Uncut

The hip hop underground goes uptown

Dreamy debut from American singer with perfect pop voice

Subtle, simmering 'new acoustic' debutThese gentle, vaguely retro acoustic stylings from British songwriting duo Hudson and McDevitt exude real charm, evoking melancholy memories, tempered optimism and warm pints in cold country pubs. Reference points include a less tortured Turin Brakes or less populist David Gray, though ticking clocks, babies' cries and the mesmerising "For You" will have you digging out your crusty copy of Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Bursts of energetic violin from Chris Goddard give it an extra edge. Pastoral peaks.

Mixed bag of fodder, including 2Pac outtakes and journeyman rap

Great singer in need of decent songs

Rarities from sometime St Etienne crew

Third LP from Aussie four-piece ditches country twang for subtly shaded pop

Dull debut from rated nu-metal quintet

Bleak second outing for Mercury/Brit-nominated songsmith

Todd Haynes is a film-maker you're never quite sure whether to champion. In the past, when he's won accolades, it's been for something boring and indulgent, like Safe, which moved as quickly as Laurent Blanc in diver's boots in Montreal snow. When he took a hammering, it was for the vivacious, accurate glam rock Citizen Kane that was Velvet Goldmine. Which, relevantly, was gorged with fantastic music. Now he's everybody's darling again, tipped to enjoy Oscar orgies with his deeply stylised Douglas Sirk homage, Far From Heaven.