Shuffle

EOIN BUTLER's guide to downloads, singles and free audiostreams

BLUR

The Puritan **

The Stone Roses are touring. Suede are back in the studio. Noel and Liam are trading barbs in the press. Clearly, the Britpop nostalgia train has already left the station. But of all the faded stars of that era, Damon co are the ones you might have hoped still had something fresh and original to offer. Not on this evidence – The Puritan sounds like an unwanted Pulp B-side.

B.O.B. ft TAYLOR SWIFT

Both of Us, Warner **

Not since rapper Nelly teamed up with country star Tim Nelly on Over and Over (2004) have we seen a more cynical and obviously marketing-inspired cake- jumper of a crossover musical collaboration. A listenable marriage of Day-Glo hip-hop and Nashville pabulum may be possible, but this ain’t it.

LITTLE MIX

Wings, Syco ***

The first single from X Factor girlband is an uptempo pop stomper about female empowerment in the vein of Beyoncé’s Single Ladies. Just not as good, obviously.

PET SHOP BOYS

Winner, Parlophone ***

“We worked so hard, we came so far just to compete.” No one buys music anymore, so the first single from the Pet Shop Boys’ Elysium album seems tailor-made to cash in on some of that London Olympics TV montage money.

NOEL SWEENEY

Women Drivers *

This Donegal driving instructor turned country'n' Irish troubadour is a man with his finger on the pulse of 1970s humour – although, to be fair, he is trying to defend women drivers. I think! Go on Noel, give us a Stevie Wonder joke there while you're at it. youtube.com

TYLER, THE CREATOR AND DOMO GENESIS

Sam Is Dead, XL Recordings ***

Tyler goes to Vietnam. And to quote one of the war movies that obviously inspired this music video: he does not fight the enemy. He fights himself.