#5debutalbums0004 Mylo - Destroy Rock & Roll (2004) This album has such a breezy West Coat feel that its hard to recall that it was recorded on the West coast of Scotland. Cosy electronica dance that keeps your attention for the full hour. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Fulc - Biting Insomnia (2003) More than a hint of Nirvana and Pearl Jam about these Scunthorpe-based chaps. I'm glad to have given the CD a run out but can't see it troubling the scorers too much come Friday. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 #albumoftheday Melissa Auf der Maur - Auf der Maur (2004) Former member of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins releases solo album and its exactly what you would imagine; swaggering and stylish and sounding great. Best track - Beast Of Honor #MusicSky

Bryan Ferry is 80 today. Here he is, typically jaded by the pleasures life insists on forcing on him.

#5debutalbums0004 Doves - Lost Souls (2000) Opening with a 4 minute instrumental on your debut shows some cahunas. Big atmospheric and epic songs with a psychedelic twist. Doves are worth a revisit after I've neglected them for way too long - yet again. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Superfunk - Hold Up (2000) Sampletastic disco funk. I know nothing about them apart from they get my middle aged feet moving. The hits were Lucky Star (with Ron Carroll) and Young MCs. A funkier Daft Punk. #MusicSky

#JustArrived The Little Unsaid - Stay Fragile All Across This Cold Frontier (2025) A new album plus photos, outtake disc and iron-on patch(!) arrived today. Can't wait to listen to this new offering from an amazing London-based alternative folk outfit. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 #albumoftheday Röyksopp - Melody A.M. (2001) After club vibes that balance on the fence between easy listening and downtempo dance. Atmospheric bass heavy rhythms keep you centred and it made a valuable contribution to chillout compilations for years. Best track - Epie. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Nouvelle Vague - Nouvelle Vague (2004) Innovative concept - Indie classics reimagined in Bossa Nova style and sung by ingenues. When it works it, works fantastically well. Enough to make a lucrative career out of for sure. Great fun. Best track - Just Can't Get Enough #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Half Cousin - The Function Room (2004) Experimental folk music from the Orkney Islands. Character driven songs that seem off-kilter in an agreeable way. Otherwise, hard to pin down. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights (2002) 1st track in, and you know that this is a post punk classic. Next, you're hooked. The dualling lead guitars lead from the front. Not so much influenced, more influential. A cast iron template that framed the band for decades. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Malluka - The Deceptive Sound Of This (2000) Sounding not unlike Placebo, Malluka seem to have faded away from public consciousness like the bleached out cover after this slice of top indie rock. Wonder what they're doing now? Best track - Tupelo #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Audioslave - Audioslave (2002) Chris Cornell joining forces with RATM simply couldn't fail and it doesn't. Heavy and mean rock. Lyrics less political but what a voice. Not usually my genre but I love this. Best track - Cochise #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 #albumoftheday Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell (2003) Karen O seems to be channeling the spirit world on this garage rock classic. A three piece that sounds like a seven piece on a stag do. They could only come from NYC. Best track - Y Control #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Black Sun Empire - Driving Insane (2004) Is this jungle or drum and bass? Can't be sure but it's all skittering beats, drops and pharmaceutical energy. They must have burnt out the drum machine making this. Worth an occasional visit. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain (2000) The swirling strings on most tracks bring to mind a Bond film closing credits. Opener, Lovely Head is a stunner. Goldfrapp had yet to discover glam disco though. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Bonobo - Animal Magic (2000) This got vacuumed up after I discovered Simon Green's releases around 10 years ago. This debut is organic and full of interesting textures. Not as instant as contemporaries Mr Scuff or Lemonjelly but he's stood the test of time. #MusicSky

So this cheered me up today. I had no idea.... youtu.be/uDxDW9jEjHg?...

#5debutalbums0004 ShelleyDevoto - Buzzkunst (2002) I remember being so excited about news of this re-collaboration. The electronic music of Pete Shelley with the barbed poetry of Howard Devoto. It's not bad but it seemed like a missed opportunity. The songs just aren't that memorable. Soz. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Hope Of The States - The Lost Riots (2004) Anthemic in scope. A monumental instrumental opening track sets the tone for this ambitious and grand debut. Sam Herlihy mans the barricades with youthful rebellion. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 #albumoftheday @Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart (2004) This is an astonishingly good Rock & Roll album. Fueled by the righteous indignation of those who wish her ill, she rips the world a new one. If you've never listened, give it a go. Stunning. Best track - Mono #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Starsailer - Love Is Here (2001) Mighty anthems that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention. Alcoholic and Good Souls are devastatingly good pop songs. Revisiting this got Mrs. Rich's seal of approval today. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 The Cooper Temple Clause - Live Through This And Leave (2002) Debut from press darlings does not disappoint. They sound in places as if the Gallagher brothers are fronting Muse. As a six piece, there's a wall of sound vibe that must have battered you in a small club. #MusicSky

I think that this could be pretty obscure. Viper Squadron - Attack Of The Vapours (2009). Not on Discogs and virtually Internet invisible. It's also very good indeed.

#5debutalbums0004 British Sea Power - The Decline Of British Sea Power (2003) BSP's ambitious album starts off at pace but then eases off a tad with no loss of (sea)power. Something Wicked is a particularly strong tune. Indie rock at its imaginative best. All aboard! #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 The Futureheads - S/T (2004) Rousing debut that has more than a hint of XTC's White Music. It rattles along at a fair old lick with only one track north of 3 minutes. Great vocal interplay. Clearly having a riot. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Kinobe - Soundphiles (2000) Smooth, sampletastic easy listening electronica that wouldn't be out of place on a 90's chill out album. They MAY have sampled their mum's records. Best track - Theatricks featuring Benjamin Zephaniah #NowPlaying #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Jon Hopkins - Opalescent (2001) 1st album from one of the great innovators of recent years. This is a lot more anaemic than later work but even though its generic, and you can hear his influences, its a solid listen. Finding his feet but a worthwhile listen nonetheless. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 #albumoftheday Puretone - Stuck In A Groove (2002) The only Puretone album, in fact. Addicted To Bass is the hit and everything else, which nods to TLC/All Saints RnB and countless millenial-electro dance acts is very listenable. Best track - Addicted #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms (2000) Sharp and hard alt. metal existing at the sweet spot between grunge and gothic indie. Perhaps one of the first bands to ignore the rigid strictures of genre and take influences from whatever works. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor (2001) The queen of US R'n'B with a smooth set of songs with echoes of classical piano pieces, Lauren Hill, TLC, 70's soul, etc. All from a 19 year old. Woman's Worth suggests politically she was already on the ball. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Dan Sartain - Vs. The Serpientes (2002) Dark and moody rock and roll with a Duane Eddy twang. Apologies for what might be a triggering cover picture. Sadly prescient. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 David Kitt - Small Moments (2000) Irish singer/songwriter with a voice strikingly similar to Ben Howard. Electronic folk rock with songs that build and build. The title underplays the grandeur of this record, best enjoyed as a whole. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 The Streets - Original Pirate Material (2002) Skinner comes across as street wise but still making potentially devastatingly poor life choices. Half conversation half rap over diverse backing tracks. Must have been a serious influence on Loyle Carner. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man - Out Of Season (2002) There's almost a Bond theme feel to some of these tracks. Beth's voice channels Shirley Bassey to Eartha Kitt via Billie Holliday. Best enjoyed with headphones. Best track - Tom The Model #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Kosheen - Resist (2001) Jungle comes out of the clubs and hits the charts. Sian has a confident voice that complements beats and rhythms that were a breath of fresh air in 2001. Stylish and articulate album with a great cover. Best track - Hide U #Musicsky

#albumoftheday #5debutalbums0004 Ed Harcourt - Maplewood (2000) Early mini-album from distinctive voiced Harcourt. An old fashioned songwriter, which is high praise from me. Apple Of My Eye and Best track - Hanging With The Wrong Crowd are highlights. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 The Sleepy Jackson - Lovers (2003) Debut from Australian indie popsters. Hints of Flaming Lips, George Harrison, and a host of other artist's artists. Nice harmony work, and they like a good 🎵na-na-na🎵 Nothing wrong with that. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Mastodon - Remission (2002) Debut outing for the US heavy metal merchants. They temper the more jazz prog noodlings with some massive riffage. Astounding drumming from the first bar. Best track - March Of The Fire Ants. #MusicSky

#albumoftheday #5debutalbums0004 Zwan - Mary Star of The Sea (2003). Billy Corgan's finest hour. I know most won't agree. All killer no filler on this 1st and final hurrah. The definitive example of great art coming out of band tension. The 'Rumours'of the 21st century. Best track - Lyric. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Gorillaz - Gorillaz (2001) Truth be told, this takes until song four to really get going, but then we're away. Innovative in its magpieing of a rich variety of genres. Also, I do love melodica with echo. Quite experimental in places. Sometimes works, occasionally less so. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Easy Star All Stars - Dub Side Of The Moon (2003) Knocking on the door for top 5 inclusion is this genius dub reggae take on Pink Floyd's '73 classic. Reverential but enormous fun. Check out the drum & bass version of On The Run. Best track - Money #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 @arcadefire.com Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004) The celebratory wake after the funeral, in fact. Uplifting, sophisticated, and baroque. Love conquers all. A cracking full debut. Best track - Neighborhood 3 #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Longview - Mercury (2003) I almost forgot this anthemic monster of a debut from the cool kid's Snow Patrol. Uplifting and inspiring stadium-ready tunes. Why were they not humongous? We need to be told! #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 RJD2 - Deadringer (2002) Deep soul cuts as seen through a hip hop prism. There's an organic warmth that is missing from contemporaries Moby or even sometimes DJ Shadow. Always worth a revisit. Best track - The Horror #NowPlaying #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Antony & The Johnsons - Antony & The Johnsons (2000) There's something of the Weimer republic, caberet about this wonderful debut. Hearts on sleeves. Feelings laid bare. Vulnerabilty in the form of torch songs. Otherworldly and charismatic, Antony had arrived. Contender. #MusicSky

#5debutalbums0004 Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons (2002) Loungey, chilled, sample filled, humourous, occasionally creepy pop. The half way point between Mr. Scruff and Public Service Broadcasting. Timeless and impeccably packaged. #MusicSky

#albumoftheday #5debutalbums0004 Richard Ashcroft - Alone With Everybody (2000) The Verve frontman delivers a debut that still stands up. The strongest tracks like You On My Mind and the sarcastic New York are as good as anything by his erstwhile band. Best track - A Song For The Lovers #MusicSky

#NowPlaying Isaac Hayes ...To Be Continued (1970) Another purchase from that Heanor antiques store. So, I'm now officially older than antiques 😬. The extended Bacharach/David standard Look Of Love is a corker and first listen is very promising. Fourth in a great run of albums. #MusicSky

#albumoftheday John Barry/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - The Concert John Barry (1972) Just £1 from an antiques store in Heanor. Classic full RPO treatment Bond suite carries this album into the stratosphere. "Mr. Barry, I've Been Expecting You". Best track - Goldfinger #MusicSky