Album & single reviews

SALIVA is one of those words that makes me cringe every time I hear it. Idiosyncrasies aside, it isn't the most pleasant name for a band either. Fortunately, the music is much better, with a Puddle of Mudd sound and excellent vocals from Josey Scott, who teamed up with Nickelback's Chad Kroeger for last year's hit Hero, from the Spiderman soundtrack.

With a catchy chorus, this is a rocker about always loving someone who tears your world apart.

Very good and well worth a listen, fellow rock fans.

Ainslie - Keep Me A Secret (Out now, Mercury)

FAME Academy runner-up Ainslie Henderson is trying to do a Darius with a song he penned himself. With a Beautiful South opening, he's going the right way about it, before turning into the Pet Shop Boys, minus the keyboards. Not that I hold Fame Academy -- or any of the other manufactured acts -- with any great esteem. There is a reason Ainslie didn't beat David Sneddon to the title and this so-so pop track is it.

**

Junior Senior - Move Your Feet (Out now, Mercury)

FATBOY Slim tried to sign this Danish outfit to his own label last year and although that bid was unsuccessful, it sounds as if his magic has already touched their music. With a '70s funk feel and a Jackson Five sort of chorus, it is definitely a retro track with a few modern ingredients thrown in. Not bad.

Dannii Minogue - I Begin To Wonder (Out Monday, London Records)

WHILE her older sister is having her backside pinched by the pop world elite, Dannii Minogue is beginning to wonder whether she can add to her top-ten success, Put The Needle On It. Anyway, it's very catchy and more of a dance track than any of Kylie's recent offerings. We like a lot.

****

HAR MAR SUPERSTAR

POWER LUNCH

Out Monday, BUnique

NEVER mind what the boss says, this lets you know what you can look forward to in an office romance.

Harold Tillman's debut UK single is a very good R&B number about taking your special colleague to a power lunch. But with lines like "Deeper, deeper, I can feel your beeper", I don't think you'll be needing menus.

And while you're waiting for the clock to strike 12, you can think about sexy pumps, that black pants suit and the silk and lace underneath.

So who's going out to "lunch" together in your office?

ZWAN

HONESTLY

Out now, Reprise

THE break-up of several high-profile 1990s bands was the catalyst for Chicago rockers Zwan.

Billy Corgan and Matt Sweeney (of Skunk and Smashing Pumpkins, respectively) met in 1990 and agreed to form a metal band. It took ten years to materialise, but throw in another ex-Pumpkin and a couple of mates and Robert's your father's brother.

Having built up a following in the Chicago rock scene, their first international offering is a tale expressing your true feelings for the love of your life. There is no place you could be without her, and you are honestly giving yourself to her.

Decent stuff.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop (Out now, Warner)

THERE is no mistaking that Chili Peppers' sound. With more of a Blood Sex Magic Feel to it than the more recent offerings, Can't Stop is a high-energy rocker that delivers without the big choruses found in Californication, Zephyr and By The Way. What more can you say, other than another excellent delivery from the boys who will be rocking the MEN Arena on March 11 and 12? Don't miss it.

****

MOUNTAINEERS

EP

Out now, Mute

THE pick of the Mountaineers' second EP is Self-catering, a catchy Beck rock-funk offering where indecipherable lyrics take a back seat to the music.

Clap in time is an electric organ-based studio production number of Beatles/Beach Boys proportions, though not as good. Radio cat, with its heavy electronic base, is a pop-funk of the Moby chill-out genre.

Not bad for a second effort.

MOBY

SUNDAY (THE DAY BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY)

Out Monday, Mute

SPEAK of the devil. Here's the Mob-ster in all his glory with a trademark mellow number, much like his recent hit, In this world.

Sampling Sylvia Robinson's Sunday was a bright day, it's another good-un from the chart-topping album, 18.

RON SEXSMITH

GOLD IN THEM HILLS

Out Monday, Nettwerk America

FEATURING Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, this is an optimistic song about not losing heart.

"All our troubles seem like mountains, there's gold in them hills." Very well put and very good.

THE DATSUNS

HARMONIC GENERATOR

Out Monday, V2

THE second single from The Datsuns self-titled album is a punk rocker.

I don't know what "Harmonic generator is a moderator" means but with a Bryan Adams guitar riff to fall back on, who cares?

Pretty good.

ALBUMS

PALOALTO

HEROES AND VILLAINS

Out now, Mercury

WHEN someone like legendary rock producer Rick Rubin gets behind a band, you can be sure they'll be a pretty safe bet to succeed.

The Oasis-Coldplay The world outside kicks things off with a warning that the world exists outside our own self-involved spheres.

Fade out/in is more of a Californian rocker about wanting something no-one else can change or cut out, and Throwing stones is another one with a strong Coldplay flavour and a hint of Elbow.

Not bad but nothing to write home about.

APPLETON

EVERYTHING'S EVENTUAL

Out now, Polydor

I HAVE been looking forward to this for weeks.

After the split of All Saints, I wasn't sure how good the Appleton girls were. Could they make it on their own, or were they just making up the numbers? When the fabulous Fantasy came out as a single, my mind was made up that these girls ooze talent, and the album shows there's plenty more where that came from.

The current single, the excellent ballad Don't worry, is an expression of love and reassurance that she will always be there for you.

The title track is very biographical and tells of everyday events such as getting over the flu, driving with the radio on, kissing your daughter when you get home, and telling your mum you love her. Again, excellent.

All grown up is a fabulous Eddy Reader Town without pity-type lounge song, while 5am comes across as an Irish ballad about waking up with someone you don't love and slipping away unnoticed at 5am.

Absolutely brilliant -- the highlight of my week.

VARIOUS

JACKASS THE MOVIE

Out Monday, Mercury

FOLLOWERS of the MTV cult series and movie Jackass will be delighted to hear the theme tunes to which Johnny Knoxville and co inflict wanton violence, injury and often stomach-turning stunts on themselves.

Of course, there's Minuteman's Corona, the Jackass theme tune which is played as the public service notice warns you that the stunts are carried out by trained professionals or complete idiots and you shouldn't try this at home.

Other highlights include Andrew WK's We want fun, The Ramones California Sun, and -- blast from the past -- Sir Mix Alot's Baby got back, a rap track my brother used to belt out at me at every opportunity.

Not bad.