Welcome to week two of Buy or Sell: the place where we take two of our top writers and force them to go head to head reviewing the week’s hottest new tracks.

Stepping up to the plate this time it’s lord of the Lock Up Scott McKenna and talented rock all rounder Tom Forster.

So let’s not hang around, it’s time to get this show on the road. It’s Tom to go first…

1. Danger Mouse & Danielle Lupe feat. Jack White & Norah Jones – “The Rose With The Broken Neck”

Tom Forster: BUY

There’s very strange mix of artists here, but it works for me! Jack White has one of my favourite voices in music and although I’m not as familiar with the other three, I like the collaboration, it’s simple, chilled, and a little dark. At just over two minutes, it leaves you wanting more and I found myself playing it again and again. A great little song.

Scott McKenna: SELL

Whilst I would say that I am quite a fan of sombrely presented music, “The Rose With The Broken Neck” didn’t completely capture my heart like it did for Tom. I don’t think it was bad, I just think that it lacked the direction to really captivate me and leave me wanting more, which interestingly is a stark contrast to what Tom said.

The song clocks in at under two and a half minutes, giving plenty of time for that change in chord progression that would have made this song superb, and despite Jack White’s best efforts with his magnificent vocals, I think that in this case, I’d rather listen to someone like Mark Lanegan who can truly capture and inspire that “quiet of the night” atmosphere. A valiant effort, but it’s a sell from me.

Strictly Our Opinion: With our writers at loggerheads it’s time for me to come in and split the difference and for me this is a sell. It’s not a bad track by any means, but as someone who spends a lot of time listening to reflective mellifluous music I find this track a little uninspiring. “The Rose With A Broken Next” is a fine track but Danger Mouse’s production is overbearing and clunky compared to, say, James Blake’s “Unluck”: SELL

2. Santigold & Karen O – “Go”

Tom Forster: SELL

Again, another interesting mix of artist’s, but I’m nowhere near as keen on this. It opens nicely, again quite dark and almost chant like, but the chorus ruins the feel for me and I’m not at all a fan of Karen O. While I don’t hate it, I’m not going to purchase it, and I don’t have an overwhelming urge to listen to it again, so I’m going to sell.

Scott McKenna: SELL

I appreciate that Santigold is an experimental artist, showing that on her eponymous record that she could really change the pace of her music. Unfortunately, this falls on the wrong side of success and failure, whilst giving promise of an 80s synth-pop number at the intro, suddenly slips away with Santigold’s slightly grating vocals. Karen-O tries her best at lending her signature vocals to the second half of the track, but by this stage the battle has been lost, and I now sit there patiently, wondering how many seconds remain before the track will reach it’s end. It’s not horrible, but it’s definitely not something I could listen to on a regular basis. I completely agree with Tom this time, and will be selling this one.

Strictly Our Opinion: SELL

3. Beastie Boys – “Say It”

Tom Forster: SELL

I’m going to be put to the sword for this, but I’ve never liked Beastie Boys. I don’t actively dislike them, I just feel absolutely nothing for their music, and this is no different for me. There are some cool beats on the track but on the whole it’s pretty repetitive (bar an interesting outro) and not at all my thing. Fans of the Beasties will no doubt love this, but for me it’s a sell.

Scott Mckenna: BUY

I’ll admit, at first I found the song to be encroaching the line between boring and enthralling, but after a couple of consecutive listens my opinion changed completely. While I still find the flow of the lyrics a lot weaker than many of their other tracks, there is no denying the fact that the chorus is huge, laying down a beefy bass line along with the memorable chants of “Say it! Let it out! Let it out!” staying embedded in my mind. I have as a result decided to check out the latest album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, and despite the fact I find that there’s a whole array of tracks that makes “Say It” pale in comparison, I still think it’s a good song, and wouldn’t skip the track if it were to appear on a shuffled playlist. Will I buy it though? Of course I will! A definite summer tune that couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

Strictly Our Opinion: When I first heard this track I was incredibly disappointed, it felt like cookie cutter Beasties, and in many ways it still does but over time I’ve come to enjoy “Say It”. It doesn’t stand out on Hot Sauce Committee Part Two but it is a solid album track, and as such I can’t recommend it. As part of an overall album it’s worth buying, as an individual track? Nope, I’m with Tom: SELL

We’re at the half way point, so it’s time for our writers to change places, Scott now takes the lead.

4. Tom Vek – “A Chore”

Scott McKenna: BUY

Well this was most certainly an interesting song, having only really listened to Tom Vek through “C-C (You Set the Fire in Me)”. One thing that really stood out for me was the strong use of synths mixed with raw drum beats, giving a nod to the sounds of 1990s Electronica acts such as Massive Attack and Portishead. Apparently Vek’s gone without a record for six years now? I reckon if you’re a fan, it’s definitely worth the wait, but even for a newbie such as myself, I can see myself wanting to come back to this song for more plays. It’s a buy from me.

Tom Forster: BUY

Strictly Our Opinion: BUY

5. We Are The Ocean – “Trouble Is Temporary, Time Is Tonic”

Scott McKenna: BUY

After getting somewhat bored of their sound on last year’s Cutting Our Teeth, I have to admit I was weary when this song was one of the choices. But in just five seconds, my interest became piqued, with clean vocalist Liam Cromby belting out some of the best vocals I’ve ever heard from him. In addition to this, it seems that Dan Brown has finally found his place in the band, giving us concentrated gruff vocals that are, in contrast to previous efforts, enjoyable to listen to, finally giving me the impression that the screams don’t feel as forced and that he is more than just a live MC. Kudos should be given to the whole band for actively looking to evolve their sound, I most definitely enjoyed it, and reckon the sceptics should give it a go. So for that reason, it’s a buy!

Tom Forster: BUY

This is my first listen of We Are The Ocean, I’ve avoided them like the plague because I had them down as another You Me At Six or All Time Low and, like Scott, I have to admit I was not looking forward to listening to it. But as usual I’ve been made to look a bit silly because this is actually very good. Both vocalists sound strong on this song and I can see it being a favourite live with it’s catchy, high tempo chorus. So apologies to WAtO, I very much enjoyed it and would encourage anyone who (like me) didn’t give them a chance to give this song a listen. Buy.

Strictly Our Opinion: BUY

6. EMA – “The Grey Ship”

Scott McKenna: BUY

Standing at seven minutes and fifteen seconds, this song is by no means short, however it showed promise right from the start with trails of minimalism in the form of an acoustic guitar, a beat, and Erika Anderson’s soft, siren vocals. Fast foward to 2.50, and the progression really starts to kick in, with a more complete sound taking over the song. I really dig a clever, progressive approach to music, and this song shows much promise for EMA, really painting the picture of the song’s title, “The Grey Ship” for the listener, building up to an ultimate end that you could not have even vaguely pictured at the start of the song. This looks like an exciting project, and one I shall be following. Yet again, I am saying buy.

Tom Forster: SELL

Again I’m split with this. The first 3 minutes had me bored to tears. What Scott kindly refers to as minimalistic, I would call dreary. I get that it’s key to the progression and the story telling of the song, but I feel that it went on for at least a minute too long. I think a lot of people would have switched off before the song finally picks up. When it does pick up however, it does so in a big way, and I enjoyed it from then onwards.The atmosphere is built really well and the heavier guitar towards the end was more to my liking. However the slow start let’s it down and her voice does nothing for me so it’s a sell from me.

Strictly Our Opinion: Time to split the difference again and I’m totally buying into the EMA hype train. “The Grey Ship” grabbed my attention immediately, the interplay between the percussive claps and the chugging acoustic guitar had me instantly drifting away into the track’s thick haze (which is ironically the product of minimal instrumentation). I’m with Scott, I think there is a strong marriage between music, imagery and intent on this track and I think EMA has achieved a thorough conceptual success on “The Grey Ship”, and the sonic shift at the three minute mark is just divine: BUY

Bonus Track: Ed Sheeran – “The Wayfaring Stranger”

Scott Mckenna: BUY

To call this song a cover feels strange, as it’s origins apparently date back to the 1700s. But this version of “The Wayfaring Stranger” instantly took me by surprise. I have only really heard of Ed Sheeran as one of 2011′s name drops up until today, but after listening to the track, there could only be one conclusion to gather; my word, this man has an incredible voice! Whether I grow to like some of his own material as a result of this is down to the hooks and melodies that he writes into his own songs. But let’s get one thing straight here, Ed knows how to sing, and provided he keeps the fresh indie approach that I’ve heard so much about in his music, then I’m sure he will have a great career ahead of him. Surprised to hear me say BUY? No, I didn’t think so.

Tom Forster: BUY

I have heard nothing but good thing’s about Ed Sheeran and he seems to be the name on everyone’s lips at the moment, so I was looking forward to hearing this, and I wasn’t disappointed! I have to agree with Scott, this guy has one hell of a voice and he’s put a brilliant spin on this traditional folk song, I especially liked the use of the repeater pedal. I can see why this guy is so popular, he has real talent and I expect huge things from him. Definite buy.

Strictly Our Opinion: BUY

That’s another week in the books folks, hopefully you’ve been introduced to some great new music and had fun in the process, we’ll be back next week with more new music and another pair of brave Gladiators.