After weeks, or maybe months, of focusing in on listening to old faves, several new albums have, ahem, struck a chord with me right from their very first play.

Coldplay’s new one is called Mylo Xyloto – don’t ask me why, I haven’t a clue so far.  Several producers and some contributions from Eno.  I always think Chris Martin sounds too whiney yet their melodies stick in my head worse than crazy glue.  And on this one, on at least some tracks, Martin doesn’t sound whiney at all.

Tom Waits’ latest is called Bad As Me.  And it’s much more immediately accessible than some of his other albums.  This one is also something of a guest star thing, with appearances from Keith Richards, Marc Ribot, Charlie Musselwhite, Augie Meyers, Flea, David Hidalgo, Les Claypool.  I think the big difference is that this one doesn’t sound as if all the instruments are just things he found to bang on in a junkyard. The songs, of course, are as strong as ever.

Ry Cooder’s latest is reminiscent of his great string of albums in the 70s.  Nick Lowe’s latest is further proof that he’s one of the most under-rated talents of the past 40 years.  Ryan Adams returns to form after what feels like a long absence.

But the album I’m playing the most often, so far, is the latest from Wilco.  It’s pop, it’s noize, it might be their best album in at least half a decade.

And so far, all of these albums get better the more I play them.