THIS PAGE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED FOR SOME TIME. Feel free to browse the older version from last year while we sort out what is happening with this page...

Welcome to the new look essentials page. Here you will find all the latest information on the essential new releases - whether that's singles, albums or downloads - plus much more. If you have any comments or suggestions about this part of the site, or any other part, feel free to contact us.

Please note: This page contains links to other websites and music files. Music Spotlight is not responsible for the content of these links, and although every effort is made to ensure all links are correct and up to date, due to the nature of the Internet it is possible that some links may change and/or not work. If you do find a broken link, or you are the owner of a website that we are linking to and want the link removed/changed then please let us know.

Last Updated: 17th February 2006

Albums

January saw a number of great albums released, and the next few months look set to deliver the same. By now you've probably already made up your minds on the likes of The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah but if not then check out the links below.

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - MP3
Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales Of San Francisco - Stream
Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down - Video
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Is This Love? - MP3
CYHSY - Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood - MP3
CYHSY - Over and Over Again (Lost and Found) - MP3
CYHSY Album Review - Read
The Kooks - Do You Love Her? (Acoustic) - MP3
The Kooks - Belly Love (Acoustic) - MP3
The Kooks - Various audio and video - Official Site
The Kooks - Inside In/Inside Out Review - Read

In addition to those great albums, there were also new releases from Broken Social Scene and The Strokes in January, both of which are well worth a look. Head over to their official sites for audio clips. This month has already seen the release of the highly anticipated second album from The Open, entitled Statues. You can read what we thought of it by clicking here, and there's also an interview with the band. You may also wish to check out the new album from Belle and Sebastian called The Life Pursuit.

Listen to four tracks from "Statues" by The Open - Link
The Open - We Can Never Say Goodbye - Video (Windows Media Player)

Albums to look forward to over the coming months include the debuts from The Automatic (Release date TBA) and Morning Runner (March 6th) plus the new album from Graham Coxon - Love Travels at Illegal Speeds. Listen to the lead single Standing On My Own Again by clicking here. Further ahead there's new albums from the likes of Snow Patrol, Feeder, Ash and Blur amongst others.

Singles/Tracks

Looking for some new bands to listen to? Then it might be an idea to check out the SXSW website which has a number of MP3s available to download or stream from various new bands and some of the more established acts such as Editors, The Rakes and Hard-Fi. All of the bands featured are set to perform in the yearly South by Southwest festival from 10-19th March. A selection of the best MP3s from the site can be seen below, but there are many more available on the website which may be worth a look.

Editors - Munich - Download/Stream
The Cinematics - Chase - Download/Stream
Blackbud - Heartbeat - Download/Stream
Forward Russia! - Twelve - Download/Stream
We Are Scientists - It's A Hit - Download/Stream
The Rakes - Retreat - Download/Stream
The Secret Machines - Nowhere Again - Download/Stream
The Cloud Room - Hey Now Now - Download/Stream
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Is This Love? - Download/Stream
The Cribs - Mirror Kisses - Download/Stream
Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat - Download/Stream
Duels - Potential Futures - Download/Stream
The Longcut - Transition - Download/Stream

Singles to look forward to include the new Morning Runner single Burning Benches, I Want You To Stay from Maximo Park and It's A Hit from We Are Scientists, all released 20th February. The following week sees new releases from 65daysofstatic with Radio Protector, All American Rejects release the title track from last years album Move Along and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah release album standout track In This Home On Ice. In what is a busy week for potentially good singles, February 27th also sees the return of Graham Coxon with his new single Standing on my own Again, and The Rakes return with All Too Human.

There are also new releases from The Wrens and White Rose Movement amongst others. 6th March sees new releases from The Rifles with Repeated Offender and The Open release a new EP entitled La Lumiere and featuring We Can Never Say Goodbye from their new album Statues. Finally, Guillemots have released a download-only EP which is only available for free for a limited period. The EP, entitled Of The Night EP, contains four brand new songs and can be downloaded by clicking here.