The Long Blondes - Once And Never Again (Rough Trade)
UK release date: 23 October 2006
Heavily tipped by most people as the Sheffield band most likely to follow Arctic Monkeys out of South Yorkshire to megastardom, The Long Blondes have up until now been more known for looking impossibly cool in stylish magazines than actually releasing any records. After spending an unfeasibly long time as the unofficial 'best unsigned band in Britain', they eventually put pen to paper with Rough Trade, and their debut album is due for release in November.
Before that though, Once And Never Again will undoubtedly become ubiquitous at every indie disco in the country. Over an incredibly addictive Smiths-like jangle, lead singer Kate Jackson plays mother figure to an abused teenager with a perky chorus of "19, you're only 19 for God's sake - you don't need a boyfriend". The upbeat melody hides a dark lyrical tale of regret and self-harm and has a cunning twist at the end with the line "Oh, how I'd love to feel a girl your age".
Whether it's really about lesbian sex, or a woman singing from the point of view of a predatory male, it's a magnificent single. Best of all, it has probably the best ending to a song you'll hear this month, and serves notice that following Richard Hawley and Arctic Monkeys success in 2006, the next 12 months look like being just as prolific for the Steel City.
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