The summery nature, carefree accompaniments that incorporates a little ska kick and that slightly laboured, but upbeat vocal thrust, provided by the ebullient David Kay.  Full text...

Smart guitar pop hasn't been seen round these parts for many a moon. Tiny Dancers arrive right on time with an album bursting with summery harmony-laden songs in a sea of 'jolly gone gloomy' bands failing to live up to expectations with their second albums and '80s groups reforming being seen as wonderfully post-modern instead of cynical cash-guzzling. What's not to like?  Full text...

Named after the mawkish Elton John tune, this Yorkshire quintet are anything but abrasive. Their country-tinged indie rock is presumably aimed at the same audience that lapped up Magic Numbers.  Full text...

Firstly, we're in the hazy mid-1990s, dour playground of the Verve, where David Kay sounds like Richard Ashcroft, and every drumbeat, guitar strum and lyric, well-crafted as they are, sounds worthy and weighty. Next, we're whizzed into a world of effrontery and chirp, where handclaps, 70s MOR and bah-bah-bah backing vocals rule. All this to-ing and fro-ing sours Free School Milk's charms if you try to swallow it all in one sitting. In moderation, its radio-friendly flavours become much more hearty.   Full text...