The Monthly - December 10

Here's the last The Monthly of the year, and it's a big one. Enjoy it and I'll see you for more monthly fun in 2011...

1. NOAH & THE WHALE – Wild Thing Hot Off The Press
Great first offering from forthcoming new album Last Night On Earth.

2. ISOBEL CAMPBELL & MARK LANEGAN – Time Of The Season New To Me
Bucolic ditty from recent album Hawk from the singing unlikely couple.

3. VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Fight For This Love Hot Off The Press
Yes, they’ve covered Cheryl Cole, seemingly completely off their own bat too. Take that, irony.

4. AVI BUFFALO – What’s It In For? New To Me
First single from earlier this year from Californian’s who clearly listened to a lot of The Shins.

5. R.E.M. – Discoverer Hot Off The Press
Brand new track from the rock legends, from their upcoming 2011 album Collapse Into Now.

6. THESE NEW PURITANS – Fire-Power New To Me
Nearly made The Monthly earlier in the year but recently voted NME’s album of the year, so I revisited.

7. ROC-C – Don’t Stop New To Me
Underground hip-hopper gets exposure for this great track via cool new VW TV advert.

8. NICKI MINAJ – I’m the Best Hot Off The Press
Trinidadian pop-hopper has had lots of hype and this is a great track from her patchy, guest-strewn debut album.

9. SKEELO VS SURVIVOR – I Wish I Was A Tiger Hot Off The Press
Been around for a while but this Soulwax mash-up comes from a new collection of theirs. Awesome party fun.

10. THE FLYING LIZARDS - Money New To Me
Familiar for years, but only just properly logged in my brain. From their 1979 self-titled debut.

11. TALKING HEADS – Crosseyed & Painless Rediscovery Of The Month I
Forgot how good this was, and clearly a massive influence on Friendly Fires, LCD, Hot Chip et al.

12. THE BELOVED – Sweet Harmony Rediscovery Of The Month II
Dance music par excellence, this 1993 track resurfaced for me after Eddy Chemical Brother recommended on Twitter.

13. ROBYN – Dancehall Queen Hot Off The Press
More great stuff from the Swedish singer, from her recently released Body Talk album.

14. THE XX – VCR (Matthew Dear Remix) New To Me
You all know the track but I only heard this terrific remix recently.

15. TOM SCOTT – Today New To Me
Recommended by Ronson recently for the sample at 1m38 as used by Pete Rock & CL Smooth in hip hop classic TROY.

16. THE SWEET – Love Is Like Oxygen New To Me
Another recommendation, this time by James from LCD. This was a 1978 top 10 hit for the Brit glam rock outfit.

17. BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS – You Make Me So Very Happy New To Me
This cropped up on a random 60s compilation – fantastically funky, especially at the 1m45 mark.

18. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Because The Night Hot Off The Press
The Boss’s The Promise (recorded in 1978) came out recently to rave reviews and this is a highlight of highlights.