Glasvegas: 'Flowers & Football Tops'

For some bands, the lyrics are a means to an end. It's doubtful that Scouting For Girls spent days wracking their brains for the chorus to 'She's So Lovely'; nor do we suspect Noel Gallagher gets too upset when he can't come up with a new word to rhyme with "sunshine". Glasvegas, however, clearly understand that a decent tune can become a great one when accompanied by meaningful sentiment.

'Flowers & Football Tops' is a case in point. An ode to the mother of murdered teenager Kriss Donald, it manages to avoid insensititivity and tastelessness because James Allan gently circles the subject matter instead of diving in headfirst. "Police on my left and right, my son's not coming home tonight," bellows the Glaswegian over echoing guitars and furious thudding drums. The conclusion, which features a wall of feedback and Allan singing 'You Are My Sunshine', is both heartbreaking and haunting. Horrifically chopped from the radio edit, you'll have to invest in the single or album to feel this track's full power.