So the Radiohead feature came across well, even though there were a number of cool people who didn't manage to get their fifty words in, as I had hoped. Next time!

I have to take back my complete slam of the Hidden Cameras record. One song - "Animals of Prey" is lots of fun, but mostly because of the "oh oh oh" that hides in the back of the chorus. It reminds me of a more fey Pavement, somehow. Even though they don't sound like Malmus & Co at all.

Currently stuck on my stereo, however, is the new album by Elbow, A Cast of Thousands. Their first album, Asleep at the Back, made my best-of for 2001, but this is a much much better, more elegant record. The band still sounds like something slow, dark and slights prog, but the new songs are more polished, thoughtful, complete. More late Radiohead, less Blur, in a way. Things open up in unexpected ways, or shut down in a way that's thick with images. As before, fantastic use of drums (they appear pounding, go all fluttery, bump against the chest-cavity, rattle and rock), and very tasteful swathes of acoustic guitar. As a bonus, their sense of humour is still quietly present (last heard on their xylophone-drenched cover of Destiny's Child's "Independent Woman"). Hopefully it'll stay good and I'll write a more complete review later.