Last of the Blacksmiths - "Autumn Vacation". Takes a lot of guts to start an album this way. Takes a lot of guts to sing this slow, this way. Takes a lot of guts to make music that recalls the New Year, of all people (they have a new song too). Takes a lot of guts to stay outside while it's raining. Takes a lot of guts to ice-skate while it thunderstorms. Takes a lot of guts to pretend summer's autumn. Takes a lot of guts to take an anvil to bed. Takes a lot of guts to roadtrip past the coast. Takes a lot of guts to fall in love. Takes a lot of guts to get down, a little, when no one expects you to. [MySpace/website/buy]

Young Coyotes - "Hell Is...". A new volley from these precocious scamps, and once again their da-na-na-na-na-na-na gusto has me setting campfires in my living-room. Wouldn't mind a little more menace in this glockenspiel-along, more Wolf Parade and less Shins, but under the gloss of dings there's a tumbling, river-rapid thrill - the whirl and yay of a good team, a good squad, a good gang. A band that might do anything. [MySpace]

[Photo is of Graeme Patterson's Hockey Organ]