HER album went straight in at number one last week, so it's probably about time to start the Adele backlash.

Actually, it's not the fact that she sounds like a watered-down version of Amy Winehouse, with her soul-lite voice and her copycat black eyeliner, that I object to nor that "Chasing Pavements" actually makes very little sense.

But I can't help but think that the South London singer-songwriter represents a very sinister side of the music industry - one that's not at all new, but which is increasingly common - in that it seems clear that all over London, A&R folks were sent out with the brief to find "the next Winehouse", but without the pesky drug habit.

So we were presented with Adele, who was voted top of the BBC's most likely to succeed poll before she'd even released a proper single, and who will receive the Critics' Choice Award at the Brits next week. And she's barely had to pick up a guitar to earn the honour.

It seems to me that we're so desperate to find the new, shiny thing that we're not actually bothered any more if they can make songs.

But if you're determined to be ahead of the pack, forget about Adele - in about a month she'll be about as cool as Mika. Instead, I recommend you search out Laura Marling and Los Campesinos. The songs are great, for a start.