After surfacing online two days ahead of schedule, Girls Aloud have smartly decided to properly unveil their comeback single 'Something New' today (October 16).

Listen to the track below:



Like most Girls Aloud singles, a few listens are required to get our heads around it, but we've posted our initial thoughts on the song below:

Something we like:
It sounds modern enough for today's charts without compromising their signature sound.

Something we don't like:
The distorted vocal bits.

Something we like:
The unusual structure, typical of a good Girls Aloud song.

Something we don't like:
It's taking us a while to get used to all the shouty sing-speaking in the verses.

Something we like:
Despite all the sing-speaking in the verses, it still has a proper, massive chorus.

Something we like:
The ending is our favourite part: "Boy you better watch your back, we're the leaders of the pack."

Something we don't like:
It doesn't feel like it gets going until the one minute mark.

Something we like:
The Nadine-heavy vocal on the chorus.

Something we don't like:
The line: "We girls gonna run this run this."

Something we like:
Sarah's line: "Take a walk on the wild side of life."

Something we like:
Girls Aloud have released a new single.

Something we don't like:
There probably won't be a full album of new tracks to accompany it.

> What is Girls Aloud's best single? Poll

Girls Aloud release 'Something New' on November 18. What do you think of the song? Leave your comments in the box below:

Listen to our ten favourite new tracks below, including Steps, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, Rolling Stones and Daley.

Steps: 'Light Up The World' (out November 12)
Following their chart-topping greatest hits last year, Steps will return this Christmas with their first proper album in almost 12 years, called Light Up The World. If the title track is anything to go by, they've not lost their knack for a warm and fuzzy yuletide anthem. RC

Digital Spy rounds up the best music videos of the past seven days, so you no longer have an excuse to be out of the loop.

Lana Del Rey: 'Ride'
At ten minutes long, we're surprised there isn't a commercial break shoved in the middle. Thankfully there isn't, and we just get pure Del Rey Americana romanticism as she hangs out with some rugged Hell's Angels.

With album sales reaching an all time low earlier this year, it's little surprise that singers are keen to cash in on the busy Christmas sales period.

For those who aren't ready to put out a new record, their only option is a special edition of their current LP; one that includes a handful of extra tracks and, if we're lucky, some bonus DVD material that we'll almost certainly never watch.

One such artist leading this year's repackages is Rebecca Ferguson, who re-releases her debut album Heaven with five new songs next week. As you may have noticed, we were quite taken with the original (which has sold over half a million copies to date), so is it really worth buying a second time around?

Heading up the release is new single 'Backtrack', a sprightly Motown-esque ditty packed with finger-snapping attitude. Given that it featured on the US edition of the LP we're already well-accustomed to it, but it's punchy enough to be a standalone hit, so we're glad it's being given an airing on these shores as well.



Ferguson has recorded a further two new songs, one of which is the rather brilliant 'Good Days Bad Days'; a wistful and modern soul-pop number that wouldn't have sounded out of place on the original album. The other, 'I'll Count The Days', is a big orchestral ballad that - while sufficiently Christmassy - was probably better left as an off-cut.

Ferguson has also recorded a studio version of her rendition of Aqualung's 'Strange & Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You)', which she performed during her UK tour. It's not worlds away from the original, but her distinctive vocal is enough to make it feel fresh. She's also added a live recording of her Gil Scott-Heron/Drake and Rihanna cover 'Take Care' which, truth be told, is a good enough reason in itself to buy the album again.

While we could hardly fault the original record, the deluxe edition of Heaven will please both new buyers and long-time fans. Now for that album of club classics-inspired dance, right?

Will you be buying the re-release of Rebecca Ferguson's Heaven album? Leave your comments in the box below:

Watch the 'Backtrack' music video below:

After months of teasing fans of their comeback, Girls Aloud have finally confirmed they will return to celebrate their tenth anniversary next month.

One of the (many) things we hope to be getting is a new, fully comprehensive greatest hits album that includes all 20 of their top ten singles (don't get us started on 'Untouchable').

Ahead of their official announcement later this month, we've listed our ten favourite Girls Aloud singles below:

'No Good Advice' (released 2003. Chart peak: No. 2)
The follow-up to their debut single is often an overlooked gem in their back catalogue. Yes, the tin foil outfits in the video look a little dated, but as a big 'f**k you!' anthem, it's still up there with their best. RC

We're just going to come out and say it; Olly Murs's last album In Case You Didn't Know was a pretty brilliant pop record. What's more, we enjoyed all three of its singles ('Heart Skips A Beat' was easily one of the best songs of 2011) and could have easily picked another five songs that deserved individual attention.

As such, we had high hopes for the single leading album number three 'Troublemaker' - even if it does feature Flo Rida - and thankfully the track doesn't disappoint. It had its first play on radio earlier today, and it's another perky soul-pop number that - because you feel like you've heard it somewhere before - is difficult for anyone to outright dislike (although Flo's contribution being kept to a minimum certainly helps).

Listen to 'Troublemaker' below:



Another song we've heard from the record is 'Army Of Two'. It clocks in at a rather lengthy 4 minutes and 48 seconds, but that's largely down to an extended orchestral/marching band intro. The whole thing is extremely well crafted, but the best thing about it is the chorus, which contains the instantly catchy lyric: "Soldiers follow my lead/ Repeat after me." It's probably our favourite of the five tracks we've heard because it feels big, fresh and exciting without taking away what we already like about Olly's music.

We'll quickly skim over by-the-numbers-but-by-no-means-bad ballad 'One Of These Days' and move straight on to 'Dear Darlin', a midtempo number in which he writes a letter to a recent ex. Again, it's reassuringly familiar without feeling dated. There are Christmassy chimes to be heard throughout, so we wouldn't be surprised if this is the next pre-Christmas single.



The final song we've heard thus far is 'Loud & Clear' which, put simply, is a brilliant and epic enormo-ballad. "You can't reverse the tears/ The truth is hitting you loud and clear" he says, before a choir of "oohs" chant on the chorus.

In summary, it's business as usual for Olly - but in the best possible way. In fact, if the remaining ten(!) tracks on Right Place Right Time are of similar quality, we could have an even more surprisingly excellent album that In Case You Didn't Know on our hands.

Are you excited about Olly Murs's new album Right Place Right Time? Leave your comments in the box below:

Olly Murs ft. Flo Rida: 'Troublemaker' (out November 11)
When we first heard that Olly had teamed up with Flo Rida, we were dreading that his soulful tones had shoehorned into a rave-it-up floorfiller. Fortunately, Murs has continued his penchant for funky guitar riffs and an ear-snagging melody and do you know what? Flo Rida isn't half bad either. LC

Digital Spy rounds up the best music videos of the past seven days, so you no longer have an excuse to be out of the loop.

Matt Cardle: 'It's Only Love'
Matt proves there really is life after escaping your X Factor record deal, and collects a group of heartbroken souls for a stroll through the Californian desert.

Amongst this year's hectic autumn and winter release schedule (or "Q4" as they say in the business), three of the world's biggest female popstars will be locking horns with their upcoming albums.

Rihanna, Ke$ha and Christina Aguilera all recently unveiled the lead singles from their respective LPs, and each were quickly tipped for global success.



Rihanna opted for an understated ballad on 'Diamonds', which finds her in a more prolific and less club-friendly mode for the first time in years.



Meanwhile, Ke$ha's latest chart assault 'Die Young' picks up neatly where Cannibal left off, teaming up with producers Dr Luke and Benny Blanco.



Finally, Christina Aguilera made her long-awaited return to pop with 'Your Body', which marks a welcome return to her Dirrtier roots.



But which lead single is the best? Vote in our poll below:



Are you looking forward to hearing Rihanna's, Ke$ha's or Christina Aguilera's album this year? Leave your comments in the box below: