Let's get this straight, Tom Waits -musical magician, peddler of hobo chic, semi recluse - doesn't collaborate with just anyone. Yet here he is, which means these guys are something special.

Very hit and miss - Elbow, Beck, TV On The Radio, YYY, Peaches, The Hold Steady and Rufus deliver sublime covers and make each song their own. Scissor Sisters, Estelle and Duffy, however, do not!

Follow up EP to 2008's 'For Emma Forever Ago'. Slightly different feel from the album, with vocoda and other electronic wizardry enhancing Vernon's acoustic flavours.

The Boss is back! And he's gone pop! (...as in the musical genre, not like a balloon) Not quite as immediate as 'Magic', but a good solid record. 'My Lucky Day' is possibly the standout track here.

Zach Condon, the singer/songwriter/wizard that IS Beirut, can't put a foot wrong, as these two EPs colliding to make an album will testify.

School of Seven Bells deliver a lesson in epic, sweeping electronica. A little light on tunes perhaps, but gorgeous and vast none the less. Like Beyonce's bum.

So singer Benjamin Curtis says he's had enough of rock, leaves to form School of Seven Bells with 2 Swedish twins and the remaining Machines up the rock and get heavier. Um, win win?

A soulful collection of americana and country-tinged rock and roll numbers. Infinitely lovely.

First I'd heard of these guys, and it's enough to make me want to find out more. A very varied record and sonically very interesting indeed.

I love Nat King Cole and this album of remixes by - among others - TV On The Radio, Cee-Lo, The Roots and Cut Chemist, shows Nat's music in a whole new light.

Smog frontman Callahan ditches the pseudonym and delivers a nicely stripped back slice of americana

Back after too long away, Ms Khan serves up her unique brand of mystical, enchanting pop

The Bright Eyes main man actually sounds happy on this record! It's a long album and not always consistent, but the good bits are very very good indeed