Well…2008 is over, and almost a week later, here I am with my first post of the year.

I find this time of year is like a musical wasteland. You’ve got the remnants of 2008’s single releases still littering up the charts, and the promise of some new music over the coming weeks. Soon, the BBC will release their predictions for the hottest acts of the year in their Sound of 2009 poll. That’ll take some of the guesswork out of who to watch this year.

As for me, what have I been listening to over Christmas? Well, a very kind publicist sent me The Black Keys’ Attack And Release album, which has been on constant rotation for me lately. I really must sit down and do a proper review of it for you, because it’s excellent. Not the most immediate album in the world, but persevere with it and you’ll be rewarded.

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Same Old Thing – don’t be fooled by that title, this is literally the best new music I’ve listened to all week.

The publicist for The Black Keys sent me across an email about this new single by the band. (This is a lesson to me to actually read those publicity emails every now and again). Something compelled me to look this tune up on the Internet, and I’m soooo glad I did.

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