Second album of sterling classic pop from the pen of Leeds' Louis Jones, with help as always from his brother Will. Produced by Girls' JR White, "Sob Story" displays Louis's wide-ranging influences - from Big Star and The Rolling Stones, through Nick Lowe, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello and Dave Edmunds. Recorded in White's SF studio, they've created a wide-ranging album that traverses many styles while remaining totally cohesive, and never losing Jones' own style and voice. "Sob Story" sees Spectrals back and better than ever, brimming with confidence and the best songs of the Jones brothers' careers so far.

LP » $12.00 CD » $8.00

The Mantles are back with their second great album! Recorded with Kelley Stoltz, this fine album delivers all the classic Mantles 60s-tinged garage-pop thrills of their previous record, but with an even clearer, punchier, dare we say better sound. Sharp ears may spot bits of early Love, New Zealand's Flying Nun label and LA's Paisley Underground, but The Mantles are very far from revivalists and have more song-writing and arranging skill at their disposal than many bands could hope to have.

LP » $13.00 CD » $8.00

Dark, dramatic post-punk from Oakland's awesome Wax Idols. Helmed by Hether Fortune, Wax Idols have improved on their already-great debut album in just about every way. The melodies are stronger, the vocals echoed and haunting, and the playing is at an unflagging level of intensity. While early 80s Siouxsie And The Banshees and 4AD are decent reference points, the song-writing is all Wax Idols and they bring a very modern sensibility, along with sterling production help from Monte Vallier (Weekend, The Soft Moon). It's pop in the largest sense - strongly melodic, confident and impossible to ignore.

LP » $11.00 CD » $8.00 cassette » $6.00

Amazing second album from this unique Belfast group. Following up the superb, driving "The New Life" single, this album is the sound of a band on the fringes striving to forge their own path, purposefully out of step - and time - with their surroundings. Dark, almost psychedelic post-punk that brings to mind early Cure and Bunnymen, but with Girls Names' signature melodies and fluid guitar work. Gorgeous, euphoric, bold and totally compelling.

CD » $8.00

Glasgow's Golden Grrrls have spent the last few years thrilling pop spotters with a series of excellent singles and tapes. What began as bedroom guitar experimentation soon bloomed into a fully-formed pop language inspired by the 80s New Zealand and Australian indie pop scenes, DIY punk and Glasgow's own rich pop history (think The Vaselines, The Pastels). For Golden Grrrls the band has written eleven perfect songs about life's realities dressed in three-part harmonies, heart-tugging changes and a playing style derived from punk and classic crash-pop enthusiasm.

LP » $10.00 CD » $7.00

Simply superb second album from London's finest export. At once more immediate and deeper than their excellent debut album, Veronica Falls have created a pop album full of rich melodies, shimmering guitars and perfectly harmonized vocals, all wrapped around a baker's dozen of the best pop tunes you're likely to hear this year, or next. A complete triumph.

LP » $14.50 CD » $9.00

DC's Lorelei are back with their first album since 1994 and they haven't lost a step. Their distinctive blend of post-rock dynamics, sneakily melodic song-writing and ear-blasting guitar noise is 100% intact, and is paired with some very sophisticated song-writing. Rich with rhythmic twists and melodic intrigue, the ten songs on this new album stand tall as Lorelei's best material yet. Excellent.

LP » $10.00

Brilliant debut album by this London band that ably combines tripped-out psychedelic pop (think Deerhunter or Spiritualized) with dense layers of guitar noise and catchy song-writing. The overall vibe is pastoral, perfectly treading the boundary between atmospherically hypnotic and shimmeringly poppy. Add in flawlessly hazy production and subtly driving rhythm and you have one of the best dream-pop albums in recent memory. Gorgeous.

LP » $10.00 CD » $8.00

Amazing album that stakes out a totally unique place in the dream-pop landscape. Combining the sonic guitar-driven sound of bands like Pale Saints and Boo Radleys with stellar song-writing, peerless arranging and lovely 60s-tinged vocal harmonies, Violens have managed to create a truly new sound. Tunes like "Totally True", and "Der Microarc" are at once visceral and ethereal, typical of an album that delivers some of the most accomplished, powerful and challenging pop you'll hear this year.

CD » $8.00

The eagerly-awaited debut album from Evans The Death more than delivers on the promise of their brilliant "Threads" and "Telling Lies" singles. Tough, smart pop that touches on the best bits of Brit-Pop (Echobelly, Sleeper), Pulp, The Long Blondes and The Pixies. Great song-writing combined with noisy, passionate playing and Katherine's amazing vocals all add up to uniquely assured debut.

CD » $8.00

The stellar follow-up to their excellent 2009 debut. Achingly personal, incredibly poignant and familiar all at once, Elizabeth Morris' songwriting has deepened and developed since their debut, serving only to enhance the band's ability to create sophisticated, intelligent pop music with an uplifting, joyous feel. Featuring the singles "Capricornia" and "Europe", this beautiful album is one of the finest, most complete pop records in recent memory.

CD » $8.00

The eagerly-awaited second album from Frankie Rose handily exceeds all expectations. Foregoing much of the fuzzy girl-group pop of previous releases, Interstellar is a gorgeous record marked by Frankie's very unique take on dream-pop, shoegaze and electronic pop. Stellar tunes combine with Le Chev's imaginative production to create something quite special.

CD » $8.00

Smashing chainsaw pop from this great San Francisco group. Smart, funny punk-pop with all the hooks, energy and attitude you could ask for. If you're into The Undertones, Buzzcocks and/or The Exploding Hearts you should definitely check out Terry Malts. Fourteen big tunes, including "Something About You," "Nauseous" and a slamming cover of Negative Approach's "Can't Tell No One."

CD » $8.00 cassette » $6.00

Smashing DIY pop that fits into a long, storied lineage of earnest, urgent guitar bands, with nods to early K label, Subway Sect, Orange Juice, Television Personalities. Pop as made by punks with crazy-broad record collections, full of energy, spunk and great tunes.

CD » $6.00

Anxiously-awaited debut album from this Leeds-based group. Stellar jangly pop with echoes of 50s doo-wop, 60s pop classicism and fellow northerner Alex Turner. Great song-writing, smart arrangements and main Spectral Louis Jones' distinctive, jazzy guitar mark this one as very special indeed.

LP » $11.00 CD » $8.00

Big Troubles' excellent new album Romantic Comedy is a masterpiece of modern pop; a perfect balance of grit and polish, gorgeous guitar sounds and angelic vocals, underpinned by a set of superb songs. Classic power-pop meets 80s/90s/00s Brit/indie pop on smash tunes like singles "Misery" and "Sad Girls".

LP » $10.00 CD » $6.00

At last - one of the most eagerly awaited debut albums of recent memory. With this superb album, Veronica Falls have crafted a brilliantly concise, superbly concentrated hit of spiky, marvelously contagious indie pop with a twist - these are songs which will lodge themselves in your head as well as your heart, with style and attitude to burn. Features "Bad Feeling," "Beachy Head" and 10 more future classics.

CD » $9.00