999

There are few bands, it seems, as disaster-prone as Shack. Ravaged by narcotics, crippled by debt (the sleevenotes to their third album HMS Fable infamously thanked Cash Converters) and nearly torpedoed by missing master tapes and missed opportunities, this Liverpool outfit clearly monopolise the anti-Midas touch. Matters were not helped three years ago when London Records pulled the contractual plug as well.

Fifth from NYC's own pocket-Spector, Frederick McKinney Cornog

Liverpool's best songwriters since Lennon and McCartney

Slow-burning second album from Toby Burke's equine three-piece

Pop perfectionists follow up 1999's comeback album, Last Exit

Final set from now sadly disbanded duo

Ageless rock'n'roll motherlode reconvenes Stooges, toys with Green Day and hooks up with art-rapper Peaches

Follow-up to James Lavelle's 1999 trip hop folly Psyence Fiction, again with starry guests

Back in 1999, Richard Thompson was asked to name his 10 greatest tunes of the millennium. He took the request at face value and came up with a list that started with "Sumer Is Icumen In" from the 11th century and carried on through to Jerry Lee Lewis. From there came the idea of expanding the list to a couple of dozen songs and recording them live in concert.

Glasgow platinum-shifters ring (albeit subtle) changes for their fourth long-player