Lebanon born singer songwriter and one name wonder Mika released his 2006 debut single, 'Relax (Take It Easy)'. Already causing a fuss and landing himself some serious radio airplay, this was certainly one name to look out for. And it's not hard to see why. 'Relax' was fabulously flamboyant. It's ... » read more

Singer songwriter Lior had won many plaudits in his native Australia with his debut album 'Autumn Flow' and has been nominated in several of the country's prestigious music awards (Triple J album of the year, ARIA Awards etc). It finally got a full release in Britain. It's a good start that Lior ... » read more

There was a fear that the turnout for this gig would be mostly screaming teenage girls. Not that we're suggesting Oklahoma's The All American Rejects are a girl's only band, as the male members of the audience will at once testify with some caveman like grunting at the request of singer Tyson ... » read more

The gig at The Rapture was one of the most anticipated gigs in a long time, in respect of expectations there were a lot of rumours flying around about how good the second album was and how The Killers and Razorlight were turning up to see them perform. They came on late which didn't impress many ... » read more

With a little help from soul singer Jill Scott, Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco presents... Daydreamin'. It's the second single taken from his highly anticipated album, 'Food & Liquor'. A lovely little track with talk of pretty flowers and beautiful days, which is contrasted by Lupe's slightly ... » read more

Katie Melua returned from her three month tour of America in 2006 for her single 'It's Only Pain'. It can be found on her multi platinum album, 'Piece By Piece'. For reasons unknown Ms Melua has become the biggest selling female since the release of her debut 'Call Of The Search'. This strums along ... » read more

Las Vegas mega band 'The Killers' finally made a long awaited return in 2006, and it's been well worth the wait. After the huge success of 2004's number 1 album 'Hot Fuss', no little expectation hung around these boys. They've responded in the only sensible way – by growing ridiculous facial ... » read more

The Feeling's album, 'Twelve Stops and Home' had managed gold-standard sales, and they were getting sufficient playlist time on national radio to make Phil Collins jealous. This was their third single release, and I still didn't understand the hype. It's a bitter sweet country-influenced ballad ... » read more

Every now and then, a new band comes along that makes the nation go bananas. In 2004 it was Franz Ferdinand and in 2005, it was Arctic Monkeys. In 2006, it was the turn of Glaswegian trio The Fratellis. Signed to a major label with only a handful of gigs to their name, no one had more to prove than ... » read more

She, with the same name as Prince Andrew's ex-missus and Man U's manager, and of Black Eye Peas fame, was going it alone. Fergie's first solo outing was 'London Bridge', lifted from her debut album 'The Duchess'. It's not homage to that old playground song about London Bridge falling down, but why ... » read more

Readers of Kerrang magazine obviously love these welsh rockers as they had voted Lostprophets as Best British Band and 'Transmission Liberation' as Best Album in 2006. Their latest single to be taken from that album was 'A Town Called Hypocrisy'. You'll scream, you'll holler at the top of your ... » read more

So two albums and a hubby later, this was where it's at with New York diva Kelis. 'Kelis Was Here', album number three for the lady who knew how to 'bring all the boys to the yard', was a grand statement if ever there was any. The message was this: she's a W.O.M.A.N and one who knows her own ... » read more

Cardiff based trio The Victorian English Gentleman's Club unleashed their eponymous debut album on, quite possibly, an unsuspecting public. Like a kid on too much Ritalin, they seemed to just power through with the exuberance of a puppy with a new toy to chew on. 'Ban The Gin' was one track that ... » read more

Managing to make a mark on the scene long before they signed to V2, Little Man Tate released their 2006 single 'Party At Boothy's'. A lot of publicity surrounded the release of this track, not least in the shape of an actual party at Boothy's (who's obviously a brave old soul). Maybe enough people ... » read more

Oh dear. With a title like 'I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)', Eagles Of Death Metal are asking for missiles of an unhygienic nature to be thrown at them. But, hey, anything Tom Jones can handle, Josh Homme and co can, and more. It's taken from their riotous album 'Death By Sexy'. Camper ... » read more

Signed to Ludacris' Disturbing Tha Peace label, Georgian duo could be the best hip hop duo to come out of the Atlanta since Outkast. Their 2006 single, 'So What', featured Ciara and was taken from their 'Light Poles And Pine Trees' album. They were certainly quirky although they had not really ... » read more

After the roaring success of her Maneater single in 2006, which spent four weeks at number one, Nelly furtado returned with the next one. 'Promiscuous' was taken from her third album 'Loose' and was a duet with uber producer Timbaland. Having already hit the top spot on the billboard charts, it ... » read more

Warming up for their appearance at Reading and Leeds Festivals, American rockers Taking Back Sunday performed a small and intimate gig at Birmingham's Barfly club on 22 Aug 2006. Whilst they might not have risen to the heights of their fellow emo-ers Fall Out Boy or Panic! At The Disco, they were ... » read more

His debut record 'For Elisabeth Wherever She Is' earned Swedish Troubadour Tobias Froberg a nomination for Album Of the Year in 2004 at the Swedish indie grammies. Two years on, he followed it up with his sophomore effort 'Somewhere In The City'. A collection of songs designed for moshing this ... » read more