Fairport convention

Folk-rock giant follows up last year's Street Cries

Ex-Fairporter's 21st solo studio album

Jack White’s Third Man cottage industry has produced a bit of a mixed bag of releases in 2009, with the highlight thus far (of those I’ve heard, anyhow) being his own solo seven-inch, “Fly Farm Blues”. The whole disdain he seems to have for standard record company practise, the sense that decisions are made on a creative whim, is really admirable. But it can’t hide the fact that singles by, say, a local gospel group, Transit, haven’t been hugely compelling.

Lucinda Williams, Ray LaMontagne, Keane and The 'Dead all feature

Oasis, The Clash and Lambchop all line up for big release week on Monday, read about them here

Plus: Mercury Rev, New Order and Sandy Denny's Fotheringay in the weekly round-up