Rihanna – S.O.S. – Def Jam Recordings
Single of the year? It’s gonna come pretty close. “S.O.S.” is just a monster – based around the keyboard hook on Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”, it’s not a cover but a reinvention of the song. It essentially uses the same thematic template, uses the hook, but makes it come alive anew. “S.O.S.” is so good because it’s that catchy that every time you hear it still sounds fresh.

TV on the Radio – Wolf Like Me – 4AD/Remote Control
Returning with a statement is always a good way for a band to appear for their second album. Such as it is for New York act TV on the Radio – “Wolf Like Me” is easily their most immediately gratifying moment yet, coming on like a rhythmic Abel to Bloc Party’s melodic Cane. It’s the sort of song that launches a band to another level, and it’s been no surprise to see alternative radio in Australia support it to the hilt. It certainly augers well for Return to Cookie Mountain, the forthcoming follow-up to the excellent Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes.

Belle And Sebastian – The Blues Are Still Blue – Rough Trade
Aren’t Belle And Sebastian just lovely? Why yes, yes they are. “The Blues Are Still Blue” is further evidence of what a smashing album this year’s The Life Pursuit was, with immediacy and polish coming to the fore on the T. Rex-like number. Backed with a swathe of b-sides also shows what a rich vein of form the band are in at the moment.

Peeping Tom – Mojo – Ipecac Recordings/Shock
So roll it up and smoke it again, as Mike Patton extols you to, and when Mike Patton says something you just don’t say no. At least, not when he’s at his most approachable as Peeping Tom. “Mojo”, the first single taken from his ‘pop’ project Peeping Tom, features delirious production from Dan the Automator, with whom Patton has worked in the past on the likes of the Nathaniel Merriweather project. It’s a great slice of song – far removed from the Fantomas of this world, and all the better for it.

Howling Bells – Low Happening – Liberation music
With an instant hook, Howling Bells put Waikiki way into the past with their debut Australian single “Low Happening”. Taken from their forthcoming self-titled debut, the Sydney four-piece have already taken the UK by storm, and “Low Happening” shows just why – it’s somewhere between the ethereal dream-pop of Mazzy Star and the immediacy of pop music at its simplest and best.

Goons of Doom – Fingered – Volcom Entertainment
The first taster from their forthcoming debut album, “Fingered” is a bizarre amalgam of a range of sounds, and all the more interesting for it – Goons of Doom could be, alongside Perth’s Snowman, one of the most bizarre groups to emerge with debut albums in 2006. Fronted by a surf legend, there’s elements of surf guitar there, but also scuzzy pop, devious rock, and a general sense of freedom. “Fingered” may not be in the greatest taste, but can you get it out of your head?

Primal Scream – Country Girl – Columbia
The mandolin is killer, Bobby Gillespie’s deadpan delivery is clever, and the band sound like they’re firing as one. Where over the last couple of albums Primal Scream have gone political and aggressive, “Country Girl” is a fine reminder that the group are more than capable of writing great songs. It’s a fine taster from the really rather good Riot City Blues album.

Thursday – Counting 5-4-3-2-1 – Victory Records/Island
Thursday present themselves in more immediate manner on their new album A City By the Light Divided, and “Counting 5-4-3-2-1” is the epitome of the Dave Fridmann sessions – the band have tempered their aggressive approach in lieu of greater melodics and a keener sense of dynamics. Layers of keyboards filter throughout, and “Counting 5-4-3-2-1” is easily Thursday’s best and most direct moment to date.

Dirty pretty things – Bang, Bang, You’re Dead – Vertigo/UMA
Hailed as the answering call to Babyshambles’ “Fuck Forever”, “Bang, Bang, You’re Dead” doesn’t so much announce itself with a bang as it does with a rattle and a roll – punchier and more direct than anything the ‘Shambles came up with, it’s more polished even than the second self-titled album by the Libertines. It’s also not as good. Carl Barat is a solid songwriter; Pete Doherty is a certifiable fascinator, able to do more with one dynamic shift and lyrical roll than most other songwriters are capable of for the best part of their careers. It’s a good song, but good ain’t great.

N’fa – First Step EP – Inertia Recordings
As part of 1200 Techniques, N’fa found fame for the second time – the first was as the genie in the Tim-Tam commercials. But it’s as the voice behind the killer “Karma” that most music aficionados remember him. Big bass sounds dominate “Cause An Effect”, the song that acts as the single from this debut solo EP. What’s great about N’fa is that not only is he a tight rhymer, but he’s got his own style which is tight and energetic – he’s not mimicking the overseas artists, but instead is able to deliver his own thing. It makes him much more interesting as a result.

Madonna – Get Together – Warner Bros.
A huge dance number, “Get Together” is yet another indication that Madge just ain’t going nowhere – not when she do something as effortlessly poppy as “Get Together”. It sounds like a dance song, but it’s a pop song at heart – the coda is a killer (“Do you believe in love at first sight?/It’s an illusion/I don’t care”), while the chorus is instant, memorable, direct, and everything a good chorus should be. With remixes from Jacques le Cont and Teifschwarz, “Get Together” comes up trumps for the Queen of Pop, once more.

Evermore – Running – Warners
After building their success for their debut album on the back of soundtracking the advertisements for The O.C., Evermore have gone to another level with “Running”, the first single taken from their second album Real Life. Produced by John Alagia and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge, it’s exactly what you would expect from such luminaries – a huge number likely to cement the band a spot on the radio as a Coldplay-a-like. The strings sweep, the vocals soar, the guitars are muted and for the most part in the background. It’s all about the propulsion of the drums and the hook of the vocals.

Kieren Hebden and Steve Reid – The Exchange Sessions Vol. 2 – Domino/Etch n Sketch/Inertia
Even less immediate and more obtuse than Vol. 1, The Exchange Sessions Vol. 2 features three tracks, each of which lasts over fifteen minutes and goes through varying elements to reach its goal. Which is? Well, it’s hard to gauge – it appears to be for the Four Tet maestro and the renowned drummer and percussionist to explore textures and feelings. It ain’t exactly user-friendly (indeed, it seems to have been crafted solely for the interests of its makers) but it is interesting.

Alphaville – Forever Young (remix) – Warners
Now that Youth Group have made “Forever Young” their own, these remixes feel more than a touch unnecessary. The opening ‘Bamel Album mix’ is truly horrific – sounds like Aqua rather than Alphaville. Similarly, ‘Bill Hamel Club mix’ is nigh-on laughable. The remastered original version is extrezo `80s, lacking the gravitas given to the song by Youth Group. It’s amazing that they’ve taken this song and truly made it their own.

Daniel Powter – Lie to Me – Warner Bros.
Soft-focussed, Daniel Powter is like…a nightmare come to life. He’s the American James Blunt, only even less interesting (if that’s at all remotely possible). He sings in this ridiculously weak falsetto for the hook, which when it comes feels tacked on something fierce – it doesn’t fit to the choruses whatsoever. Someone workshopped “Lie to Me” to get it to sound so; no way should any self-respecting songwriter be so cynical as to come up with a song like this.