The Long Blondes - Century

The best way to describe The Long Blondes' comeback single Century is with a barrage of expletives. Admittedly, this ain't because it's an abomination of shite beyond rational contemplation, it's just the Sheffield-based quintet have had one hell of a makeover. A charging sprawl of '80s synth pop and Girls Aloud-esque pouting, this metallic cyber-chic sheen is a lifetime away from the jaunty fashionista-clasped Elastica-isms of Once And Never Again. And it's not half bad as a first stab, but if you can't stand reinvention in the name of chart-bound populism then this new century's definitely not for you. [Billy Hamilton]