Eoin Butler's guide to downloads, singles and free audiostreams

PJ HARVEY

Written on the Forehead Island ****

This extraordinary first offering from Harvey's Let England Shakealbum occupies uncharted musical space somewhere between reggae, soul and drone rock. Think Jonathan Donahue and Lee "Scratch" Perry, backed by Lambchop and Suicide. Two decades into her career, PJ has never sounded as odd or intriguing.

EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS

Fire WaterVagrant Records ****

There's plenty to mock about this cod-hippy desert rock ensemble. (If a biopic ever gets made, Will Ferrell will be a shoe-in for the lead role.) But there's a time for sniggering and a time for giving props, and Fire & Wateris undeniably awesome.

RIHANNA

Only Girl (in the World)Def Jam/Roc Nation ***

The Barbadian diva wants to feel like the only girl in the world. I wouldn’t recommend it, Rihanna. I was once the only boy in a home economics class and ended up feeling quite self-conscious about the whole thing.

COLDPLAY

Christmas LightsParlophone **

Beyond all the festive clichés, the best Christmas singles are ones that actually have something to say for themselves. Slade extolled the virtues of spending a traditional holiday in the bosom of one’s family. The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl were lost and lonely in a foreign city. Heck, even Bob the Builder offered a prescient warning about over-exuberance in the construction sector. (Whyever didn’t we listen?) This utterly forgettable offering from Chris Martin co, however, hums and haws but goes nowhere and says nothing. Even in the season of goodwill, a dismal effort.

THE SAW DOCTORS

Red Cortina (First Love Stays With You Forever) ***

Barbershop hasn’t been popular for, oh, about a century. But that hasn’t stopped the Tuam veterans recording this a capella version of their old song about never getting over one’s first crush. (So true – why have you forsaken me, Heather Locklear?) A worthy effort; proceeds go to the St Vincent De Paul.