SINGLES - The Polyphonic Spree - Light And Day (Out now, 679 Recordings)

THOSE fabulous nutters in sheets are back with a re-recorded track from their weird and wonderful album, The Beginning Stages Of. The up-beat Light And Day is uplifting and catchy, like the rest of their songs, and has a Lightning Seeds chorus as they belt out "follow the day". There is also a new song, March, which -- as the name suggests --sounds like a marching band, with pan pipes and huge Beach Boy harmonies, beneath a David Bowie vocal. Weird but lots of fun.

Appliance - Go Native (Out Monday, Mute)

THIS is a rock track of EMF Unbelievable proportions, with a dash of U2 for flavour. It's about going back to basics; going away and starting again. Very, very good, bordering on excellent.

Longwave -Everywhere You Turn (Out Monday, Hummer Recordings)

ON the eve of their debut UK album, The Strangest Things, Longwave release this U2-type rocker. This is how rock is meant to be played; fast and loud. See for yourself. The Strangest Things is out Monday, February 24, and that night, the four New Yorkers play Manchester's Night and Day.

***

Violent Delight - I Wish I Was A Girl (Out Monday, WEA)

THIS belongs more on a sexuality advice hotline than a rock single, but here goes. The punk-metal Londoners have taken an unorthodox approach to sexuality that might just work. The gist is that boy wishes he could be girl so he could see all the rude bits. I can think of worse reasons for wanting to be a woman. Very good, very catchy, and very funny.

ALBUMS

SIMPLE PLAN

NO PADS, NO

HELMETS . . . JUST BALLS

Out Monday, Eastwest

PUNK-poppers with a serious message is the best way to describe this Canadian quintet.

With a Rembrandts I'll be there for you feel, I'd do anything kicks things off with a tale about someone willing to do anything to hold on to the love of their life. But it's too late.

We've all felt we have had The worst day ever, and this Foo Fighters pop track sums it up perfectly, though, like the film Groundhog day, it happens over and over again.

I'm just a kid is a very insightful tale about feeling you are alone while the rest of the world is having a great time. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

One day is a catchy Blur Country house offering about wishing you were grown up and could do your own thing. In the meantime, you are stuck with your parents.

The curtain comes down on Perfect, an apology to your father that you are not perfect, and you just want to make him proud.

Very profound and, coupled with catchy punk-pop beats, combines to create a very good album.

VARIOUS

I LOVE SMASH HITS

Out now, EMI/Virgin

TEENY boppers get the glitter out -- here's the Smash Hits compilation you've been waiting for.

Let's have a high-pitched scream for Blue and Elton John's Sorry seems to be the hardest word; Robbie's Feel; Darius is back with Rushes; Cheeky Girls Cheeky song (Touch my bum); and S Club Juniors Puppy love.

A touch of credibility is brought to proceedings with Sugababes' Stronger and Liberty X's Got to have your love, but if you're over 16, this probably isn't going to be top of your wish list.

Tom Jones - Greatest Hits (Out Monday, Universal)

THIS release celebrates double lifetime achievement awards for Britain's greatest soul singer - a Brit Award for outstanding contribution to music on Thursday, and a lifetime achievement award at the World Music Awards in Monaco on March 5. It features all his favourites, including It's Not Unusual; Help Yourself and Thunderball, from the James Bond film of the same name.

Memorable collaborations feature Kiss, with The Art of Noise; Burning down the house with The Cardigans; Baby it's cold outside with Cerys Matthews; Mama told me not to come with Stereophonics; and Sexbomb with Mousse T.

A live Full Monty medley with Robbie Williams brings a close to an excellent compilation from a career spanning 40 years. What are the odds on Greatest Hits II?