Notebook Letters 7.

It's intriguing to see Death Magnetic being the latest example of fans complaining that an album has been mastered at too loud a volume.

I'm aware it's been debated a lot in hi-fi circles recently, but can anyone explain what the purpose of making the albums louder in the first place was? Was it meant to make songs sound louder on the radio so that they'd stand out more? I'm at a loss to understand why distortion is a good idea. Goranoia

The Void; Teletext page 827; 22nd of September, 2008; 5/7.

I think Robbie Williams' Rudebox could be classed as a great lost album, of sorts. It was unfairly panned by critics, and ignored by many of the public after the admittedly laughable title track was the first single.

But the album is a good experimental effort, with the electro songs standing out most, plus wonderful covers of Kiss Me and Lovelight. Even the forays into rapping on The '80s and The '90s were respectable. Shane Damien

The Void; Teletext page 827; 22nd of September, 2008; 6/7.

New singles, by John Earls

BEN FOLDS WITH REGINA SPEKTOR You Don't Know Me 8/10

After a disappointing last album, Folds smooths back into top form. Insistent strings and Spektor's elegant croon accompany Folds in lyrically melancholic mood, yet the song is almost school-disco swoonsome.

FRIGHTENED RABBIT i Feel Better 8/10

Superb headlong dramatics as Scott Hutchinson's broad Scottish brogue steers a scurrying of Wedding Present riffs and death or glory pace.

1/6.

New singles out this week

WHITE LIES Death 9/10

First proper single from the trio whose hype is justified with every second. The title is justified: for a band so young, they're in tune with something ancient and poetic. As stately as any song all year.

THE BRIGANTIES Sidestep 6/10

Intriguing debut from Berwick, they have a cool folk tradition at the coore, but need to bring it to the surface instead of the harsh indie anthemics.

2/6.

New singles out this week

YO MAJESTY Club Action 8/10

A lesbian hip hop sounds the niche of cool kids' appeal. Forget it. The rapidfire delivery is met by minimal, horns a-plenty futuristic beats more inventive and exciting than anything Timbaland's done lately.

MICAH P HINSON We Don't Have To Be Lonesome 6/10

The voice is rich as ever and the baroque swing is great, but the Hammond organ lets it down with a parody of The Band's lonesome epics.

3/6.

New singles out this week

GOO GOO DOLLS Real 3/10

More desperately dull anthemics from a band incapable of making anything other than vacuous self-help songs. Like One Republic's spiritual parents, devoid of any emotion.

THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT Does This Mean You're Moving On? 8/10

Almost too cool to be true, the LA band are saved from posing cool by the riffs and handclaps and the s*xy snarl in Mikel Jollett's sardonic delivery.

4/6.

New singles out this week

THE DAWN CHORUS She's Like An Angel 9/10

From this year's underrated album, we can't recommend highly enough trying these passionate country-rockers. This is a warm, communal campfire worthy of Neil Young.

ME MY HEAD Damage Is Done 7/10

From the ashes of contenders The Moths, the Londoners fit Ikara Colt scratchy garage, Future of The Left rants and even a Low Life-era New Order bass into a frenetic debut.

5/6.

New singles out this week

NAT JOHNSON Dirty Rotten Soul 8/10

Ex-Monkey Swallows The Universe singer Nat Johnson launches her solo career with a rattling, traditional Nashville nuke-joint hoedown. Once heard, the chorus won't be forgotten.

JANE LEDSOM Here Come The Hatters 9/10

Rounding off an unusually fine week of singles is the best football song ever made. OK, as a Luton fan I'm biased, but it is a Kaisers-via-Jem foot stomping anthem.

6/6.

Teletext page 823; 22nd of September, 2008.

Sweet Lordy Lord Lord, I'm tired. Anyone for underwater croquet?

Would prefer an underwater cat nap myself.

The Owl of Bewilderment Some daft person once described Dido's music as 'easy'- which is silly as her music is anything but easy to listen to.

It's easy compared tp my science exam.

The Tartan Thistle Carrots taste like a blue Slush Puppy.

Actually, blue slush puppy based their taste on carrots.

Zine; 31st of August, 2004; 1/8.

The Final Countdown

Following Topper's (slightly disturbing) letter about the counting to 10 game, I remember a game some people in my year used to play on their calculators.

They'd set it up so it'd be 1+1, then rapidly press the equals button, so it starts counting. The first to 100 would win. Josh always won. His record was always about 6 seconds.

Arrant Nerd Boxes Yodeller

My friend used to tap "55378008" into theirs and turn 'em upside down.

Zine; 31st of August, 2004; 2/8.

Happy Meals I Own (Still)

* Clifford The Big Red Dog

* Miss Piggy

* The Swedish Chef

* Mr Christmas

* Dougal

I opt for the hamburger meal with milk.

New New Model

I have a little Miss Naughty doll who sounds like she's being strangled.

Zine; 31st of August, 2004; 3/8.

My Mum

My mother thinks the answer to life's questions is a new oven, but I know different.

And when I can afford to, I will buy her one and she will understand that life's pain is not stilled by being able to over-boil the sprouts even faster.

Destructive Gerbil

Indeed. We all know the answer to the big question is 42...

Zine; 31st of August, 2004; 4/8.