Band of Horses began life as indie favourites Carissa's Weird, but, to my mind, that band never achieved the kind of ragged glory that they do here. Into the singer-songwriter/ angular rock world of Iron and Wine and the Shins, Band of Horses is a fantastic addition. The music is anthemic, dreamy and gorgeous - one listen to The Funeral suggests some great world in which Yes and Feeder combined for one great song - it is one of 2006's best songs so far. There are bands that do what Band of Horses do - My Morning Jacket, for one; Mercury Rev for another - but less cohesively, and less consistently. Everything All The Time has nods to classic Neil Young throughout, but is more consistently accessible and just absolutely gorgeous in its sweeps and early-Coldplay aching tension.

ACE rating 9/10

Milton Mapes' shaggy rock/ Americana mix is hugely engaging, drawing at turns Uncle Tupelo, Nashville Skyline Dylan or inevitable Neil Young Harvest comparisons. The band is named after the singer/ guitarist's grandfather, and their happiness to play unadulterated musical rock would surely make the old fella smile. Like Richmond Fontaine's 2005 album The Fitzgerald, The Blacklight Trap explores a range of characters intensely and cinematically - characters searching for something they're not finding. The band tip heavily onto the rock side of the Americana ridge from country, but it retains enough of the tang to be emotionally compelling. Lyrically, the songs are astonishing in their storytelling, providing the perfect counterpoint to the dark and elemental guitars. If you loved Iron and Wine's collaboration with Calexico, this has to be on your shopping list.

ACE rating 8/10

You may not have heard of John Doe, but he is something of a musical legend, from his time in LA 'punk' band X. The reason that you should pay attention now is that he has made some great music in the past 20 years, but none better or more consistent than on Forever Hasn't Happened yet. Punk in spirit, blues in spirit, rock in spirit and uplifting throughout, this is an album formed by putting musicians and great songs in a small room and, well, just going for it. With collaborators like Grant Lee Phillips, Neko Case, Kristin Hersh and Dave Alvin, the quality is always going to be high, but Doe's polished mahogany voice and song sense make this an intensely enjoyable experience, like some unassuming Springsteen album. Closest to classic artists like Warren Zevon or Steve Forbert, John Doe makes music that's full of flavour - hang the presentation.

ACE rating 8/10