Already?

I was hoping to put off my annual look at the UK Christmas single woo ha until December started, but I am alerted to an underdog that I must champion.

Christmas chart battles are usually the territory of reality TV stars, novelty artists and Westlife, but this year a very unlikely pop star has thrown his hat into the yuletide ring.

Malcolm Middleton, once of Scottish "miserabilists" Arab Strap and now a successful miserabilist in his own right, has announced he will release the single "We're All Going to Die" in a bid to make it the Xmas number one single.

"Dying is a bit like writing a letter to Santa," explains Middleton, by way of a press release, "unless you've been a good boy or girl, you're fucked."

Go to his MySpace for a listen, it's quite nihilisticly jolly!