Listen Up! No. 53: Les Savy Fav - Dear Crutches

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Slow(er) and steady(er) wins the race - especially when you're getting old.

Listen Up! No. 52: The Thermals - I Don't Believe You

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Not only did this clipped burst of punky songsmithery set my pulse racing and my heel thumping, it also sparked a full on YouTube war thanks to an erroneous attempt to liken them to The Kooks. Which made me chuckle at the unfortunate offender's mis-comparison, and then ROFLMAO incredulously at the stream of ignoramuses who bothered to chip in with their "no way man"s, their "Kooks are for girls and homos" and their "you don't know real original music - have you ever even listened to Animal Collective?" bullshit. Morons.

Listen Up! No. 51: Adam Green - Buddy Bradley

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Some hate him for his forthright cynicism; I like him for his acerbic lyrical turns - the only fool he'll suffer gladly is himself, judging by the video.

Listen Up! No. 50: Magic Kids - Sailin'

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Not to be confused with the two-chord Rod Stewart ditty (a fine sailor he'd make too), this one stands out from the 'surf' crowd for not even bothering to hint at influences any more diffuse than the Beach Boys. Unless Brian Wilson counts again as a solo artist? It matters not - they've got their woozy pop nostalgia bang on.

Listen Up! No. 49: Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome

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A+ Math-rock - they'd be beating Foals at their own game if it weren't for the sincerity of the melodies.