Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore split up - we all lose surrogate cool parents

It was the couple you all wanted your parents to be like. But the dream is over as Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore have announced a marriage split. Hang on…band split too…surely not?

Album review: The Method - Dissidents and Dancers (See Monkey Do Monkey)

So how do you describe a band like The Method? The lazy review of Dissidents and Dancers would be to say 'if you like The Coral or like The Bees, you'll love The Method.' But we're not lazy - and I need to bump up the word count.

Out of Cardiff, The Method are the musical equivalent of a sponge, taking (less-obvious) influences from the fields of 60s beat, garage and psych, not to mention the likes of two tone, old school indie (when the word meant something) and punk to create a sound that's unique, but with more than a touch of familiarity to the educated ear.

Review: Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (30th anniversary edition)

Even back in 1980, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels was a fish out of water. 30 years on, the debut album by Dexy's Midnight Runners still is, but an even bigger fish thanks to this remastered and expanded release.

Dressed for a night 'on the rob' rather than a night on the town and armed with a big horn section and some fierce slices of Hammond, Dexy's Mk I was the sound of basement soul, British kids inspired by and paying tribute to the sound of old school R&B, particularly Atlantic and Stax, as well as the acts that re-interpreted those sounds for British clubs. People like Geno Washington, immortalised in the band's first big hit, Geno.

Review: Nouvelle Vague - Best Of (Peacefrog)

On the face of it, the Nouvelle Vague concept should have been a single, maybe two singles at best. Indeed, it did kick off as a couple of singles, each with bold modernist-inspired sleeves, adding an interesting bossa twist to classic and cult punk and new wave tunes.

But then came an album. Then another. Then a third. Not to mention live gigs and guest appearances by some of the people covered on the albums. Ok, the arrangements expanded a bit, but it was much the same essentially. Now, after just three albums, there's a Best Of. Any good? Well...

Review: The School - Loveless Unbeliever (Elefant)

Summer's here and the time is right for sitting in the park, supping a cool long drink, tartan picnic rug on the ground, watching young lovers walk hand in hand as mummy duck leads her chicks along the riverbank, dogs chasing sticks, people laughing ice cream smiles in the hazy mid-afternoon sunshine.

Now for the benefit of this piece I'll assume neither you nor I will go tearing into this idyllic scene to trample the flowers underfoot or throw up from the fingers down the throat sickliness of it all. Instead, we’ll provide it with a suitably summery and uncynical soundtrack. Boys and girls, please welcome The School.