Radio Cure's good friends at BBC6 (we went to school together, don't you know) have published their countdown of the worst lyrics of all time, and well sure we thought it'd be an interesting bit of reading for you all. But what have they overlooked? Feel free to make some suggestions, gentle folk of the midlands and beyond. Sure let's get a bit of an ould discussion here now, ha?

1) was the very deserving lyrical offender Des'ree with this particular piece of tosh-esque drivel from her song Life

"I don't want to see a ghost,
It's the sight that I fear most,
I'd rather have a piece of toast,
Watch the evening news. "

Grim stuff folks, we think you'll agree.

2) was this classic rhyming couplet from early 90's dance sensation Snap from Rhythm Is A Dancer

"I'm as serious as cancer,
When I say Rhythm is a Dancer."

Is this piece of lyric writing rubbish? Yes of course it is. But does it bring a smile to Radio Cure's ear (that's right, one ear, smiling) every time we hear it? Yes, of course it does. Steward's inquiry anyone?

3) well, Johnny Borrell has inflamed Radio Cure's temper and tested its patience on more than one occasion. We suggest that "America" may have some dodgy couplets floating around in there somewhere for the particularly discerning listener to wince the night away to, but our old boon companions (that's right, we're from the south now) at BBC decided on this particular delight from Razorlight's Somewhere Else:

"And I met a girl,
she asked me my name,
I told her what it was. "

Indeed, Johnny.

4) we'll let number four speak for itself, as even Radio Cure's crack team at the 'Radio Cure Institution for Lyrical Studies' could not discern one iota of sense from it. From ABC's That Was Then But This Is Now it's:

"More Sacrifices than an Aztec priest,
Standing here straining at that leash,
All fall down,
Can't complain, mustn't grumble,
Help yourself to another piece of apple crumble."

oh dear.

5) we're particularly chuffed about number 5, as this piece of lyric writing by Bono from U2's Elevation has resulted in many vexed wince-filled sleepless nights here at Radio Cure. Try this piece of lyrical dexterity from Ireland's Bob Dylan on for size.

"I've got no self control,
Been living like a mole now,
Going down, excavation,
High and high in the sky,
You make me feel like I can fly,
So high,
Elevation"

(A small tremor is set off across the Midlands from the numerous simultaneous shudders from our staff at the 'Radio Cure Institution for Lyrical Studies')

6) Toto pay the price for over-enthusiastic dramtic imagery in their 80's hit Africa:

"The wild dogs cry out in the night,
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company,
I know that I must do what's right,
Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti."

7) Radio Cure are good mates with Oasis, hell we even had them over for high tea the other day to flap gums and put the matters of the world to right, but even we will admit that something is rotten in the state of Denmark in this particular rhyming couplet from Champagne Supernova

"Slowly walking down the hall,
Faster than a cannonball,
Where were you when we were getting high?"

A bit of an easy target perhaps, but still, Noel has to be held accountable for just actions just like the rest of us now, ha?

Duran Duran prove that lyric writing may not actually be as 'easy' as the refernced war in Is There Something I Should Know?

"And firey demons all dance when you walk through that door,
Don't say you're easy on me you're about as easy as a nuclear war."

9) it seems the eighties is coming in for a particularly hard time from our amigos at BBC6 (oh, they're fierce hard on the 80's right enough, no tolerance for it at all, never touch the

In a year that has already reinvigorated our livelihoods with powerhouse releases from Klaxons, Arcade Fire, Kings Of Leon, Wilco, Bright Eyes, Willy MAson, Bloc Party, The Shins, Patrick Wolf et al, one would be forgiven for thinking right 2007, you"ve served us well, take a break for a bit and let us listen to these CD"s - but 2007 has more up her immaculately flowing and pristinely snot-free sleeve - here's just a run down of the next batch of albums coming out over the next few months which are going to continue to blow our tiny, wee little baby-sized socks off.

1) ARCTIC MONKEYS - Favourite Worst Nightmare

Yes we know we pointed this one out before, but now that Brianstorm is currently improving our partytime tenfold and the rave reviews are starting to flood in, we just thought we"d remind you to start getting excited about the Sheffield lads" second album coming out on April 23rd. We sure as hell are. Here"s the tracklisting.

1. Brianstorm
2. Teddy Picker
3. D Is For Dangerous
4. Balaclava
5. Fluorescent Adolescent
6. Only Ones Who Know
7. Do Me A Favour
8. This House Is a Circus
9. If You Were There, Beware
10. The Bad Thing
11. Old Yellow Bricks
12. 505

2) THE WHITE STRIPES - Icky Thump

Jack and Meg are back together after JAck"s side-project rocking out with his good buddy Brendan Benson in The Raconteurs with their 6th album coming out in June which was recorded at Nashville"s Blackbird Studio and took almost three weeks to record — the longest of any White Stripes album to date. Jack has gone on the record as saying that the album will appeal to fans of the band"s self-titled debut, so more than likely a return fast nuggets of loudness with the marimba staying in the cupboard this time, although a trumpet/guitar duel is said to take place in one song, and word on the street is that bagpipes turn up at one point. That guy, what will he think of next? The songs are

1. Icky Thump"
2. You Don"t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You"re Told)"
3. 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues"
4. Conquest"
5. Bone Broke"
6. Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn"
7. St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)"
8. Little Cream Soda"
9. Rag And Bone"
10. I"m Slowly Turning Into You"
11. A Martyr For My Love For You"
12. Catch Hell Blues"
13. Effect And Cause"

3) RYAN ADAMS - Easy Tiger

Ryan is back with his 9th album (out June 23rd) in 7 years after leaving Whiskeytown and us chaps here at Radio Cure could not be more excited. After silencing all the doubters (well maybe not all, but they"re certainly a bit quieter now) which his triumverate of classic albums in 2005, we"re expecting great things here. Here are the songs

1. Goodnight Rose
2. Everybody Knows
3. The Sun Also Sets
4. Halloween Head
5. Off Broadway
6. Two Hearts
7. Tears Of Gold
8. These Girls
9. Two
10. I Taught Myself How To Grow Old
11. Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
12. Rip Off
13. Pearls On A String


4) INTERPOL - Our Love To Admire

Despite many rumours of the band"s split over the last year, the new-york post-punkers have announced that they will indeed be releasing their third album this year on June 7th, a major cause for celebration.

Well the lads have finally stopped p[laying silly buggers and have finally given us a release date {July 10) and and album titles ("Our Love to Admire") and a tracklisting, which is as follows:

1) Pioneer to The Falls
2) No I in Threesome
3) The Scale
4) The Heinrich Maneuver
5) Mammoth
6) Pace is the Trick
7) All Fired Up
Rest My Chemistry
9) Who Do You Think
10) Wrecking Ball
11) The Lighthouse

The only other facts that Radio Cure"s moles and spies have been able to garner are that keyboards will featyure much more prominently than before, and that the sound will have alot more "texture" (whatever that means) and be much more "expressive" (agai

OUT NOW

KLAXONS - Myths of the Near Future

It's no secret that us here at Radio Cure are quite keen on our bit of Klaxons, and after 4 powerful singles in 2006 (Atlantis to Interzone, Gravity's Rainbow, Magick and Golden Skans)our bet was on them releasing something pretty special for their debut album. Well, do the words "instant classic" mean anything to you... hey, you said it, not us! But if you trust the Radio Cure tipster, you may want to back this one - it's a sure thing!

THE HOLD STEADY - Boys and Girls in America

After two critically lauded but relatively unknown albums (Almost Killed Me and Separation Sunday) The Hold Steady are finally getting noticed with their third album. We've been playing their new single Chips Ahoy! quite a bit of late, and if that's your cup of tea, well we've good news for you, 'cause the whole album's just as good. So if a sort of mix of Springsteen and the Pixies singing songs about taking drugs and making out with some stranger in a "chill-out tent" at a festival sounds like your cup of tea, then place your one pound fifty on Radio Cure's "dark horse of the week" (yes, we're running with the betting analogy for now...)

THE SHINS - Wincing the Night Away

Yes, very nice, very nice indeed. A slightly more mature sound from Zach Braff's favourite band, less manic, more honed mature pop songs, and the world at large seems to be lapping it up. Have they compromised their sound or just perfected it? Only you can put the issue to rest, gentle listener.

Upcoming releases


February Releases

BLOC PARTY - A Weekend in the City - February 6th

We love the new single The Prayer, but what about the upcoming album? Well, Mark has spent the whole week in the laboratory with A Weekend in a City, running rigorous tests on it with Bunsen burners and pipettes and the like, so tune in this Friday (10p.m. - Midnight, 103fm or www.midlands103.com) to hear his discoveries.

Well, the verdict's in: Mark loves it, 10/10. Rob's not quite as impressed, something about a 7/10. So, who do you trust more gentle listener? Let us now (ohhh, we're just stirring it now)

THE NOISETTES - What's the Time Mr. Wolf? - February 6th

The Noisettes' new single Sister Rosetta has been a staple in Radio Cure's playlists for the last few weeks, but will their debut album deliver on its promise? ooohhh, exciting!

LUCINDA WILLIAMS - West - February 13th

Country legend Lucinda Williams (who lives on a ranch with Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, and Dolly Parton - or so we imagine) releases her first studio album in three years, which apparently strays from her typical country fair; this album, inspired by the death of her mother (heavy), has been gathering some pretty darn good word of mouth.

KAISER CHIEFS - Yours Truly, Angry Mob - February 26th

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby... are you humming it on the way to work or does it feel like a drill boring into your brain? Expect more slices of pop gem-ery or annoying earwigs - depending on your point of view - from Leeds' finest! (or worst, again, that's a judgment call, but come on! worst? in all of Leeds? we're sure that you're just being over- the-top now)


March Releases

THE ARCADE FIRE - Neon Bible - March 5th

The big one. Anyone who's heard the first two singles Intervention which we've been playing the last few weeks and Keep The Car Running (watch this space) will already more than likely be preparing their tiny little minds to be blown away. Between you and us (gentle reader) we're making similar preparations for our own minds as we speak.

THE HORRORS - Strange House - March 5th

Us here at Radio Cure are quite fond the new single Gloves from The Horros and are rathe