If you fancy listening to these as you go, here’s our Spotify playlist with all four songs on.

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

Little Comets: Adultery (Columbia)

This week’s most fun single comes carefully packaged from the North East, but their geographical proximity to myself hasn’t played any part in them earning our coveted crown. Honest. Instead, it’s their penchant for combining angular riffs (something of an NE cliché) with staccato delivery and humour that has seen them pip their peers. Go on, watch the video, and discover one of the finest songs of the year.

Biffy Clyro: The Captain (14th Floor Records)

I’ve never really gotten Biffy Clyro. I enjoyed the last single that came TMM’s way a short while ago, but The Captain is lacking in that certain something. It’s a bit samey, and comes nowhere close to That Golden Rule in the epicness scale (which does exist). They’re clearly at their best when they’ve got a bit of adrenaline behind them, rather than just pulling together a song which hangs around quietly for a few minutes before sneaking out the back door.

Beat The Radar: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 (Akoustik Anarkhy(

This is a bit more like it. A subtle quickening of the pace to kick things off and Beat The Radar – previously unknown to TMM – have endeared themselves enough to come close to Little Comets’ single of the week crown. Any other week then their strangely-titled track would have been a favourite here, but it’s just lacking that little spark to carry it above this week’s releases.

Grammatics: Double Negative (Dance To The Radio)

The newest single from Yorkshire’s finest, in a different vein to that found on their self-titled debut. This time round they’re using off-the-beat drums and bizarre synths to sound more like Panic! than previously. It’s dramatic and sinister, but sadly lacking the brilliance found on the album. Hopefully the follow-up won’t be like this all the way through.