I'm in a mood as my wisdom tooth is playing up and the whore dentist won't see me til tomorrow. All dentists are bitches unless you are one, or you are my dentist reading this, then you are the most absolutely lovely exception to the rule and i'd smooch you if you weren't a woman. On with the post...

I first heard of Alexis Strum about a year ago as the next big thing on the fantastic popjustice website, downloaded her catchy, file under things of beauty single Bad Haircut and waited for her to happen, but nothing. And lets face it there are a lot of female singer songwriters fighting for space on the shelves. Luckily, her debut cd Cocoon is a lot better than the single suggested. There is a mixture of slow thoughtful numbers and some poppy ones with lyrics from the heart. Its a musical orgy of Natalie Imbruglia, Jewel, Amy Studt & Nerina Pallot with Kate Bush filming it. Stay Until Summer should totally be the next single as I have fallen in love with it a little bit already...

MP3: Alexis Strum - Stay Until Summer
MP3: Alexis Strum - Addicted (Xenomania edit) - not on the album but clearly done to showcase La Strum's *diversity*

Now onto something a little bit different to Alexis (I always want to write Morell Carrington Colby after I write that, but thats another story). Ooo! Talking of Storys! I seem to have adopted many a safe sounding guitar band to my over the past few years – Maroon 5, Keane, Snow Patrol, The Feeling, etc. For some reason, the critics don't seem to like them all that much but their songs touch me (in an appropriate way!) and I love them all the same. Latest to vie for my affections is The Storys who have somehow managed to bag a support slot on Elton John's tour without even releasing an album. First single Cinnamon has an instinctively beautiful melody and is a real gem of a track The debut album (don't ask how I got it ) is full of wonderful songs, great playing, big choruses and sweet, sweet harmonies. I may adore them already

MP3: The Storys - Be By Your Side
MP3: The Storys - Cinammon

Be sure to check out their home page - it has an embarrassment of free downloads on it :)