken Records and The Twilight Sad at the Sauchiehall Crawl a few years back and have been hooked ever since. Well they do have trumpets and like they say...

"They could easily be your favourite band, if only you'd let them burrow into your heart and lay their little eggs."

Incidentally, The Sauchiehall Crawl 2 is on April 1st next year. Stay tuned for the line-up as soon as it's announced! And by no means an afterthought, have a wee look at Hercules Mandarin also!

mp3: How To Swim - A Little Orgasm Of Disappointment

G is for .....God Help The Girl!

Ok, so strictly speaking I think only the brainchild, Stuart Murdoch (of Belle and Sebastian fame) is Scottish but the rest of God Help The Girl are at least based in Glasgow. I still feel bad for leaving Belle and Sebastian out of the A to Z so this goes some way towards compensating. Although this means the mighty Glasvegas misses out. Can't win them all!

Anyway, for those of you not familiar with Stuart Murdoch's new project, here's the gist of it straight from the horses mouth (or more precisely, from the band's website):

“I was out for a run and I got this tune in my head and it occurred to me that it wasn’t a Belle & Sebastian song. I could hear female voices and strings, I could hear the whole thing, but I just couldn’t envisage myself singing it with the group....
....all the time I was touring with Belle and Sebastian, I was putting aside songs for certain characters and at one point I realised, that it would make sense to string them together to form the backbone of a musical narrative."

The self-titled album is joy to listen to, mostly down to a combination of great songwriting, beautiful vocals and stunning orchestral arrangements. The fact that The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon makes an appearance helps too!

In particular the reworking of Belle and Sebastian's "Funny Little Frog" begs to be heard.

mp3: God Help the Girl - Funny Little Frog