It’s actually not a bad week for singles this week. Once again there’s a mix of brand new artists in with the more established acts and something a little more left-field for our single of the week.

We’ll kick off with The White Stripes and the second single from Icky Thump. You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told) maybe a hell of a mouthful for a single, but it’s what you’ve come to expect from Detroit’s favourite son (and daughter). It’s all here - the bubbling organ, the aggressive blues-tinged riffs and Meg’s tub-thumping. It’s not a bad track but, like most of the tracks on Icky Thump, it doesn’t quite jump out at you. There’s something missing…

The same goes for the second single from the resurrected Smashing Pumpkins, including a long title with brackets… That’s The Way (My Love Is) contains none of the originality of the Pumpkins at the height of their powers. It’s predictable, meandering and, quite frankly, boring. There can be nothing other than money that drove Corgan to bring these guys back from the dead.

Regina Spektor releases yet another single from her album Begin To Hope. Surely she’s release every track from it now? This, though, is a “Radio Recut” of Better which means they’ve made it slightly friendlier - there are more strings, it’s shorter and she sounds even more like Kate Bush. She’s still streets ahead of most other female singer-songwriters; it’s just a shame that Warner seem to be exploiting her at the moment.

The Dead 60s return with Stand Up this week. It’s not as good as Riot Radio and that’s all you need to know.

Another week, another single from The Enemy. Those Oasis-aping scallies return with You’re Not Alone. They’re still rubbish.

At least these are a bit different. Black Cat is the debut single from The Broken Hearts - a performance and DJ duo of Amber and Nisha who are well know faces on the Burlesque scene. It’s hard to describe what this actually sounds like. The simple and repetitive guitar riff drives the song over some distant drums as the duo both sing their broken hearts out. It could be described as a derivative, but it sounds like they actually mean it.

As far removed from The Broken Hearts as almost possible, iLiKETRAiNS return with the first single from their upcoming album. The Deception is another slice of genius from this fast rising band. A blend of post-rock melodies and guitars covered with the almost Nick Cave vocals and lyrics: “This is the devil’s game and it turns me on”. Its epic vision is unlike anything else being made in the UK at the moment. As the phrase “England expects, England expects” is echoed, we can’t help but think the same of their album.

Single of the Week though goes to The Domino State. Now, I heard these guys on 6Music one evening and was so impressed that I had to rush to get a pen and paper to write down the name of the band. Iron Mask is their debut single and it reminds me of all the great bands from the early 90’s. There are aspects of My Bloody Valentine, Joy Division as well as early Editors. The earnest vocals rise above the chiming tremolo guitars, it might be similar to some other bands around at the moment until you here the harmonica. Oh yes, the harmonica. Suddenly it’s like The Charlatans at their most baggie and anthemic. Great stuff and a promising debut from this London five-piece.