By Paul V.

Singled out

Artic Monkeys -- I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor-- Domino

Heaped with more hype than a whore with a trick pelvis, London's Arctic Monkeys deserve it all, baby. Their debut single is a nearly perfect slice of power-pop-punk, art school-damaged lyrics and a pogofied beat that'll make you go apeshit on the dancefloor. Look for the full CD review next issue.

Goldfrapp -- Supernature -- Mute

Long since released in the UK, we finally get treated to the highly anticipated new disc from Goldfrapp, and very good things come to those who wait. On their third release, they (Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory) literally drop the hottest electro-dance record of the year, perhaps of the decade. Supernature -- a title nod to late '70s Euro-disco king Cerrone -- is a flawless amalgam of the brash and beautiful outfit's oeuvre: the scintillating trip-hop ambience of their debut, and the vibrator fuzz-beats of 2003's stellar Black Cherry. Alison's vocals continue to mesmerize with a breathy, coy wantonness and Gregory's twitchy electronics dare you to sit down. There's a chameleon-like quality to her vocals, but whether she's acting the scheming dominatrix or the demure romantic, her sexuality always oozes to the surface. "Ooh La La" throbs and pulses outta the gate, an ultra dense slice of glam-stomp (think T-Rex's Marc Bolan getting a blood transfusion from Giorgio Moroder, or Kate Bush in silver space wings). From there it's high-polish, synth-pop chrome on "Lovely 2 C U" and "Fly Me Away" (a Top 40 contender?), kinky machinations on "Ride A White Horse" and "Number 1," and then there's "Satin Chic" -- best described as the Scissor Sisters on a cabaret Ferris wheel. This is a gloriously melodic and thrillingly erotic experience that should, given half a chance, give both Kylie and Madonna a run for their money -- a guaranteed A+ purchase.

Elbow -- Leaders Of The Free World -- V2

I've never paid much attention to Manchester's Elbow. They always struck me as a boring affair -- you know, mopey British music I couldn't wrap my head around. Well, slap me now for assuming that, because I've just discovered how wrong I was. Singer Guy Garvey will swoon you with his hung-over angel of a voice, and a handful of these songs creep under your skin immediately. Many others burn slightly slower to be fully appreciated -- namely the world-weary "Station Approach" and the delicate "An Imagined Affair." No matter the track, Elbow's music precisely articulates an emotional pitch that begs for repeated listens. Lead single "Forget Myself" is an instant sing-along, crammed with clever lyrics about trying to maintain identity in the midst of a lofty breakup. Title track "Leaders Of The Free World" is aggressive and hard-edged, with no veil drawn over Bush-bashing lyrics like,"They're passing the gun from father to feckless son." The group's best qualities -- fusing embittered romanticism with pretty melodies and hooks -- make for an innovative, warm and uplifting experience on par with the Northern Soul essence of Doves or the emotional resonance of Coldplay. Rather than making an album full of posturing indie pop, Elbow has woven an aural patchwork that is affecting, achingly beautiful and unashamedly in love with the ups and downs of normal everyday life. On the whole, a thing of beauty and a treat for the ears and the heart.

The Subways -- Young For Eternity -- Sire

Hailed by England's NME as "the sexiest thing to sweep rock 'n' roll off its feet in years," The Subways' Sire debut is alive with teenage kicks and manic pop thrills, veering from rambunctious punk thrash to tender acoustic pop to grungy, blues-inflected dynamos a la White Stripes. Their riffs are raw but slick, and most definitely throw more than a few quiet-loud-quiet nods to Nirvana ("Young For Eternity," "With You," "Somewhere"). Opening with the winsome "I Want To Hear What You've Got To Say," it then spins off into blazing punk rave-ups like "Lines Of Light" and the grabs-you-instantly first single, "Rock 'N Roll Queen." From there, "Holiday" gives Green Day a swaggering run for their pogo-pop money, and "Oh Yeah" and "At 1 a.m." finds bassist Charlotte Cooper stepping up to duet with singer/guitarist Billy Lunn, showcasing her brash but cutesy rock-chick pipes. The bluster calms down a bit on the jingly-jangly "No Goodbyes" and the slice of Oasis-minded acoustic strumming on "She Sun." While there's not a whole lot of originality here, it's more than made up for by the trio's sheer exuberance. A footnote: This fine debut was produced by Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie, and his skilled touch helps these upstarts squeeze out all the love, lust, fear and frustration you'd expect from kids barely in their 20s. In short, it's a delirious, hormone-addled tribute to the adolescent experience -- all neatly packed into just under 45 minutes.

Catch Paul V. spinning the tunes in Silver Lake: DRAGSTRIP 66 (second Saturday each month at The Echo), SPIT (third Saturday each month at Faultline), and at MJ's on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Tune in for his "Smash Mix" on Indie 103.1 FM Fridays at 5:30 p.m. For more info or to e-mail, visit www.dragstrip66.com.