In 2003, Malcolm Middleton, the member of Arab Strap regularly credited with "most things musical," released the cumbersomely titled solo album 5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine, issued through Chemikal Underground. Two years later, he followed it up with the more focused Into the Woods, put out by the same label. Neither album was a tremendous departure from his work with Aidan Moffat (either lyrically and sonically), though the songwriting was occasionally more self-absorbed, oozing with self-doubt and heartache. Shortly after Arab Strap's amicable split, he released A Brighter Beat (2007). ~ Andy Kellman