This week, Matt’s watching Spike Jonze videos.

Björk – It’s In Our Hands (One Little Indian)
Björk releases It’s In Our Hands as a limited edition single on CD, 7” and DVD, to support her recent Greatest Hits album and Family Tree box set. This typically quirky number, where the Icelandic one belts it out over a backdrop of broken beats and electronic weirdness, is accompanied by a video directed and shot by Spike Jonze. It’s his first video since that one with Christopher Walken dancing and you can watch it here now.

Blue States - Season Song (XL Recordings)
The standout track from Andy Dragazis and co’s second album Man Mountain, which was also featured on the soundtrack to Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later. Along with Blue States’ trademark grandiose production, it features a 70s-sitcom theme base and guitar line, and a whole choir’s worth of Tahita Bulmer on vocals.

Aqualung – Good Times Gonna Come (B-Unique)
The second single from Matt Hales’ aptly titled Strange And Beautiful album, and it’s just as good as the one off the new VW Beetle ad. And he’s only 12. Believe it or not this is his third shot at the big time, having already had recording contracts with band Ruth and The 45s. Solo he produces an enchantingly melancholic mix of Radiohead-esque weirdness with harder, more direct melodies. So, pretty good then.

The Star Spangles – Which Of The Two Of Us Is Gonna Burn This House Down/Stain Glass Shoes (Parlophone)
Prize for the longest title this week goes to another New York garage punk band, The Star Spangles, and their double A-side, which also shows their lack of decision-making skills. If I was them I’d have plumped for Stain Glass Shoes because a) it’s better, b) it sounds less like Bryan Adams and c) the title is shorter. They’ll be touring throughout December with Idlewild. Matt Walton 28 November 02

last week's singles