The Greatest Song in the World This Week: 'Manchester Girl' - Eels

Years ago, a friend lent me the CD single of Eels' 'Susan's House', from their 1996 debut Beautiful Freak. While I was suitably charmed by 'Susan's House', my 15 year-old, Sylvia Plath-saturated brain was mesmerised by the b-side, 'Manchester Girl', a stark, melancholy treat.

Unfortunately, the CD was not mine, and my taped copy has long since bitten the dust, so you can imagine my delight when I discovered Manchester Girl featured on their recent alternative best of, Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Rarities and Unreleased.

Posted by Laura Silver on March 28, 2025 1:10 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: 'She's Lost Control' - Joy Division

Despite having the attention span of a hyperactive monkey, I recently managed to focus for over two hours and watched Anton Corbijn's biopic of Ian Curtis, 'Control'. As well as thoroughly enjoying this interesting and highly moving depiction of the rise and sudden fall of Joy Division, my ears were opened to a classic band that I had not really given much time to in the past.

My neglect of Joy Division has nothing to do with not liking their music, but more the fact that they are one of those bands that I knew were a classic, that I would probably really like, but have been all too absorbed in acoustic affairs and the anticipation of Alanis Morissette's new album to make any time for them. How foolish I have been.

'She's Lost Control', a song inspired by Ian Curtis witnessing a girl having an epileptic fit, a disease that Curtis himself suffered, encapsulates everything that is amazing about Joy Division.

Posted by Laura Silver on March 14, 2025 1:26 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: 'Shine' - Laura Marling

Now I know that I keep harping on about Laura Marling, but I just can't get over how good her debut, Alas I Cannot Swim is. Often I will fall in love with an album and play it and play it until the CD player gets sick of it and pretends it is broken, but I am yet to tire of this record, so I am in fact going to keep harping on about it until you all go out and purchase it just to see what all the fuss is about.

Flavour of the week from Alas I Cannot Swim is penultimate track (if you don't count the hidden track) 'Shine'. This is one of the few tracks on the album that features just Marling and her guitar, rather than a full band. The more basic nature of the song therefore highlight's Marling's ability as a lyricist, both in writing and performing.

Posted by Laura Silver on March 7, 2025 1:41 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: Mark Ronson ft Alex Greenwald - "Just"

Mark Ronson is nothing more than a pesky meddler. It is amazing that one man has managed to build such a reputation (and, no doubt, bank balance) by messing with other people's music. But then where's the harm in that, eh? Music is all about the sharing, caring, and rehashing of other people's ideas, is it not? Mark Ronson has just been clever enough to tap into a less subtle, more lucrative version of what every artist since Elvis has been shamelessly doing. Did Winehouse really coin that vocal style? Are the Arctic Monkeys' razor-edged guitar riffs really their own? I think not.

Amid the furor of the Brit Awards, peddler of the cover version Ronson has this week released a cover of Radiohead's "Just", from 1995's angst-music defining classic The Bends, featuring the smooth vocals of Phantom Planet's Alex Greenwald.

Posted by Laura Silver on February 22, 2025 1:14 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song In The World This Week: Craig David - "6 of 1 Thing"

Now, I am not a fan of Craaaaaaig David, but there are a number of reasons why I think his new single, "6 of 1 Thing" due to be released on Monday, deserves a place in my humble little column.

Firstly, you have to admire the man's tenacity. Despite the fact that comedian Leigh Francis has pissed all over Craaaaaaig David's reputation with his hilarious portrayal of the pop singer in his comedy sketch show Bo' Selecta!, he repeatedly returns with his signature R n' B tunes. Like the evil older brother in the film Kes, Craaaaaig David throws the Kestrel with which Francis has burdened his character on Bo' Selecta! unceremoniously in the bin; a gesture that proudly screams, 'Cock off Avid Merrion, you can't stop me'! That Craaaaaig David certainly is a grafter!

Secondly, he deserves recognition for the sheer quality of his Justin Timberlake impression. I don't think I have seen anyone since JT himself boogie stylishly to a pumping pop tune like Craaaaaig David does!

Posted by Laura Silver on February 15, 2026 1:36 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song In The World This Week: John Martyn - "Solid Air"

With more young whippersnappers breaking onto the music scene than you can shake a stick at, it's important to remember the oldies to whom today's artists are indebted. The Greatest Song In The World This week, therefore, is "Solid Air", by none other than the King of English folk-rock, John Martyn. The folk-blues classic that is "Solid Air", taken from the 1973 album of the same name, set the precedent for the hundreds of guitar-wielding crooners that followed.

Martyn, who this week picked up the coveted Lifetime Acheivment Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards , has over the last forty years released twenty studio albums, most notably 'Stormbringer', with his then wife Beverley Martyn, "Solid Air", and "Bless the Weather". Signed to Island records in its early seventies heyday, Martyn has worked with some of the greatest talents of the twentieth century, including Nick Drake, of whom he was a close friend, Fairport Convention, and Eric Clapton.

Posted by Laura Silver on February 7, 2026 1:45 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: Laura Marling - "Ghosts"

In January it is only wise to be cautious of over-hyped 'acts to look out for this year', but if there is anyone to stamp all over such prejudices, it's Laura Marling.

Despite having only racked up a mere 17 years on this watery sphere, Marling has already amassed a plethora of songs, not to mention sought-after live appearances including support slots for Devendra Banhart and Jamie T, performing on Later with Jools Holland, and sharing the bill with the likes of Bat for Lashes and Gruff Rhys at Field Day in August.

In anticipation of the release of the limited edition Song Box next Monday, which features a CD of Marling's debut album Alas I Cannot Swim, an exclusive concert ticket and a set of album mementos, we are treated this week to a taster in the form of "Ghosts", available for download on iTunes.

Posted by Laura Silver on January 31, 2026 3:30 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: Noah and the Whale - "2 Bodies 1 Heart"

With folky British singer-songrwriters achieving greater prevalence of late, lesser known bands like Noah and the Whale are beginning to break through. Following the release of the sunshine-filled "5 Years' Time", the BBC 6 Music regulars are back with the release on 7” of "2 Bodies, 1 Heart".

Acoustic music is so often wrongly poked with the misery stick, but what makes "2 Bodies, 1 Heart" in particular, and Noah and the Whale in general, so good is their amazing ability to combine melancholia with chirpiness (to the extent that that is actually possible).

Posted by Laura Silver on January 25, 2026 1:30 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: Radiohead - "Jigsaw Falling into Place"

Radiohead, it seems, are hell-bent on world domination. First there was the record-breaking digital release of In Rainbows, a controversial decision that stuck two fingers firmly up to the flailing EMI. Then they sold out huge chunks of their European tour. And then came the physical release of the album, which has ensured they've been flying high for all that exists of 2008 so far. And this week the Oxfordshire quintet are back to really pound the udders of the cash cow.

As well as causing all sorts of hoo-haa at Rough Trade East on Brick Lane on Wednesday night, Radiohead have opted for some traditional promotion in the form releasing the single 'Jigsaw Falling into Place'. And what better reason to add to Yorke and co's millions than this little nugget of Radiohead goodness!

Posted by Laura Silver on January 17, 2026 1:37 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: "Waving Flags" - British Sea Power

It's a whole new year which means there's a tirade of exciting new music out there waiting to tinkle with your eardrums. Say goodbye to nu-rave, laters Ronson covers, so long (again) band-reforming-casher-inners, and hello to female soul-singers, folk, and er, British Sea Power!

Among the first releases of 2008 is British Sea Power's 'Waving Flags', taken from the band's forthcoming third album Do you like Rock Music?, due to be released on Rough Trade later this month. The strong melody created by guitarists Yan and Noble harks back to the high quality indie-pop pioneered by the likes of Jarvis Cocker before goons like Coldplay came and infected the genre with U2 style guitar-riffs and Chris Martin's perpetual whining.

Posted by Laura Silver on January 10, 2026 12:59 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week - All I Want for Christmas - Mariah Carey

Some people may claim to hate music of the festive variety, but with Jesus' Birthday mere days away, I think we should take a moment to celebrate the Achilles ’ heel of Pop that is the Christmas Song.

And what could be a more shining example of the seasonal genre that everyone loves to hate than Mariah's 'All I Want for Christmas'? It has bells, snow in the video, says 'Christmas' lots of times in the lyrics, making 'All I Want for Christmas' an absolute staple at this time of year.

Mariah releases this song every Christmas (corporate sell-out, schmorporate sell-out), and Christmas just wouldn't be the same without it! Think of the track as an old, inappropriate uncle, that farts and still thinks you are at high school (even though you left university years ago), who you secretly hate, but without whom Christmas wouldn't be Christmas.

If Mariah ever stops releasing 'All I Want for Christmas', I'll become a Buddhist and move to Tibet.

Posted by Laura Silver on December 20, 2025 1:33 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: Alicia Keys - 'No One'

The 'big-voiced diva' seems to be quite the thing at the moment. Adele is busy flying the flag for London cool-kids with her ultra-trendy image and pop anthem 'Pavements', newcomer Duffy is getting in touch with her inner Marianne Faithful (everybody has one, don't you know?), and Wino is, well, who knows what Wino is up to. But she does occasionally grace us with the aural treat that is her outstanding voice.

It is easy to forget then that the likes of Alicia Keys have been pioneering lady-crooners for years. Her new single 'No One', taken from her latest album 'As I Am', cements her firmly in the driver's seat of this particular bandwagon.

The track has been happily nestling in the top ten, just above Wino's somewhat over-played collaborative cover of 'Valerie' with Mark Ronson for a good six weeks now, and for one good reason. It's a perfect slow, ballad-y, pop song.

Posted by Laura Silver on December 13, 2025 1:36 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: Babyshambles - "Pretty Sue"

With all the police-dodging, crack-smoking and groupie-shagging, you might wonder when Pete Doherty manages to find the time to write new material, let alone play it live, so I was pleasantly surprised when I came across the new Babyshambles track 'Pretty Sue' posted on the Babyshambles MySpace yesterday.

The song is a pretty rough demo version performed live, but the presence of typically Babyshambolic guitar alongside Pete's pained (in a good way) vocals shows that it will be a really good track when it's all polished and produced and whatnot.

Posted by Laura Silver on December 6, 2025 9:00 AM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week - Ye Old Hope - Florence and the Machine

Ordinarily, the term the term 'Female Singer-songwriter' is met with a resounding 'eugh', but have a listen to Florence and the Machine, and you will realise they are not all floral dress wearing, acoustic guitar wielding, Alanis Morissette wannabes!

When you first hear 'Ye Old Hope', the most noticeable element is South Londoner Florence Welch's voice. With a sound as gravelly as it is strong and powerful, she belts out the song with the punkish edge of Karen O. According to Florence, she learned to sing 'In church, in the school choir, at weddings and funerals, watching The Rocky Horror Show, everywhere', which would account for the rich and varied sound she has crafted with her vocal chords.

Set against the backdrop of pelting drums and dirty distorted guitar, the song becomes an aural treat, that is as bluesy and traditional as it is fresh and edgy.

Florence and the Machine remain unsigned, but with fans including Alex James, and a slot supporting Scout Niblett that went down a storm at Scala last Monday, we will probably be hearing a lot more from Florence before 2008 is out.

Posted by Laura Silver on November 28, 2025 1:16 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: 'Vinalhaven Harbour' - Stephanie Dosen

Imagine if, whilst wandering down the smack-addled road to the Grunge Hall of Fame, Courtney Love had taken a wrong turn, got lost in the woods, swallowed a copy of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', and befriended a peacock. Stefanie Dosen is what you would get. Alright, the similarity probably ends with aesthetics, but indulge me.

Dosen describes her music as 'cradlesongs for ghosts gone astray' which might sound a tad pixie-pretentious. But listen to her voice float delicately over the Nick Drake-inspired guitars on 'Vinalhaven Harbour' and you just might end up surrendering yourself to the dreamy, fairytale world Dosen's music inhabits.

Posted by Laura Silver on November 21, 2025 1:16 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: 'On My Own' - Vincent Vincent and the Villains

Just in case you hadn't had enough of middle-class, skinny jean-clad youths doing their best Joe Strummer impressions, despite them being young enough to have been conceived while their parents shagged to The Clash, Vincent Vincent and the Villains released new single 'On My Own' last Monday on CD, 7" and Vinyl.

Being as I have more than a penchant for everything moody and beardy when it comes to music, I originally put up a bit of a resistance to listening to anything played by a passenger on The Libertines' bandwagon. However, the funky baseline that opens 'On My Own' sucked me in, and like a devoted real ale drinker having a sneaky pint of Stella, I decided to give Vincent Vincent and the Villains a chance.

And right I was to do so!

Posted by Laura Silver on November 15, 2025 10:30 AM in Music News| The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week: Britney Spears - Gimme More

Sometimes you get a huge yellow spot on the end of your nose that you hate, and wish would go away. But then secretly, when locked in the secret cavern of the bathroom, you squeeze and prod at it, and despite the lingering sense of self disgust, you actually grow to love the filthy blemish that has afflicted your face.

That is how I feel about Britney Spears’ controversial latest single ‘Gimme More’. When she first teetered onto the stage at the recent VMA’s, half naked, bleary eyed, and looking a little confused as to why she could hear herself singing, I’m sure I was not alone in wondering why the once queen of pop had bothered with such drivel, and why she had materialised with no clothes, singing or sobriety.

However, weeks later, with the single still riding high at number 7 in the charts, whenever I hear the lovable car-crash that is Britters smuttily sneer the words ‘It’s Britney Bitch’, I am overcome with the desire to turn up the radio, do a little dance and enthusiastically sing along (and I assure you, this is very rare from a person who tends to favour music played in minor chords by men with beards).

Posted by Laura Silver on November 8, 2025 12:45 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song In The World This Week: Kid Harpoon - 'The Milkmaid'

Having collaborated with Laura Marling and Will from the Mystery Jets at The BBC Electric Proms last Saturday, Kid Harpoon is starting to make quite a name for himself. Have a listen to ‘The Milkmaid’, taken from The First EP, released last week, and you will begin to understand why.

I first fell in love with this song when I acquired an acoustic demo version of it a little while ago. Even on the more stripped-down acoustic track, the dramatic use of guitar manages to create a song that makes you stop and listen, allowing the story of the eponymous milkmaid told in the lyrics to seem all the more powerful. The addition of strings and drums on the full band version featured on the EP, however, is stunning. ‘The Milkmaid’ has all the orchestral power of Arcade Fire without any of the darkness, allowing the song to be compelling and moody but at the same time vibrant and upbeat.

Posted by Laura Silver on November 1, 2025 3:05 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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The Greatest Song in the World This Week : 'House of Cards' - Radiohead

Ever since we all fell in love with the moody crooners back in 1997, when they secured their rock icon status with OK Computer, Radiohead have been keen to shake off the status of ‘Superband’. Through their last three albums Kid A, Amnesiac, and Hail to the Thief respectively, they have flirted with controversy by moving away from the traditional rock style and experimented with a harsher electronic sound.

Releasing new album In Rainbows as a download, for which fans can choose how much they pay, certainly maintains the rule-breaking prowess Radiohead have so lovingly nurtured over the last few years. In Rainbows does however show the band returning to their more melodic roots, particularly on my pick for The Greatest Song In The World This Week, ‘House of Cards’.

Posted by Laura Silver on October 24, 2025 5:13 PM in The Greatest Song In The World This Week
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