Artist Mixtape #3: The Maccabees

Continuing with this, the third episode in our Artist Mixtape series, it's the turn of the Maccabees' Felix White (pictured, centre) to bare all in audio form.

Elvis Costello - ‘Welcome to the Working Week’ (MySpace)
I bought his first album the other day because I like the cover and since then I’ve fallen completely in love with it. The songs are timeless and this is the perfect short pop song.

The Futureheads - ‘Broke up the time’ (MySpace)
I saw them recently and they played loads of new songs, this one in particular is amazing. They have been sorely undervalued but they can't still be ignored if the new album is all as good as this.

The National - ‘Slow Show’ (MySpace)
One of our favourite records of the year. The musicianship is really simple and beautiful, and he's a great lyricist. I love the “you know I've dreamed about you for 29 years” bit.

I Am Kloot - ‘Chaparoned’ (MySpace)
Definitely one of the best bands in England. This is off their new album, Moolah Rouge, which I think is only available at their gigs. It's their fourth record and they've been consistently brilliant, which you can't say for most modern bands.

Rumble Strips - ‘Time’ (MySpace)
We love this band and this is their best song. A proper festival anthem - or at least it should have been.

Richard Hawley - ‘Serious’ (MySpace)
We've gotten into crooners recently - well, basically we’ve just listened to Richard Hawley and Roy Orbison. He just makes records that sound so sincere.

The Band - ‘Get Up Jake’ (Online)
One of the greatest groups ever, all really amazing singers and musicians. This is an outtake from their second record. I love the story about this guy that’s too lazy to get out of bed; something we can all relate to.

Joe Strummer and the Mescalaros - ‘Johnny Appleseed’ (MySpace)
I saw [Strummer biopic] The Future is Unwritten recently and it reminded me how good this band were. Obviously, the Clash are always talked about - and they’re my favourite band of all time - but Joe Strummer wrote great songs after too.

Talk Taxis - ‘I May Never’ (MySpace)
The best new young band in England.

Derek Meins - ‘Flicker of Light’ (MySpace)
This was his last single. He has to be seen live to be believed. A cult star in the making.

As well as tacking several tracks, ('The Real Thing', 'Just Like The Rain', 'Colour It In', 'Sore Throat', 'Diamond Solitaire' and 'Bicycles'), onto the reissue of debut album Colour It In (out 14 Jan) the band are re-releasing 'Toothpaste Kisses' on Monday (7 Jan) and are finally working on album number two after years spent playing the same songs. Felix brought this report from the front…

Having just been on the road for the last two years, we are taking a few months away from touring to write and record our second album, which we're halfway through. We're all happy with what we've got so far and are hoping it'll be finished by March. Other than that I won’t talk it up too much - we're just excited to be doing something new.