SINGLES - Medium 21 - Daybreak Vs Pride (Out now, Temptation Records)

PROLIFIC Northampton newcomers Medium 21's latest single is a catchy Ozzy Osbourne rock offering. It sounds great but is one that will probably have the psychiatrists confused: "It is not the end, it's just the suicide of life and soul." Pretty good.

The Rain Band - Easy Rider (Out Monday, Temptation)

MANCHESTER outfit The Rain Band move away from their earlier Happy Mondays and Stone Roses sound to produce a moody rocker. A combination of Garbage and Lo Fidelity All Stars, the trio serve up an excellent, fast-paced number, with excellent vocals. It is one of the best rock tracks I have heard for a long time.

Jakatta - One Fine Day (Out now, Rulin)

ENLISTING the fabulous vocals of Beth Hirsch and the backing of the 52-piece National Philharmonic Orchestra, Jakatta (aka Dave Lee) offers a Dido dance ballad. It is mellow, relaxing and up-lifting, the sort of thing Liberty X produce. Very good.

BLAZIN' SQUAD

REMINISCE/WHERE THE STORY ENDS

Out now, Eastwest

QUICK, call the fire brigade -- this flash in the pan hasn't gone out.

I've got nothing against these lads personally, but this has all been done before.

Reminisce is about remembering a girl, with a typical boy band sound incorporating pop, ballad and rap. Catchy, but it's nothing 5ive, A1, Blue and Backstreet Boys haven't already beaten them to.

Where the story ends is a So Solid Crew/Oxide and Neutrino pop-rap number. Very New Kids on the Block. Very done before.

Blazin Squad play Manchester Apollo on May 9 and 10.

NYLON PYLON

PUSHIN

Out Monday, London Records

WITH an electro-pop sound, Manchester quartet Nylon Pylon's latest single is pretty good.

The lads could probably do with a new rhyming dictionary with lines like "quid pro quo, check out the flow", as we hear everything in life is a push.

Worth a listen.

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

BRING IT ON

Out Monday, Mute

TAKEN away from the album Nocturama (reviewed January 31), Bring it on doesn't stand out from the crowd.

I thought it was the track of the album at the time but the '70s funk with a hint of Paul Weller isn't quite as anthemic.

It's still worth a listen, but has lost a certain je ne sais quoi.

DJ Sammy - The Boys Of Summer (Out Monday, Data Records)

FOLLOWING the chart-topping success of DJ Sammy's take on Bryan Adams' Heaven, Don Henley's The Boys of Summer is now in for the same treatment.

As you would expect, the 1980s hit is overhauled with a dance beat, and vocals from Loona that accentuate the huge chorus. It is one of those that grows on you, and should follow its predecessor to the top of the charts.

ALBUMS

VARIOUS

SCOTLAND ROCKS

Out Monday, Virgin

THIS is the answer to anyone wondering what good ever came out of Scotland. And how many of you will listen to this and say "I didn't know they were Scottish"?

We have the excellent Texas, I don't want a lover; The Proclaimers' excruciatingly annoying but catchy 100 Miles; Primal Scream, Rocks; and Del Amitri, Always the last to know. Speaking of which, am I the last to know Del Amitri were Scottish?

Before Mrs Redknapp, Stealers Wheel did the biz with Stuck in the middle; Gerry Rafferty took us along Baker Street; and who could forget Marmalade's Ob-la di ob-la da?

An excellent trip down Memory Lane with some absolute belters along the way.

THE CARPENTERS

AS TIME GOES BY

Out Monday, Polydor

TWENTY years after the death of Karen Carpenter, her brother and co-collaborator, Richard, has put together some of their best work.

A mix of instrumental tracks and re-worked tracks recorded for US TV specials, there is a 1967 demo of the Beatles' Nowhere man; an excellent rock-pop Dancing in the street, and the Mamas and Papas' California dreamin.

Their special medleys also feature prominently, as do duets with Ella Fitzgerald and Perry Como.

There are plenty of Magic moments that make this a must for all fans of the Carpenters.

John Doe - Dim Stars, Bright Sky (Out Monday, Imusic)

ALTERNATIVE rocker John Doe -- leader of Los Angeles punk band X -- offers a thought-provoking first acoustic album about relationships. Things kick off with 7 Holes, referring to the seven holes in your head (think about it). You use these to relate to people, but is is usually pretend. Very deep.

This far, with Aimee Mann, is an up-beat rocker that helps move away from the country music label that best describes this album. Just like his PR company, it's Impressive.

BLUES TRAVELLER

WHAT YOU AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH

Out Monday, Imusic

JAM band playing live is a recipe for a great album and this doesn't disappoint.

Showcasing their career since 1988, the American quintet, plus guests, let rip with a guitar-led Star spangled banner, as a tribute to New York. A tribute well-received by the crowd.

The other highlight for me is Slow change, a Shania Twain pop offering with husky Whitesnake rock vocals.

An excellent album from a group who arguably sound better live than in the studio. Rock on.

STAR BODIXA

AND THEY

DANCED ON GLASS

Out Monday, Energy Records

DEMOS indicated this Leeds indie five-piece had a lot of potential.

But the proof is in the pudding with this excellent debut album, with local sales beating the likes of U2 and The Manic Street Preachers.

Give me pain gets things off to a great start with a Catatonia Mulder and Scully/Radiohead Creep feel.

Universe starts as a ballad about wanting the world to be smaller, and bringing everyone closer together, while Mr Trebus is a moving Dido-esque ballad about an animal of a man you struggle to let go of. Fairytailed was released as a single in October and is a fast rocker about how sugar-coated and fairytale-like life could be, but isn't.

Rivers is a Corrs-like ballad asking how long it will take for my feelings to change.

An excellent album with a mix of indie-pop that will keep you entertained.