JAMES BLAKE Assume Form (Universal) CUB SPORT Cub Sport (MGM) It’s hard enough getting taken seriously if you’ve made a happy album. You almost certainly will be dismissed as throwaway, a Pollyanna in a world of Eeyores, and almost by definition, someone with an audience of teens or pill poppers. Thank you, next. But make an album essentially about being happy in a relationship – not without questions and doubts (often enough about yourself) but from a position of optimism ra

The second half of the near impossible task of pulling 50 songs from 50 years. A mad idea, filled with frustrations at all the ones I couldn’t pick. But, yeah, fun nonetheless. 1990: Sonic Youth – Kool Thing The year I finally got Sonic Youth, or they crossed over to my side. Droll, sexy and sung by one of my favourite bassplayers (along with Tina Weymouth, Bruce Thomas, Paul McCartney & Andy Rourke). Found out recently she’s a pretty cool interview too. 1991: Joni Mitchell –