George the Poet - 1, 2, 1, 2
Island Records

The BBC’s annual The Sound of... poll has become an accurate predictor of which pop acts are likely to achieve modest fame in the following 12 months, before fading just as quickly from our collective memory. Rather than submit this year’s long list to scrutiny, I have randomly selected the nominee whose moniker is the easiest to make fun of. George the Poet is a 23-year-old Londoner, praised for being “street savvy” on the BBC blog. Presumably, that means he can navigate pedestrian crossings and avoid falling into open manholes. Because this sappy rap (hey, I’m a poet too!) is about as edgy as a primary school talent show.

Idris Elba ft. Maverick Sabre - You Give Me Love 
Parlophone

Now that Angelina Jolie's Cleopatra movie isn't going ahead, the way seems clear for Idris Elba's Nelson Mandela-inspired concept album Mi Mandela to scoop the award for Most Risible Vanity Project of 2015. But this single isn't that bad. It does rather give the impression the actor had a romantic relationship with Mandela, but that only gives the song added depth.

Amen Dunes - Song To The Siren 
Sacred Bones

It may not be Tim Buckley's greatest composition, but Song to the Siren is surely his most covered. New York songwriter Damon McMahon is the latest to take the plunge into that shipless ocean. Quite a haunting version it is, too.

Lil Dicky - White Crime 
Dirty Burd

Regular readers will know I’m a huge fan of self-deprecating American rapper/comedian Lil Dicky. But he misfires here, with a song that’s basically one long riff on how the crimes white people commit are so lame, compared to those black people commit. Which is true only if you exclude drone strikes, torture programmes, derivatives fraud, shooting unarmed civilians etc, etc.