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Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>

It might just be the cursed "lazy journalism" but vocalist George Waite - in my opinion has a slight Morrissey tinge throughout his voice. Just thought I'd get that out the way first and then settle down to focusing on the song, "Backstreet Lovers". One of those situations where your opinion is on the fence, with the song sending it one direction, came into play when I opened up The Crookes myspace. Thankfully I was thrown to the side of good.

This isn't indie pop (my enemy) as you've heard it before, with Steve Lamaq calling them "the kings of new romance" mixing The Smiths with 60's girl-groups and 50's rock and roll. This idea is without a doubt spot on, and it's fantastic. The tune is poppier than indie should be yet so much cooler in the process, and as I've already made clear,

vocalist George Waite knows how to sing. A small "handclap" section in the song just keeps the upbeat feel to the whole thing going, it's songs like this that make you smile, feel like all is okay, and that's nice. When famous radio DJ's are giving you the thumbs up alongside NME and The Guardian you're on to something.

The Crookes are on to something. Formed in 2008 things seemed to have quite clearly happened as natural as they come: BBC6 Music's favourite new band; Jon McClure's (The Reverend) praise of "Sheffield's next set of musical genuises"; Lamaq's favourite British band of the year...the list just goes on, and with songs like "Backstreet Lovers" to promote themselves, it's hard to see how you can't like The Crookes. Point's go out to guitarists Alex Saunders and Daniel Hopewell for forming the band and Russell Bates who holds a fine groove on the sticks. The Crookes sound like a band, perfect harmony between members and let's hope it stays that way.

However it's not just "Backstreet Lovers" that's joining the band on their journey to fame, "Two Drifters" with a banjo brought into the mix is beautiful, "Yes, yes, we're magicians" with it's danceability/indie side, it's just fantastic to know there's a band out there with truly great songs. Mash up indie, folk, swing, and 50's rock and roll and you have the genre that The Crookes fall into. I don't have a clue what it's called, but I know for sure I'm enjoying it.