Most popular songs in 2XS Rocks! playlist

'Volumes Of Silence' by THE FODS (Don't Argue (EP) 2024). A rather wonderful chunk of indie-rock from Manchester's Ol (gtr ,kybds, vcls), Al (gtrs, vcls), Birch (vcls), Ez (gtrs,vcls) and Rob (vcls, words & prod) - plus some guests. A good example of one

'Glad' - TRAFFIC (John Barleycorn Must Die 1970). A traditional Olde Englishe Songe, arranged - Steve Winwoode

'Tomorrow Never Knows' - PHIL COLLINS (Face Value 1981). This was the Genesis drummer's first solo (and a #1) album, and the forerunner of two decades of hit singles. He started playing the drums at age 5, and in his teens was the Artful Dodger in the We

'Filthy' - LANSDOWNE (Medicine 2023). The Boston (USA) rockers are Jon Ricci (vcls), Shaun Lichtenstein (ld gtr, vcls), Glenn Mungo (drms), Josh Waterman (gtr, vcls), and Mike LaRoche (Bbass)

'Are You Gonna Be My Girl' - JET (Get Born 2003). From the 'AC/DC School Of Rock', Nic Cester, Chris Cester, Cameron Muncey and Mark Wilson are from Melbourne, Oz

'Lil Devil' - THE CULT (Electric 1987). Ian Astbury & Billy Duffy's pivotal 3rd album marked a deliberate stylistic change from goth to hard rock

5.15 - THE WHO (from Quadrophenia 1973). The seminal film soundtrack written - Pete Townshend

'Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)' - JAMES (Pleased To Meet You 2000). Tim Booth's Manchester indies started out in 1982 but were most successful during the 1990s. This was their 9th studio album and their third to be produced - Brian Eno. Tim Booth

'Council Skies' - NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS (Council Skies 2023). Johnny Marr plays guitar on the Mancy Lad's 2023 album. Even Liam is reported to be a fan

'Burn' - DEEP PURPLE (Burn 1974). The original heavy metallers' eight studio album

'Radio Radio' - ELVIS COSTELLO ( 1978). Declan MacManus, Steve Nieve, Bruce Thomas and Pete Thomas released this single on 20 Oct 1978

'Do You Want Crying' - KATRINA AND THE WAVES (Katrina And The Waves 2 1984). Based around Cambridge and led - guitarist Kimberley Rew, the band recruited American singer Katrina Leskanich and got a Canadian record deal. The success of 'Walking On Sunshi

'Keep Talking' - PINK FLOYD (The Division Bell 1994). Featuring the remaining core of David Gilmour, Rick Wright and Nick Mason, with Stephen Hawking on this track

'Wonders Never Cease' - MORCHEEBA (The Antodote 2005). This was the only album to feature the band's new vocalist, Daisy Martey. What followed was a series of accusations, reciminations and a court case

Supersonic - OASIS (from Definitely Maybe 1994). The debut album - the Manchester lads, named after a poster Liam Gallagher saw for a gig at The Swindon Oasis on Noel's bedroom wall

'Corpses In Their Mouths' - IAN BROWN (Unfinished Monkey Business 1998). This was the first solo album - Manchester's talented and versatile Stoned Rose

'What I Like About You' - THE ROMANTICS (The Romantics 1980). Formed in 1977, the Detroit New Romatics were Coz Canler, Wally Palmar, Mike Skill & Jimmy Marinos

'Fine Time' - ROBERT PALMER (Pressure Drop 1975). This was Robert Palmer's second solo album and features Little Feat and other musicians, and titled after the Toots Hibbert song. Palmer died in his adopted Switzerland on 26 Sep 2003, aged only 54

'How It All Went Down' - SUNSTACK JONES (Golden Repair 2020). Initially conceived - Chrisy, Lorcan and Richy as a songwriting project, they put this album together after supporting Buffalo Tom's U.S. tour

'Strawberries & Popcorn' - EELS (Extreme Witchcraft 2022). Mark Oliver Everett (aka E) follows his 2020 'lockdown' album, 'Earth To Dora', with more fine music

'Lucky Man' - EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER (Emerson, Lake & Palmer 1970). From the debut 1970 album release - Keith Emerson (d 10 Mar 2016), Greg Lake (d 7 Dec 2016) and Carl Palmer, this was also a hit single in Europe

'Panic Station' - MUSE (The 2nd Law 2012). The fifth single from the band's sixth studio album has been idiotically compared to Queen's 'Another One Bites The Dust' and Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'...

Walk Idiot Walk - THE HIVES (from Tyrannosaurus Hives 2004). This is the third album - the Swedish garage punksters

'Smells Like Teen Spirit' - NIRVANA (Nevermind 1991). Written - frontman Kurt Cobain, the song claimed to address people outside of the underground music community who did not understand the band's message

'Is This Love' by JAMES ( 2024). Formed in the 80s, James are one of Britain's most enduring - and endearing - success stories. They have released 16 studio albums to date, selling over 25 million copies, and their recent run of Top 5 albums has proved to

'Leaders Of The Free World' - ELBOW (Leaders Of The Free World 2005). The Manchester band formed in the late 90s and is a vehicle for frontman Guy Garvey's candid, evocative lyrics. This was their 3rd album

'Inhale' - FM RODEO ( 2024). The nicely brooding band was formed in Texas in 2015 - Troy Dry (vcls. gtrs) and Johnny Elrod (drms). They're big fans of Green Day, Nirvana and Oasis

'Big Decision' - THAT PETROL EMOTION (Babble 1987). TPE were originally formed in 1984 from the ashes of the Derry Hitmakers, Bam Bam And The Calling, and The Undertones. Leaders were guitarists John O'Neill and Raymond Gorman who were both DJs at Derry'

'Take What You Want' by DEF LEPPARD (Diamond Star Halos 2022). Well, it's been done many times - and they've been at this a long time - but the Sheffield rockers can still get away with it!

'Not Fade Away' - THE ROLLING STONES ( 1964). In their heyday, the world's greatest Rock & Roll band. Here, doing a fine cover of the Buddy Holly (Norman Petty) classic, released on 21 Feb 1964

The Last Ride - JOHNNY MARR THE HEALERS (from Boomslang 2003). This was a limited edition debut single - the band which also featured Zak Starkey & Kula Shaker's Alonza Bevan. The album was released 2 years later

'Fire And Water' - FREE (Fire And Water 1970). The third album (and first major success) for the band who formed in London in 1968. They disbanded in 1973, with lead singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke forming half of Bad Company, and bassist And

'Standing In The Road' - BLACKFOOT SUE ( 1972). This was released on 2 Jun 1972 - the Birmingham band, formed in the early 60s - identical twins Tom and David Farmer, with Eddie Golga

'Diamond And The Missing Son' - UNQUIET NIGHTS (Seasons In Exile 2024). With Belfast origins, the trio are Ulstermen Luke Mathers and Rodger Firmin, with Italian John Rossi. This is their third album

'You Don't Know How It Feels' - TOM PETTY (Wildflowers 1994). This was Petty's second solo album (following 1989's 'Full Moon Fever') and his first for Warner Bros. Records, for whom he had recorded as part of the Traveling Wilburys

'Need A Friend' - EL VY (Return To The Moon 2015). In case you think you've heard this wonderful baritone voice on 2XS before, you have. El Vy is Cincinnati's Matt Berninger (The National), with Brent Knopf (Menomena & Ramona Falls)

'Keep Me Out Of It' by SKINNY KNOWLEDGE (Don't Turn Out The Lights 2021). Leading the Bournemouth band, Andy Leslie-Smith's vocals - aren't! Which is good. He wrote this with 'an old mate', Chris Payn, and says its's about 'encouraging people to push thro

'Strung Out Johnny' - IGGY POP (Every Loser 2023). Michigan's James Newell Osterberg releases a raw album, teaming up with Red Hot Chilli Peppers' drummer Chad Smith, and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses

Run Run Run - THE THIRD RAIL (from 1967). 1960s

'Back Home' - GOLDEN EARRING (Golden Earring 1970). Formed in 1961 as The Golden Earrings, George Kooymans and his fellow Dutchmen prove there's more to the band than 'Radar Love'

'Brother The Cloud' - EDDIE VEDDER (Earthling 2022). The former Pearly One, Edward Louis Severson III, excels yet again. This is his third solo album, and he now seems to be firmly into his 'Tom Petty phase'

'Stairway To Heaven' - LED ZEPPELIN (Led Zeppelin IV 1971). The acclaimed fourth album from Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham is known also as Four Signs, Four Symbols, ZoSo, Runes, and Untitled. It is regarded as their most endur

Mess It Up - THE ROLLING STONES (from 2023). 2000s

Runaway - KEYSIDE (from 2024). Playlist

Killer - VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR (from 1970). ProgRock

The Whale - SUE THE NIGHT (from Mosaic 2015). Sue The Night is the stage moniker of Dutch artist Suus de Groot

What You Told Me - OUR GIRL (from The Good Kind 2024). The Brighton trio are Soph Nathan (gtrs, vcls), Josh Tyler (bass) and Lauren Wilson (drms). Nathan tell us that 'this song's about seeing illness affect someone I love. It's about the heartbreak in t

Chelsea Rose - ROCKHEAD (from Rockhead 1993). Vancouver's Bob Rock (Schneider) and Chris Taylor formed the band to create 'classic rock' with lead vocalist Steve Jack

'Need You No More' - CHAPPAQUA WRESTLING (Plus Ultra 2023). Brilliant effort - the Manchester based band (although members Charlie Woods and Jake Macleod are actually from Brighton). This is their debut album

'Sweetheart Contract' - MAGAZINE ( 1980). Bring on the punks, Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley. Martin Hannett produced the single, which just scraped into the charts at #54 in July 1980