But what elevates the group to another level are the smart believable personal lyrics brought

But what elevates the group to another level are the smart, believable, personal lyrics, brought to life by their Glasgwegian speech-patterns, and by the world- view of – in his words – “a misanthropic git”. The titles alone – “Lazy Lover”, “I’m Just An Idiot”, “Deep In My Heart I Know I’m a Slob” – speak of an ardent self-hatred that is all the more winning, coming as it does from a man who resembles Matt Dillon. On the new Supernaturals single, “The Day Before Yesterday’s Man”, McColl sings: “My girlfriend has dumped me/ And headed for the country/ [and then the killer detail] With a boy who wears white socks.” If that boy were also wearing a white poloneck and white jeans, McColl would have real reason to be depressed.Back to Monday night, and Symposium were followed by Tiger, whose delirious debut album, We Are Puppets (Island), is as bright and defined as a shower of bonfire sparks Their live show, though, is a damp squib. In trying to imitate their predecessors’ attack, they ended up with an indistinct, hazy sound, while the hulking Dan Laidler’s singing style – that is, his blurting, slurring, squeaking style – came across as an irritating affectation.

The performance was as ungainly and unengaging as Laidler was, as he leaned sideways to get down to the level of the mic stand.Still, Tiger sounded enough like the early Modern Lovers and the Velvet Underground to keep me amused. And at least they didn’t sound like any other band around today: Laidler’s voice and that of the guitarist slide into the mix from opposite directions, and the basslines are played on a buzzing, flatulent Moog that was last heard on a Gary Numan record.Finally, Geneva, one of the only young bands around who are justified in taking themselves seriously. Five straight-faced Glaswegians who wouldn’t dream of mucking around like the Supernaturals or Symposium, Geneva aspire to more grandeur and romance than any of their peers. Think trembling, echoing high notes chiming from semi-acoustic guitars. Think a falsetto warble that puts Jimmy Somerville’s to shame. Think, also, of Aled Jones singing “Walking in the Air” and then apologise hurriedly, and think of Jeff Buckley instead, and of Geneva’s label-mates Suede, circa Dog Man Star. Geneva should have a debut album in the top 10 this spring, Radio 1 and The Chart Show permitting.Supernaturals: Glasgow Garage (0141 332 1120), Wed; Edinburgh Venue (0131 557 3073), Thurs..

Which are our greatest works of art? Richard Inglebyasked 100 experts to pick their 10 favourite paintings. Theresults, published this week and next, may surprise youfour seasons in one day lying in the depths of your imagination worlds above and worlds below the sun shines on the black clouds hanging over the domain even when your feeling warm the temperature can drop

depths of your imagination worlds above and
depths of your imagination worlds above and worlds below the sun shines on the blackAmedeo Modigliani Nude (Courtauld, London). This was probably one of the pictures shown in a short-lived exhibition of Modigliani’s nudes at Berthe Weill’s gallery in Paris in 1917. The police objected to his realistic depiction of pubic hair and closed the exhibition.Claude Monet The Water-Lily Pond (National Gallery, London). By 1899, the year of this picture, Monet was rich, famous and widely regarded as the greatest landscape painter in France.