Grand Drive: Road Music (Loose)

This British/Australian band's debut of earlier this year has been circling my listening orbit for a long time without finding a landing point in my affections, but with time running out I thought it best to state my case. My problem is that they sound so like the late, lamented Jayhawks - twangy accents included - that it is scary. Julian and Danny Wilson are two Australian brothers who apparently have been knocking around London for the past decade before getting this band together. They certainly have a penchant for memorable melody (Tell It Like It Is, Falling Out, The Natural) and their alt.country style is infectious and full of grit, if a little ham-fisted; but new, it is not.

Joe Breen

The Cowboy Junkies: Rarities, B-sides and Slow, Sad Waltzes (Latent Recording)

My impression of this Canadian band's output over recent albums has been of a plethora of B-sides, so this compilation was greeted with more casual interest than anticipation. But fans of this distinctive one-trick pony - slow, intense ballads, mostly written by Michael Timmins and whispered by sister Margo's tremulous voice - will find, surprisingly, a lot to savour. There is a welcome and disarming informality as if the recordings are unfinished, as clearly some are, while others, such as their lively version of Dylan's If You Gotta Go, Go Now and the Grateful Dead's To Lay Me Down thrive in the stripped-down atmosphere. Latest is their own label and this collection is proof that away from the corporate machine they still have much to offer.

Joe Breen