Kevin Courtney's guide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams

COLD WAR KIDS We Used to Vacation V2 *****

The bible-thumping rockers from Long Beach just keep hitting the mark with their dirty, blues-based rock. This tune, about an alcoholic dad in search of salvation, scores another bluesy bullseye: when these guys preach, you really wanna listen. Visit www.coldwar kids.com and download a six-song session in aid of breast cancer.

JAPE Jape is Grape EP V2 *****

If you were at The Raconteurs' gig in the Olympia, you heard the boys covering Dubliner Richie Egan's fab, psychedelic Floating. Seems Brendan Benson heard the song in Whelans, played it to Jack White, and the rest is indie history. This EP features the original song plus remixes, and new songs Christopher and Anthony and Young Man. Float on, Rich.

RYAN ADAMS Everybody Knows Lost Highway ***

When he's good, the prolific New York cowboy is very, very good, and this tune from his current album ain't bad at all, saddling up just on the right side of Gordon Lightfoot. Adams plays an intimate gig in the National Stadium on November 28th; let's hope the good isn't gone by then.

SUPERJIMENEZ Faye  www.myspace.com/superjimenezfaye ***

Ireland's own "indie rock'n'roll bitches" have set up a FayeSpace exclusively for girls named Faye. They've put photos of the Fayes on the cover art and the video for this jolly, jangly tune - now they're just gonna have to marry a Faye.

MAROON 5 Won't Go Home Without You *

These guys used to be called Kara's Flowers; they should change it back to suit this simpering girly tune, which sounds so desperate to please the laydeez it's practically begging on its knees.

TERRA NAOMI Up Here Island ***

She moved from Montana to London bringing her very American style of lady rock'n'roll along with her. Echoes of Meredith Brooks's Bitch ring through this defiant tale of waiting tables and hoofing it on stage. Terra tells her whole tale in three podcasts on www.terranaomi.com/audio.php