So after a Twitter exchange with my friend Nick a couple of nights ago, I was inspired to claim him for our #WakeUpAndBlog initiative where we write a blog response to someone else's post.

Maybe someone can respond to my response and we can get lost in some kind of meta, mind-blowing blogging version of Inception...

Nick put forward five songs that I hadn't heard before and I thought it might be fun to give my verdict on those songs and then offer up a handful of my own.

I'm sure I won't be as eloquent or as in-depth when writing about music as Nick manages to be, but what the hell, here we go.

Martha – Tom Waits

I have to say, I don't think I've ever heard a Tom Waits song before. I know of him, and rightly or wrongly, knowing only the most rudimentary information about him, I would put him on a shelf with Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Tindersticks.

He's someone I'd imagine providing the soundtrack to a noir film, set in smokey, whisky-soaked darkness. A state of mind I don't imagine I would ever escape from.

Verdict: I kind of appreciated this without actually enjoying it. I'd give this 4/10.

Outlaw – Joe Purdy

I liked the storytelling element in this song. The vocal reminded me of Counting Crows' Adam Duritz.

The texture of the vocals really off-set the stripped back piano and it wore well as the song went on. It's a really good example of music and narrative going hand in hand to create a wonderfully evocative mood.

Verdict: Take me on the run with you, Joe Purdy 7/10

Damien Jurado – Johnny Go Riding

On first listen, it felt a little country, and the chord progression a bit derivative to really hook me in. It left me feeling a little flat to be honest.

Verdict: Nice enough, but a little bland. Mashed potato with no salt or pepper 5/10

Another Sunny Day – Belle and Sebastian

I agree with everything Nick said here. I love Belle and Sebastian and this song is gorgeous, it feels really uplifting. But yeah, pay attention to the lyrics and it feels really bitter-sweet at the end.

Verdict: Beautiful use of steel guitar – 7/10

Gravity Rides Everything – Modest Mouse

I love songs that use dischordant tuning and de-tuning, and this song uses those techniques to great effect. Beautiful swirling rhythms and a guitar line that really reminded me of The Cure (which is no bad thing).

Verdict: My new favourite song, thanks Nick! – 9/10

Coil subscribers, stick around for 5 of my own song selections that you may not have heard. What's that, you don't have a subscription? Well you can go and sign up now, or root out your old Cliff Richard 45's and hope your parents' record player still works...