Ritzy Bryan’s recommendation: “It would have to be The Smiths and particularly The Queen is Dead which, for me, is a really emotionally charged album. It’s a combination of how it relates to me on a personal level, nostalgically and the memories it evokes and undeniably by it’s own volition. It’s a brilliantly crafted body of work, tracks like I Know it’s Over and There is a Light that Never Goes Out which are so moving and beautiful, lying besides sardonic classics like Bigmouth and Cemetry Gates. And then they went onto to write Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me….”

Ritzy’s bonus pick: “We came across Goldheart Assembly at Reading and Leeds Festival this year. They were great live and their debut album Wolves and Thieves is a real find. It opens boldly, with lead track King of Rome, is charming throughout, great melodies, great harmonies and a real sense of the band behind the album. Got to love the live steam engines motif too, seeing as the album was recorded at a Steam Museum in Norfolk.”

About our guest author, Ritzy Bryan: Ritzy is the lead vocalist and guitar player for the trio from Northern Whales, The Joy Formidable. The band was officially anointed ‘cool’ when the Guardian tagged them as a band to watch in 2008 after the release of their debut mini-album, The Balloon Called Moaning, but music buffs will know that Ritzy and bassist Rhydian Daffyd had already made some very pleasing pop in their previous band, Sidecar Kisses. The Joy Formidable is working on their first proper full length album, but in the mean time you can pre-order the single I Don’t Want To See You Like and check their NME European/upcoming US dates on their web site.